Reddit mentions: The best bike tool kits

Sorry not get back to you sooner was really busy yesterday. The 96 model think would have had cantilever brakes as stock, V-brakes were brand new when this came out, and prety sure the Indy forks didn't come out on bikes until 97 model year.

So parts list of stuff to buy

Cassette:

https://www.amazon.com/SunRace-8-Speed-Nickel-Plated-Cassette/dp/B00DI65HGU

Chain:

https://www.amazon.com/X8-99-Bicycle-Chain-32-Inch-Silver/dp/B0013BV540

You might want to buy two you will want to carry a spare chain on tour

Tires:

https://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-Crossmark-Black-Fold-Tires/dp/B00GHTQ7Q4?th=1&psc=1 (might find cheaper elsewhere, but you want the dual compound/DC ones with the EXO casing ideally - there are cheaper options for tires that would work than these but I think it's one area it's not so good to cheap out on)

Shifters:

https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-SL-M360-Acera-Shifter-Speed/dp/B001ON6VIW

(or find some vintage 8-speed XT/LX ones from eBay, they are a little nicer)

Brake pads:

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Compound-Mountain-Linear-Threaded/dp/B001CLSWKQ

These should make a decent improvement to braking power especially in the wet, you could bring the old pads on the tour as spares/backups if they still work OK and have life left (always want to have at least a pair of spare pads)

New cables:

https://www.amazon.com/JAGWIRE-MOUNTAIN-SHOP-KIT-Derailleur/dp/B01DJGUEE8

You'll need at least new inner cables to install new shifters, and probably a good idea to replace the housing too, though you need either really good cable cutters or a Dremel/rotary tool with a cut-off wheel to cut housing, or get a bike shop to cut it to length. Not suggesting white colour that was just the first link I saw though it might look pimp.

Tools:

You could get a tool kit like one of these

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=emc_b_5_t

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=emc_b_5_t

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nz/en/x-tools-bike-tool-kit-18-piece/rp-prod40997

Or you could buy a multitool that would be good for bringing on the tour

https://www.amazon.com/Vibrelli-Bike-Multi-Tool-V19/dp/B06XGWMGB9

And extra stuff like cassette tool and chainwhip and tire levers individually:

https://www.amazon.com/Oumers-Freewheel-Sprocket-Lockring-Maintenance/dp/B07GSRJGP3

https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-1847-Bicycle-Tire-Levers/dp/B000UAQL6C

That might be the way to go.

That's not everything you'd need to go touring and stuff like the bars and saddle are a lot about personal taste but should be good to get you started.

Apologies for using amazon.com links I'm too used to helping Americans on here but hopefully can get them on the .ca site. Chain Reaction that I linked the toolkit from (would be confident that's the best out of those three kits I have some of the tools from it) in the UK can be a good place to order stuff from

Like /u/jrm2191 said, Park Tool make some... comprehensive tool sets. Those prices are enough to make me choke, though. Your son's riding a ~$400 bike - I don't know how I would wrap my head around buying an $800 tool set, or even a $300 one.

But the tool sets are a good way to think about what tools you should buy. I'd get a basic tool set, fill in gaps, and upgrade selectively. What I'd do, in no particular order, would look like...

• cheap tool set ($40) (total $40)
  
• torque wrench ($50) (total $90)
  
• chain cleaning tool ($10) (total $100)
  
• cable cutting tool ($35) (total $135)
  
• maybe chain pliers? ($10) (total $145)
  
  At this point I would start thinking about upgrading the tools that your son will use all the time. The thing that stands out for me is hex tools. He might use Torx screws, but he'll definitely use metric hex tools
  
  
• some nice metric hex tools ($15) (total $160)
  
• some torx equivalents ($11) (total $171)
  
  Then probably nice meaty tire levers to make replacing tires and tubes easier
  
  
• tire levers ($9) (total $180)
  
  If you were looking to spend $300 or that range, then you'll notice you're way under that target. Feel free to start adding on some random nice things, like a portable multi-tool, which will pay off if he has an issue while out on a ride.
  
  
• Portable multi-tool ($25) (total $210)
  
  I'm running out of things that aren't "consumable" (like brake cables, housing, etc...), so for my last recommendation, nitrile work gloves! (they'll make cleanup a breeze)
  
  
• work gloves ($20) (total $230)
  
  There are tons of other things you could get (a bike stand, for instance) but at this point I'm getting a bit out of control. and there are tools I assume you have (e.g. a good screwdriver), but at some point I need to stop.
  
