favourite tools?

A bit of background here: my dh was a pretty avid biker (commuter) when I met him, and he loves tinkering around with all things mechanical. He's also a packrat, so over the years he's accumulated a large and messy collection of bike tools, doo-dads, spare parts, bits and pieces and little broken things that "might come in handy".

This drives me nuts ;) In fact I'd rather hand my bike over to my lbs than search around in the mess described above. But - I'm now at the point of doing a lot more of my own maintenance, since I now have 3 bikes to maintain and am biking more so the wear and tear is greater. And I want my own toolbox! :D

And I am a total snob when it comes to tools. Tools last forever, and I can't stand using bad stuff that bends or breaks or is sloppy. I'd much rather pay for the good stuff.

So does anybody have any favourite tools/brands, or any good tips when it comes to putting together a good toolbox? So far I'm looking at enough stuff so I can clean+lube my bike, switch tires, fix flats, adjust the derailleurs and brakes, change brake pads and cables and housing, and replace the drivetrain. I think I know what I need, but I'd like tips as to what works, well - best... :p

Good brands: Park Tool is probably the best stuff on the current market. Pedros makes some good tools also and a very good syn grease.

Allen wrench set, bondus bits on 3, 4, and 5 mm are very useful. Most applications work well with one very short side and one very long side, some require the short side because of limited clearance. However, a few applications (tightening brake levers) require one long side and the other side long enough to provide good leverage for tightening. I'd suggest a good set of allen wrenches with long-short sides and another set or 1 or 2 individual wrenches with long-medium sides.

Pliers - 7 inch linesman pliers from Sears are my favorite

Cable cutters - Park makes one, or this one I've always liked

8 and 12 inch crescent wrenches have always been in my tool kit. The 12" works on threaded headsets if you have any, and provides good leverage for crank extractors and freewheel/lockring pullers. If you have older bikes, you'll also want fixed metric wrenches in 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 mm.

Cassette lockring tool - the one with a center post is easier to use. Shimano and Campy are different, freewheels are different, so fit your bikes. A chain whip is necessary with a lock ring tool.

Third hand brake tool, but these are hard to find these days.

Pedal wrench - the longer the better.

Cone wrenches if you have servicable hubs.

Spoke wrenches

Chainring bolt wrench - just to make sure they always stay tight.

Chain tool if your chain doesn't have powerlinks. The $30 Park one is good.

THANK YOU, Deb! I was hoping you'd answer :)

You do have a workstand, don't you? It makes derailleur adjustments SO much easier.

I'll second Park Tools - my all time favorite tool is the Park MT-1. Its a tiny all arounder that will do most of the basic adjustments you ever need on the road (I only wish it had a spoke wrench incorporated - I think they could do it!) It also has a little flat head screwdriver that is really useful for picking glass out of tires. Wrap a bit of duct tape around the handle and you can fix nearly anything on the road. (ask me how I know.... we even taped up a broken spoke of mine once - it didn't really fix the wheel, but it did let me limp the bike home)

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

You do have a workstand, don't you? It makes derailleur adjustments SO much easier.

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We have an old coat rack someone was chucking out - its a rail about 1 1/2 metres long on two legs and stands independantly. Coats used to be hung on coathangers on it.

We have bought two large utility hooks, wrapped them old tyre rubber, attached them to each end of the rail and this is our work stand.

For any "under-the-bike" work, we get two bungy cords (the elastic with hooks at both ends) and hang the bike from one of the beams in the shed. We can get right under the bike, or have a look at components at eye level rather than having to bend down.

These two systems work really well :)

I personally can't live without my 3-way (it's a 4-5-6 allen wrench combination). And I just like saying 3-way!

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Originally Posted by velogirl

I personally can't live without my 3-way (it's a 4-5-6 allen wrench combination). And I just like saying 3-way!

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Or you can call it the "Y". I have an 8-9-10 box end Y wrench that gave me the same loving feeling in the 70s and 80s.

Raven, a pic of that rack, please?

Great tips from everybody :)

We had a workstand, but I threw it out in the last move as the holding bolt was broken and it somehow managed to be both heavy and unwieldy, and wobbly and unbalanced all at the same time. Our workstand at the moment consists of a rope thrown over a rafter to hoist up the rear wheel... so I will be looking for a good workstand too before summer. I have one at work, and in winter that's where I do my tinkering anyway cos I can stand indoors in relative comfort.

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Originally Posted by Eden

I'll second Park Tools - my all time favorite tool is the Park MT-1. Its a tiny all arounder that will do most of the basic adjustments you ever need on the road (I only wish it had a spoke wrench incorporated - I think they could do it!) It also has a little flat head screwdriver that is really useful for picking glass out of tires. Wrap a bit of duct tape around the handle and you can fix nearly anything on the road. (ask me how I know.... we even taped up a broken spoke of mine once - it didn't really fix the wheel, but it did let me limp the bike home)

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I picked up this little tool during the REI member sale- it is so cute! I know a tool shouldn't be cute but it is. It is just the perfect size for tying to my leatherman. ( I keep my Leatherman Juice CS4 in a poorly made (by me) pouch in order to keep it from being scratched up.) I think with those 2 tools together I could solve all of the world's problems and bring about world peace and harmony.

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Originally Posted by madscot13

I think with those 2 tools together I could solve all of the world's problems and bring about world peace and harmony.

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:D :D

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Originally Posted by madscot13

I think with those 2 tools together I could solve all of the world's problems and bring about world peace and harmony.

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I think you could give Miss South Carolina a run for her money :)

the box makes a very cutting figure- or at least the Leatherman does

That's Mr. Leatherman ;)