Bike Tool Kit

[redsonic]

I have found Pedro's tools to be a good compromise between quality and price. I think Park tools are either over rated or have lost their quality over the years. Pedro's make a range of tool kits that may work for you:

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/ped ... Bpage%5D=2

[CmdrBiggles]

I've kept a small number of tools, now rusty and only marginally in working order, from when I was a trainee bike mechanic at long-gone Aussie Cycle Works in Johnston Street, Abbotsford (1979-1981). Various rusty open- and ring-spanners, cable pullers, brake third hands, cable shears, Cunningham clamp (for centering the irksome Cunningham under stays-mounted brakes on hard core touring bikes) a few hex keys, spoke tool, chain breaker, freewheel chain, wheel hub spanners and pedal wrenches. Now we only need one or two hex keys for a bike (found out I do need a 17mm hex key for my LOOK pedals... )

PARK tools are still the go-to for bike shops; I do agree they are over-priced, a bit like Leica cameras where image is everything (ooops, I have punned...). Haven't seen Pedro (other than their lubricants) for many years.

[Jean]

The Aldi catalogue for next week, I've just seen, has some bike stuff in it. There's a storage stand, but no work stand, and no tools except a multi-tool.

There's also something I had not thought of before – an e-BSO.

[Dent]

Hi . I went to the ALDI site ....we have only just recently seen the opening of ALDI in Townsville...and it's clunky at best . Do I need an app' ?

[WyvernRH]

I've always found VAR or Cyclo tools to be better value, and often better made than Park Tools stuff, tho I have to say the Park chain pliers in my kit are wonderful.
I was fortunate when I started out in the late 70's to be given a small range of old bicycle shop tools by Vic Lyons which were mainly old Cyclo/Sturmey kit. I added to this over the years, most of my frame tools are VAR and the remainder mostly Japanese with a mixture of Campag, and other makes as required. Also some specialist homemade stuff for frame building or really weird old stuff.
Here is the bike-specific tool board.

I still buy tools (I'm a tool nerd really ) like the bright red Chinese hanger alignment tool to replace my homemade effort, and to cope with all the new 'standards' <sic> and improvements imposed on us over the past couple of decades like the bottom bracket madness and more useful stuff like disk brakes.

Richard

[WyvernRH]

As mentioned above I'm a bit of a Tool Nerd so when I saw this advertised I had to get one... Surprisingly, it actually works well as a Q/R tho I would only use it in vertical dropouts and of course it is of no use to the thru-axle crowd. As a tool, the chain breaker actually works (on a 9 speed chain) and the allen key/ screwdriver stuff works well. You can actually use the tool in all the spots you find adjusters/bolts etc as it is not too bulky and you can exert a fair bit of leverage.

Still, in the end, its a bit of a gimmick, I'll still have my multi-tool in my back pocket - but very cleverly done.

[Dent]

Wow.. yeah you guys have some pretty funky stuff for keeping your rides going . I'm with an imperial shitload of carpentry equipment , stationary and portable machines for running timber into whatever .. stuff for fixing billiard tables, anything that's powered by DC electrics , solar systems , fixing problems on RVs . I've got boats too. So the move to getting more into bikes is recent and maybe only bought a bike specific tool 2 or so years ago . So I guess the bikes I fixed when I lived at Rottnest Island in 1998 were painted with the chain on .. or maybe o got the mechanic to drop a bit here and there . So I got by. Travelled a lot with 3 kids all riding and the bride . So after the death of my idea to buy a good bike tool kit driven by a good mix of experienced and appreciated words from the forum have seen the light . Eclectic . When needed. Make it yourself.. it's not that hard ..good stuff that fits tight and does not mark with engagement. I built a stand . Version 2 is better. It's tricky to get the trek up there with all the bits on it and get the clamp piece set for tightening but you know what.. it's here and lots of bikes have been on the stand . Knocked up a chain whip and chain link pliers .all out of my stash . Got a spoke tool the other day . Drilled a really neat hole in the small bench . Stuck some forks in and trued a wheel. Looked up about chain wear . I don't need anything . Digital vernier calipers, good steel rules. It's not rocket surgery. You. Don't the park tool 501xl . Just measure the chain.

[elantra]

Wow.. yeah you guys have some pretty funky stuff for keeping your rides going . I'm with an imperial shitload of carpentry equipment , stationary and portable machines for running timber into whatever .. stuff for fixing billiard tables, anything that's powered by DC electrics , solar systems , fixing problems on RVs . I've got boats too. So the move to getting more into bikes is recent and maybe only bought a bike specific tool 2 or so years ago . So I guess the bikes I fixed when I lived at Rottnest Island in 1998 were painted with the chain on .. or maybe o got the mechanic to drop a bit here and there . So I got by. Travelled a lot with 3 kids all riding and the bride . So after the death of my idea to buy a good bike tool kit driven by a good mix of experienced and appreciated words from the forum have seen the light . Eclectic . When needed. Make it yourself.. it's not that hard ..good stuff that fits tight and does not mark with engagement. I built a stand . Version 2 is better. It's tricky to get the trek up there with all the bits on it and get the clamp piece set for tightening but you know what.. it's here and lots of bikes have been on the stand . Knocked up a chain whip and chain link pliers .all out of my stash . Got a spoke tool the other day . Drilled a really neat hole in the small bench . Stuck some forks in and trued a wheel. Looked up about chain wear . I don't need anything . Digital vernier calipers, good steel rules. It's not rocket surgery. You. Don't the park tool 501xl . Just measure the chain.

Kudos for your ingenuity, it is great to solve problems in the shed - without the long and expensive trip to a Tool shop !
Nothing worse than buying an expensive tool that you only ever use once !

While not specific to the issue of Tools, this is a very nice little video that shows a lot of bicycle-specific and non- bicycle specific tools in use by a clever operator :

[Dent]

Ok thanks I'll view that . The chain whip was just too easy . It was legitimately 5 minutes one even with a couple of cab sav glasses to make sure I did not go making it super neat . Did not even cut the chain I used even though it's out of spec it might get a roughie going for someone who needs wheels. Of course there is no fooling myself that a new chain link tool is not in my range to make so I bought a much better one . Got a good system going for washing parts . My place is , what I call , a shouse . Shed and House . I was over the big house near the beach with sooo much room for beds and all that stuff and I had very little practical space for cars , boats , my trailer . Constantly shuffling things around with poor headroom and vehicles not under cover . There is one of those old porcelain commercial cleaners sinks with super nuts water pressure , a stainless one outside and I can keep 5 ready riders near the front patio door .... Just sitting there like an old school bike shop stock row . All on the ground on their stands it's nice to have a choice so if I need mudguards today I take the black Dutch .