  And obviously feel free to mix and match whatever components you can afford/feel comfortable spending that much money on. One thing that might help would be to talk with him about what kind of work he does on his bike. He might be in desperate need of hex tools, but not treating himself to nice hex wrenches. That could be your quick, easy, cheap answer. Or similarly he might be nervously tightening bolts without a torque wrench, even in places that call for very precise amounts of torque. Again, easy answer regarding what to prioritize.
  
  Best of luck
  
  edit: totals didn't add up right, sorry!

OK, I'm thinking we do this in stages.

Stage 1 which will allow you to get it riding now and will be perfectly capable of a 4-5mi round trip.

Cable Cutters ($20) stick to the better units but probably no need to go for Park Tool. BBB make a nice one, although I currently have an IceToolz cable cutter because I can't find my good ones.
For the brakes you will need a 4th hand cable stretcher like this Pedros ($17) unit which is a third the cost of a Park Tool unit.
Will also need cables, easiest way is to grab a DIY Jagwire ($24) kit which has both brake and shift cables.
These Vittoria Zaffiro tyres are a good compromise of value, durability and performance. I use these a lot and they're on my training bike. Will also need tubes, and being a commuter, flats are not your friend so these Schwalbe tubes are a good idea. ($60)
Arundel cork bar tape ($20)
A new chain for your bike is probably the only way forward, and this KMC is perfect ($6)
The brake pads on your calipers will now doubt be old, and also a 30yo pad compound, so not overly efficient. Would strongly recommend these Kool Stop Continental brake pads as a starting point before we get to Phase 2 ($10)

Grease for the Bottom Bracket and Headset (and wheel hubs) is also needed, but there's absolutely no need to buy bike-specific grease, so this Valvoline tub as an example would be ideal ($10) .
The chain needs to be lubed, and in dry conditions I like Finish Line dry lube. Others will have their own preferences, but this is a good starting point.

Also should think about replacing the saddle, but this is very subjective and not something that can be recommended in terms of which saddle to buy. Maybe scoot around Craigslist for your area and see what comes up..

In terms of learning the skills, the Park Tool video channel is surprisingly good although heavy on product placement and endorsement although this is to be expected. There are lots of alternatives to Park Tool tools though, including Pedro's, BBB and others. None of the skills associated with your era of bike are all that difficult, and refurbishing this to be usable in your context is completely feasible in your garage.

May also want to consider buying one of the entry-level bike toolkits like this tool kit as a starting point ($40) although this is just an example however is the same kit as others sell just rebranded.

So phase 1 (not including the tool kit) is about $160-ish and watching a bunch of videos.

sorry for the essay, but once I started it just sort of kept going. Phase 2 is removal of existing driveline, and upgrading to a Shimano 2x8sp indexed group with modern dual pivot calipers and modern alloy wheels. But we can cover that later.

First of all, know your bike size. I like Surly's rough guide, and they suggest you'd need about a 52 to 56 cm/medium sized bike as measured horizontally from the head tube (where the front wheel forks rotate) to the seat tube. Mountain bikes often measure the seat tube instead, so you'd be looking at a 17 to 19 inch mountain bike. This pretty much rules out the Fuji, which is too big, and the Trek, Giant OCR, and the Jamis, which are too small.

Since you're going to school, have you considered how you're going to carry your books or laptop? If you feel comfortable with a backpack, then great! but if not, a rack like the Trek has might be a good investment.

You'll also need to maintain this bike well, so get a nice chain cleaner and some dry lubricant. You don't want to one day find the chain falling off when your all the gear teeth are ground off!

Also, get a bike lock and learn how to lock up your bike! I'm not sure what is worse: losing your bike, or losing the wheels because you didn't lock it up right.

The front suspension on the Raleigh is cool, but a good "fitness hybrid" like the Jamis would be just as comfortable on the street and more fun to ride, too.

Do you ever plan on longer rides? In that case, the better aerodynamics of the Giant's drop bars would come in handy.

If you think you can handle the hills without changing gear, then a fixie like the Fuji would be the easiest to maintain and the lightest. No derailleurs or shifters to worry about!

You could certainly get the Giant Escape, but you can certainly find a better used bike. It's "Tourney" derailleurs are Shimano's light-duty components. For comparison, the Giant OCR has better "Sora" components for less money because it's used.

TL;DR: Keep looking. If you absolutely had to take one of these bikes, take the bike that would most likely fit, the Raleigh, and use the money saved to get a rack for your books, a cleaning kit, and a good bike lock.

Hey guys I am looking for input on my current build. Tried to post earlier but it got removed without telling me why.

