favourite tools?

[RoadRaven]

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

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

[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!

[DebW]

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!

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.

[SouthernBelle]

Raven, a pic of that rack, please?

[lph]

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.