I originally bought the basic parts in fall of 2018 which included:

19" GT Agressor Pro from Dick's Sporting - $295

27.5" Conversion Kit 35MPH from LeafBike.com - $508.13

52v 14s9p-pf 25.7AH Triangle Battery Pack from EM3ev.com - $827.4

Rear Cargo Rack from Amazon - $25.99

SKS Velo Snap-on Fenders from Amazon - $21.65

BikeHand Toolkit from Amazon - $49.99

Shimano HG41 from Amazon - $16.70

Torque Arm from Amazon - $16.50

Park fr52 from REI - $7.15

Tire Liner from REI - $17

Tubes from Walmart - $20

Total $1825.51

Hot Damn! Never actually did the math that is quite a bit more than i thought it cost, I'm a little embarrassed I've been telling people that it cost around $1300 lol boy the shipping and tax just kills you!

Anyways it all arrived without issue (Thank goodness) and I put it together (minus the pedal assist due to a crank removal fiasco) with some difficulty as a number of things required modification to work. That rear wheel is an absolute biatch to install. I have had an absolute blast with it both on and off road since then. Only major gripe is with the controller, hella loud and super weak regen breaking.

Just recently decided to do some additional tweaking with the bike. Went on another spending spree over at Aliexpress. Ended up buying the following parts:

Pedals - $21.45

Longer Handlebar - $8.80

External Bearing Bottom Bracket and Cranks - 32.66

Four Pairs of Brake Pads - 5.29

3-Button switch - $27.49

Handlebar Grips - $2.66

Torque Arm - $8.35

Left hand thumb Throttle - $5.67

Lights DC 12v-48v - 20.89

42 tooth Chain ring - 17.60

Pannier - 30.51

1xSchwalbe MTB 27.5 2.25 - 50

Total $231.44

Already installed new bottom bracket and pedal assist (with some modification lol) and its amazing!

I am about to start getting into the electronics so i figured i would ask for advice before i solder everything up in case you guys come up with a better way to do things.

Anywho I am getting rid of those handle grips with the twist throttle in favor of a left handed throttle, this will allow me to shift on the rear cassette a lot easier. Then its on to replacing the super cheap switch (cruise, regen, reverse) with the Aliexpress switch (cruise, horn, lights, gonna short regen for always on) and add lights. Considering adding another on/off point for security but cant think of a great way to do that... Right now i have the BMS on/off at the battery itself (momentary switch) and the power on the LCD display itself.

Also anyone have a line on a cheap controller with strong regen breaking and sin wave fets? I see the ebikes.ca but looks like that requires cycle analyst v3 for pedal assist which doesnt seem to display information nicely plus itll cost around 265 for both...

A tool kit (or a good bike multi-tool) is fairly inexpensive, and is incredibly useful for maintaining, repairing, and upgrading bikes. It's not going to directly affect your ride to and from work, buthelp you keep your bike in top condition so that your ride is easy and safe.

Something like this kit, or this one would be a good place to start, and supplement with individual tools as you need them.

A fairly comprehensive multi-tool like this one would also work for infrequent repairs, though they can be somewhat cumbersome to use at times.

Lastly, a good repair book might not be a bad idea. I like Lenard Zinn's Zinn and the Art of (Road/Mountain) Bike Maintenance. However, there are also man great websites and youtube tutorials (park tools has some excellent guides on their site) that will fulfil the same role.

I mostly learn by doing. I bought a basic bike maintenance book and tore down a pair of beater bikes before I was comfortable enough to attempt an overhaul on my fancy cyclocross bike. The book and a bit of trial and error has been enough for me to figure out most tasks, and where I get stumped I can often find what I need via Google or YouTube. The stripping and painting I've learned through building and restoring furniture and renovating a house.

I don't think there is much money to be made in this unless you stick to valuable collectors' bikes, and then there is a lot more concern around restoring rather than replacing and keeping original parts. The bike I did certainly wouldn't be worth it to sell. Counting the stuff I had on hand, I'm probably closer to $300 invested and about 50 hours of labor. I think I'd be extremely lucky to get $500 for it if I sold it, which works out to about $4/hr for my time. There's probably some money to be made buying, tuning, and flipping bikes around here, but there's a ton of crap out there to sort through. I wouldn't recommend trying to get into it until you know what to look for unless you've got time and money to spare and plan for the first few months to be a learning experience.

My advice, if you want to learn how to do this, is to buy a cheap, working beater off of Craigslist for as little as you can spend. Take it home and disassemble it, clean it, and then put it all back together and tune it up using a book (or YouTube or www.sheldonbrown.com). Brand/size/color/etc. don't matter since it's just for learning, but starting with a complete, working bike means that all of the components are known to work and fit together. I wouldn't mess with building/truing wheels at first, but everything else is fair game for a beginner. Once you've got it back in good working order, buy a tool set (you can go cheaper, but the quality suffers and you'll end up spending more over time replacing tools that break or wear out) and do the same to your Schwinn as it's probably overdue for a tune-up at this point.

I'm pretty handy and comfortable with tools, and I think it took me two complete tear-downs/rebuilds before I started getting comfortable.

I agree with the Park tool kit. People here often advise buying tools as you need them, but a kit can save money, and you also have some confidence that someone other than a random internet stranger put some thought into what's important.

There's also a Lezyne kit which is a little more travel oriented and a little less shop oriented, but it's also prettier if that's nice for a gift.

Birzman and Pedros also make good quality kits but I don't see them available at reasonable prices in Canada. And Park is probably the right one anyway.

Any multi tool from CRANKBROTHERS or Topeak will be good. For the love of GOD don't buy a cheap multi tool for your friend. Cheap tools are made poorly with low quality metals that will end up stripping your friends components. I don't care how well that POS WOTOW tool is reviewed, the positive reviews never used it. The WOTOW tool stripped more than one of my bolts before I bought an Alien II. Your friend will want to buy some high quality tools for his home use later though. $15 would only buy a few quality home tools.

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If your friend uses tubes you could get a REMA patch kit for him. If your friend is tubeless you could get him a plug kit. I've never had a tubeless tire so I've no idea what plug kits are good/bad.

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What tools do you have? Those are a one time investment, but can get pricey. I started with this kit and built from there: https://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tool/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1493144648&sr=8-5&keywords=bike+tool+kit

I'd definitely clean and repack the hubs and headset, replace the chain and all cables, then see where a good clean and lube gets you. You can get chains and cable kits on Amazon for pretty cheap as well.

Correct, skip the paint job. Don't "restore" the bike, but it's definitely worth fixing! I'm mostly done with my 1981 Schwinn restoration. It needed new brakepads, tires, tubes, seat, crankset, chain, freewheel, and pedals. I've spent maybe $120 on that, buying all new parts from the bike shop or Amazon. Most of these parts are dirt cheap to replace. The hardest part was figuring out that I needed an FR-2 freewheel remover to change the freewheel. Everything else I needed was in my crappy toolkit or in my meager toolbox.

But yes, don't paint that - it doesn't need it! And a good paint job would cost $100-$300, not worth it for an almost gorgeous bike like that.

I transitioned into working on my bikes almost entirely by myself (Wheel building/suspension service/bearings excluded) and this is the exact path I went down as well. Here is everything I bought from Amazon:

The same $50 tool kit

Torque wrench

Cable/housing/wire cutter

Chain/quick link pliers


Wet/Dry Chain lubes

Park Tool grease

Degreaser

Blue Loctite

Carbon grip paste

And some additional small things like cables, cable end caps, ferrules, zip ties, etc. A set of needle nose pliers can be handy to help push/pull stubborn cables/housings as well.

Also, to make working on the bike 10x easier, I recommend getting a stand. I use this one because I am space constrained and it folds up nice and small, but there are probably better ones out there.

It seems like a lot of $$ to lay out at first, but it pays for itself pretty quickly compared to taking the bike to a shop every time you need to do something to it. Basically everything you need to do can be found on YouTube as well.

Periodic degrease and lube would be a start. Do a full check up when you do this--check brakes for alignment, check shifting, etc. Change your chain out periodically, which is a pretty easy DIY.

For future, you can pick up a decent tool kit for ~$50, that has most of what you'd need for almost everything. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017KYF882?psc=1 (I can't vouch for this one personally, but I have a similar setup that works well.) For most maintenance and repair, you can find pretty good youtube videos. If you prefer a book, check your local library, or find something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-BBB-3-Bicycle-Maintenance/dp/B00FEO4TQS

Longer-term (and if you have the space), look into getting a mechanic stand, which will make your life a lot easier.

See that's the thing, for the ~50 bucks you'd save by just doing this one thing yourself, you can already buy a basic bike toolkit such as this which contains tools for 90% of maintenance operations on most normal bikes, includig switching out the bottom bracket.

The question is, do you feel like getting into it. It's totally fine if you don't - not everyone has an interest in this and it's pointless if it's a tedious chore to you. But if you have a bit of interest in technical things it would definitely be worth a small time/money investment.

And yes, chain tensioner is basically like a derailleur expect it can't change gears (can't move sideways). They're simple to install and don't cost much and you never have to deal with chain tension again.

60$+Labor is ridiculous by the way, unless the bottom bracket is either high end or super old and exotic. Even a modern road bike BB doesn't usually cost more than 30. If it's BSA threaded, replacement shouldn't take more than 10 minutes for a skilled mechanic.

Hey all -
Been getting more into biking and particularly upgrading/customizing my setup. I'd like to start doing more maintenance and repairs on my own. I purchased Zinn & The Art of Road Bike Maintenance, but my tools are currently pretty lackluster.

I'm hoping to snag something from Amazon (I have a gift card), and was looking at this toolkit. Does anyone have experience with this brand and know about the quality of these tools? Also, does this seem like a good start, or is there something glaringly obvious missing or something?

Clean cockpit! Nice. BTW if you ever need to cut your hoses on your hydraulic brakes the compatible Olives to the brake leavers are sram/avid ones https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07JMSC3DT/ref=cm\_sw\_em\_r\_mt\_dp\_U\_IpVvDbGD0X6MA

FYI Also I found a compatible bleed kit this one had the correct connectors for nutt https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07845XW4X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_VsVvDbA5N4YTJ but you will need to buy fresh mineral oil. I am not sure what kind of mineral oil they had in the brakes from the factory is was clear vs the red you typically see used. I have heard of places using baby oil as that is mineral oil as well, regardless when I saw it was clear and somewhat cloudy, I just bleed out the brakes and replaced the fluid with fresh oil

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001E4MH84/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_bzVvDbVKJ4TEE This is what I use but any bike hydraulic mineral oil should work.

Please note that the links provided are just quick-n-dirty suggestions. Some of the Park Tool sets would cover a lot of these things, but when building from frameset up... you may want to seek out a shop with the odd tools you might only use once or twice in your life.

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Aside from the standard tools, like box wrenches, cone wrenches, Allen wrenches (aka hex keys), flathead and Phillips head drivers, Grease... you'll need tools for:

• seating the fork race
  
• installing the bottom bracket (or press fit or one of a few other types?)
  
• cutting cable & cable housing
  
  In addition, you may need:
  
  
• adjustable crescent wrenches
  
• facing and chasing the BB threads
  
• at least a 5 nM torqe wrench, perhaps a 6 nM as well
  
• chainwhip tool
  
• spoke nipple wrench
  
  ----
  I'm sure you could "get away" with less, or perhaps the Park Tool Advanced Kit but there's a reason for these tools. Good luck.

I think sondors requires some work to get past the 20mph speed limiter. Here are the battery stats for Sondors, 36V 8.8Ah Lithium Ion (Upgraded battery – 36V 12.8Ah). This is a decent battery if your round trip is < 10 miles for standard battery and < 15 miles for upgraded.

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You may consider the Golden Motor v5. Should be an easy install. This build would give you regen braking. If you went with the 48v 17.5 ah battery and all the addons for the back wheel it would be about $1100. This battery has about twice the range the sondor's upgraded battery has. This would leave your budget with ~$400 for buying a bike to put this on. http://lunacycle.com/hot-new/golden-motor-v5-magic-pie-complete-kit/

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I've had good results with a BBSHD, but that kit with a battery is like $1500. Seems out of your budget. If you can squeeze it in then this is certainly a good option.

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If you don't have tools then you should buy this kit to work on your bike. It is missing a single allen key that you would need to install the power/assist-level control to the handlebars. The size of this falls in between the smallest and second smallest allen keys that come with the $39.99 kit. So you may want to buy a metric allen key set if you want to be sure. $39.99 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BW4T7BG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and $14.99 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MQVRZU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Imo don't buy a ebike prebuilt since you would miss out on gaining a lot of knowledge and you'll get a little less for your money unless you decide your time you're willing to invest is minimal. There are youtube videos of installing bbshd and what not. You should do more research.

Glad you're okay! Allan wrench kits are a lifesaver. If you can, look for something with tire levers and a patch kit too, just in case. I bought something similar to this for my commute, and it's incredibly compact: http://amzn.to/1D9xsqk. I just throw it right in my backpack. Stay safe out there :)

BBS02 and em3ev for the win. Its not that hard to install and tool kit from amazon like the bike hand http://amzn.com/B00BW4T7BG would have all the tools needed. However, if the fixed bottom bracket (drive side) cup is sticking, then you'll want http://amzn.com/B001VS9ZBU or similar and a 4 inch length bolt, 2x 2 inch diameter washer, and nut in order to clamp the tool in to the cup through the BB as it slips very easily.

Two tips for you:

1. Rub a generous amount of talc/baby powder into your inner tube before you install it. You can also prep a spare tube like this - just unroll, talc, and re-roll. The talc basically makes the tube slippery so it won't snag or end up twisted up in the casing.
   
   
2. A QuikStik tire lever is awesome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C128PC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BDIpxbGCX308Z You just need one, and usually just to initially get the tire bead off the rim. The rest can be done with your hands (or the tool, if you prefer). I have a QuikStik I bought 22 years ago and it's still going strong.

Road bikes are great lighter the easier it is to ride, it might be worth getting slime tyres to stop punctures, I have a triangle bag that goes inside the frame that I put a small pump and a multi tool in + my lunch on a weekday.

I would recommend two thick D locks to use when parking, I thread the 'D' through the bag buckles and keep the keys and lock in the Bag.

for weather gear you need a rain layer warm layer and sweat layer to keep out the cold. waterproof gloves, goggles or eye protection.

Fenders would be a good choice as well to stop mud flicking up.

Don't get a mountain bike, really not very easy to ride and heavy. Also lights

What mineral oil should I use? I see there's one by Shimano themselves, would that be the best option? Or is there something 3rd party that is equally good and maybe cheaper?

Also, would I need something like this? I guess it just let's you be more precise, nothing really special.

I actually got a Kryptonite U-Lock and Cable bundle on amazon!

Being that I don't need to lube for a while I'll pick that up later, maybe do a little research on what's best for my local weather conditons (PNW)

You are the 3-4th person to recommend getting a bike specific helmet so I will definitely be picking one up. I'll go to the bike shop and try some on, comfort is really important to me because I have a weird shaped head.

I picked this item up off amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010B7Q40G/ref=oh_aui_i_d_rec_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1482126019541

so I think I am somewhat covered for tools, but my campus has a bike shop that lets you rent tools.

Thanks for the advice!

Thank you for providing that list. I wanted to purchase a kit though because I also want to remove my old casette in the future so I can make the transition to a true 1x10 setup.

I am also unsure as to whether or not my current bottom bracket will require the use of a lock ring tool. So there are a few other tools I intend to need in the near future aside from the 4 you listed. I bought the following kit: https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Doctor-Essential-Bicycle-Tool/dp/B017KYF882/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I am pretty certain that kit has all the above tools in addition to the ones needed for a casette change. I know trying to do this cheaply is not ideal and buying quality tools individually while slowly building up your collection is recommended but I'm on a budget and just want to get a drivetrain on my bike as quick as possible.

Thank you all for providing the info on which specific tools I need and also for pointing out when a certain kit didn't include everything necessary.

As someone who took the plunge building a bike, this tool kit has surpassed my quality expectations: Bikehand Bike Bicycle Repair Tool Kit with Torque Wrench. Well put together and the tools have a good feel to them. As one reviewer mentioned the housing cutter could be a bit higher quality, but it cut through compressionless housing just fine. Might pick up a Jagwire cutter with awl as the only addition. Their stand is pretty good, too

I got this really cheap one on Amazon for $10. The spanners on it are crap, but other than that it's served me well and taken care of one flat so far.
I got a decent pump (on sale) and also carry some paper towel and a spare tube. Since my rear wheel isn't quick release, I also have a small adjustable wrench. I ended up making my own little bag to fit it all.

I didn't want to spend a ton starting out, so I think it was a decent place to start. I'll probably upgrade parts over time when they break/wear out.

I bought this one off amazon and it had almost everything I needed to build a bike up. Didn't come with the more specialist stuff (headset press, bearing puller etc). I took it to the LBS for that since those tools are pretty expensive and rarely used.


Also if you live in a decent sized city check craigslist. I found an awesome toolbox with a mix of parktool and spindoctor for $100.

http://www.amazon.com/Quik-Stik-Tire-Changer-Levers/dp/B000C128PC

we use them in the bike shop. they'll change your life.

i've also had great success with bontrager tire levers.

http://bontrager.com/model/07799

> A chain cleaner like the one made by finish line makes this job a whole lot easier and less messy.

This thing is AWESOME. Makes cleaning the chain a snap and by getting all that grit off, you get a smoother ride and less wear on your drivetrain. Takes about 5 minutes to clean, rinse, dry, and lube my chain. For lube though, I'd go with an aerosol for the chain (T9 or Tri-flow.) It's way easier to apply, but it's good to have a drip bottle for lubing small parts where the spray would get messy.

i wonder how many they sell.

edit: HEY GUYS I FOUND THESE FOR REALLY CHEAP ON AMAZON I THINK WE SHOULD BUY THEM ALL UP AND SELL THEM AND BECOME REALLY REALLY RICH AND BUY REALLY NICE BIKES!

If you use a chain cleaning tool like this or this it cleans your chain pretty well without needing to take it off the bike. Then I usually use an old toothbrush to get the gunk off the gears.

The Park Tool one is junk. Broke two of them. Yes you could use other tools but a cleaner is most handy. I ride in poor conditions frequently and my drive trains need constant attention.

Simple Green and the Finish Line cleaner have been the best combo I've found so far.

Finish Line Shop Quality Bicycle Chain Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001XRTZPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Z7slDbJ6ZBGG8

You can also get replacement innards.

Thanks so much for all of the feedback!

I ended up purchasing VENZO Bicycle Bike Torque Wrench Allen Key Tool Socket Set and BIKEHAND Bike Bicycle Repair Tool Kit with the addition of cable cutters.

Last night I watched this guy assemble a bike which allowed me to see which tools were needed:

How to Build a Bike Series

I will keep everyone posted on my progress. All the necessary parts and tools should be delivered by March, 20th! Stay tuned.

The Quick Stick is by far the best tire lever I have ever had, very cheap as well.

I bought an inexpensive tool kit (not from Park Tool) for $50 a few months ago when I needed a chain whip and a Shimano cassette lock ring tool, which would have cost nearly as much to buy separately, and the kit gave me a bunch of other tools, as well. Some of the tools I already had, some I haven't used, some tools are of mediocre quality (e.g., the pedal wrench and spoke nipple wrenches both work, but they're not well-designed for ergonomics or leverage), and there are some tools that I use frequently which weren't included (notably, a cable cutter). On the whole, though, it was a good purchase that quickly paid for itself in terms of savings over the cost of making individual purchases of all the tools I've used from it.

Park Tool makes tools that cost a bit more, and for that you get the peace of mind that it'll be reasonably well-designed and solidly manufactured. For many tools that you aren't sure you'll need, you can get greater value -- more kinds of maintenance and repair you can do off the bat for less outlay -- by buying them in a cheaper kit and supplementing them with tools it didn't include or better tools for those that you've found to be of inadequate construction or poor design.

One of the best investments I made was a full set of tools, and a how-to book. YouTube is useful, but the book works well for me.

https://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tool/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504546888&sr=8-1&keywords=bike+tool+set

This a pretty good tool set for all basic repairs. Use youtube to learn how to use the tools and make any basic repair.

Ok, I assume you have a very, very low budget so here are some options for you:

• Find someones couch to crash on for now. Preferably someone with an internet connection
  
• Build some Kitty Litter Panniers for now or a back pack (you will regret only having a back pack) ($15-$30) - see if you can make 4 of them provided you can take a front rack. Two if you can not.
  
• Get a camping hammock with a rain fly or a bivy tent (I have no ideas if either of those are good, I'm just going cheap) ($50-90)
  
• Get a sleeping pad ($30)
  
• Get two racks if your bike can take them. One for the front and one for the back ($60)
  
• Get a small tarp (I am sure you can find better than this, perhaps even locally) for those days with REALLY bad weather. ($7)
  
• Get a pancho or other cheap rain gear ($15)
  
• Get some bungee cords ($5)
  
• Get camping pans ($15)
  
• Get a lighter ($0.50)
  
• You could build a camping stove but I can't vouch for how well these work. You might want a proper one ($5-$50)
  
• Get a pump (follow the recommendations others have made) $20-$50
  
• Get a tool kit and some spare parts (I really like the Survival Gear Box) $50-75
  
  So maybe $275-375 total cost before food and water? Man, that's still high...

Something like this is a great start.

Of course there's the $200 option also.

Yeah, sorry, I was measuring wrong. I'm getting 2 22/32" which is just about 68mm. I think I'll try this BB with this crankset. Thanks for all the help.

Also, is this the tool I need?

Got it, love it, use it often.

Also down the line:

http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-AK-37-Advanced-Mechanic/dp/B000VX7H0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333594713&sr=8-1

I'm a noob with bikes and a friend told me to buy this tool kit it's worth every penny.

I've carried this on all my bikes and have been happy.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Update-Survival-Holding-Clamp/dp/B004GLHZZC/

Looks like it covers the basics, except for a torque wrench (which not needed for groupset change). Pricey, though. This bikehand one has everything except the missing link pliers for less than half of the cost. This one includes a torque wrench and bearing press for 2/3 of the cost.

Also, KMC recommends against using submersing chain cleaners like the one included.

I carry this Topeak Survival Gear Box https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-TT2543-Survival-Gear-Box/dp/B004GLHZZC and I like that each tool is separate so when you use one the task isn't weighed down by being connected to all the other tools. It also attaches well to the frame so it doesn't take up space in other bag spots.

Use QuikStix. You only need one, one side is to get the tire off, and the other side is to put it back on. Works better than 3-4 lever solutions and the stick is very sturdy, you can yank into it with all your might and it won't snap.

I use degreaser and something like this to wipe down the chain, chainring, and cog. Chain cleaners like this are really convenient, but hard to use on fixed gears since there's less slack than a bike with a derailleur. After it's nice and shiny, I tension it, and put a drop of all weather lube in every link like this.

A good multi tool, zip ties, and/or electrical tape.

What kind of tools do you already have? The non-typical could be the BB wrenches/extractors as well as the headset wrenches, depending on type. There's kit that have most of what you'll need. But it kinda depends on what frame you're building up.

Also, be aware that there's different types and sizes to just about everything on a bike, from the bottom bracket threads and types to the stem types and diameters.

So far my gear includes:

• Extra tube
  
• 'The Black Bibs' bibs
  
• Wotow Multitool
  
• Topeak Mini Morph pump
  
• Roswheel Frame Bag
  
• WasaFire Light Kit
  
• Giro Helmet
  
• Patch Kit
  
• Kryptonite Mini-5 U-Lock
  
• Showers Pass wind/rain jacket
  
• Kryptonite Keeper Chain Lock
  
  What I want next:
  
  
• Bond Conduction headphones
  
• Topeak Rear Rack
  
• Topeak Trolley Tote
  
• Shimano MT50s
  
• Casual Clipless shoes
  
• Hitch and rack for my tiny car

Crankbrothers mini bike tools Multi 19 Tool black +Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00067W7CG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bw23AbMWEWPW0

WOTOW 16 in 1 Multi-Function Bike Bicycle Cycling Mechanic Repair Tool Kit With 3 pcs Tire Pry Bars Rods https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010B7Q40G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ux23AbK8CQ3VF

One of these okay?

These might be your only option...

you can find them a bit cheaper here though ;)

This has been around for decades. I've had one since the 80s. It's my longest lasting tool. Still cut up patches into smaller pieces when I patch tubes to make them last. Used to carry a baggie of baby powder to sprinkle in the tire so the tube doesn't fold on itself when blowing up after a repair. Blow up twice to make real sure the tube settles evenly.

http://www.amazon.com/Lezyne-Port-Shop-Tool-Kit/dp/B002SJX2V0/ref=sr_1_11?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1371437583&sr=1-11

Tools,Tire Lever Set, extra wheels,chain,lube,cables. That's what I got.

I just got that from my LBS. I was taking a class through the shop so I got employee pricing on it.

I found out afterwards that it's only slightly less than what amazon offers for it.

Also found this one?

http://smile.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tools/dp/B00BW4T7BG?ie=UTF8&keywords=bike%20tool%20kit&qid=1465479764&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4

YouTube has everything you need.

But you’ll need a set of tools. This is what I have. The tools are cheap and not quality, but it’s only $40 and has just about everything you’ll need.

if you do it to maintain a couple of your own bikes I picked one of these up years ago. https://www.amazon.com/Deckey-Bicycle-Multifunction-Maintenance-Professional/dp/B01N0SFTJY/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=bike+tool+kit&qid=1566996273&s=gateway&sr=8-10

if you do this more than maintaining your own bike they maybe a bit light duty.

If you're not a bike shop you'll probably only use those special tools a dozen or so times. I've had this thing for the past year. They're low quality but they work. It's nice to not have to be paranoid about losing your tools.

I recommend this. It saved my ass a few times:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085CE1B4

Any tool set that would have what I need to fix this reccomended? Preferably sometihng that's on amazon prime. Here is some I found. Let me know if any of them have both tools I'll need (the right type of coarse, all of there seems to have crank pullers and lockring tool but not sure if they are compatible)

Also if I am gonna re-lube it any recommendation on lube?

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Value-Professional-Bicycle-Tool/dp/B01C6ZQN02/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1465090558&sr=8-29&keywords=bike+repair+tool+kit

http://www.amazon.com/FANTASYCART-Universal-Mechanics-Bicycle-44pcs/dp/B0019J6ZLE/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1465090558&sr=8-30&keywords=bike+repair+tool+kit

http://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tool/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1465090417&sr=8-5&keywords=bike+repair+tool+kit

http://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tools/dp/B006WRWEJU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1465090417&sr=8-7&keywords=bike+repair+tool+kit

http://www.amazon.com/Venzo-Premium-Bike-Repair-Tools/dp/B011NJ5WP4/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1465090417&sr=8-14&keywords=bike+repair+tool+kit

Get a bike repair multi tool (like this, even cheap stuff like this should be fine) and a wrench to remove your wheels (if needed). These multi tools often have a chaintool included. Take a patch kit.

Check your bike before you go, apply some chain oil (NOT WD40) and you should be fine. I went over 5000km before I had my first flat tire and nothing else ever happened so far. Yes, I think I might be stupidly lucky, but for a few days you wont need to bring everything. If the worst happens you can hitchhike to the next train station or bikeshop.