Getting started: tools? Tips please!

for my past projects, i was always depending on this friend of mine to help me build what i was needing. not any more, i want to grow my technical skills and i need help. (i should i am curious playing with 4-5 bikes a year + various changes)

i want some reliable tools to be independent in doing what i need(no stands, or hardcore spoke spanners i will be truing the wheels in a bike shop).
as any other specialised subject this century, you have to browse alot to get the best result. of course i want to pay some quality objects(but i don't want to pay marketing or something i won't get to use), i know you can have good results and learn easier to handle with good tools, so i would built a kit from scratch, so my kids from the future think they had a hard working father hehe.

for the moment i have this cbt italia i want to convert to a single speed
that involves chain whip(could be something cheaper, park might be overpriced?), spanners for the hubs, crank removal tool, i think it's a square bb, for the chain i could use my crank brothers multitool, i think it isn't a tool for a frequent use. anyhow, i want a complete kit for this kind of jobs, combining regular tools with bicycle specialized, but all in good quality.

any help from this 0 point, so i use my money wisely?(the budget is 100£)
thank you

I'd stick with quality for cone spanners, allen keys, sockets, or anything which has to be accurately cut and not burr during use. Park are always good. That applies to cable cutters too. And screwdrivers.

Cheap chain whips are fine in my experience. The Ice Tools BB puller is fine for little money if you aren't going to use it more than say, one hundred times.

that is a good feedback to start with, thank you. do you happen to know a good park tool online seller in uk? i think i am already at 200budget hehe

+1 on getting quality spanners and allen keys, if you're getting allen keys, try getting the ones with T shaped handles rather than the sets that are like an L, they allow for much easier tightening and handling from my experience. Good spanners are a must pretty much, find a decently priced set, if you pay a lot once, you'll save money in the long run, same with cable cutters as mentioned above.

For BB extractors, you don't have to spend the earth as you wont be using them all that often, same with chainwhips. Couple of sizes of screwdrivers are also useful, one large, one small of each is a good start.

Oh, and get a decent hammer, a really big one, wooden one for smacking nice things, metal one for smacking 'orrid things. Also, if your budget allows, a vice is really, really useful, not a little one, like a big one, should weigh more than you.

I would buy either

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55963

or

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40997

and then buy anything else you need on top, if you're riding fixed you'lll be needing a decent lockring spanner for instance. Those kits though are a good start, and the allen keys are decent enough quality.

This is a good set for 95 quid. Good selection of tools ther. I have their Allen wrench and chain tool and they're good enough quality, assuming the rest are too.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-professional-tool-kit/

is this tool suited for retro road bikes? don't they all have 1inch?
http://www.parktool.com/product/head-cup-remover-rt-1

Here's what I give to the people who come on my maintenance course (www.doctorbike.org)

Happy spannering and here's the promised list.

Rule #1: avoid cheap and nasty tools - they'll wear out and ruin your bike. Don't spend anything less than the amounts noted below.
Rule #2: second hand tools are fine, as long as they were good quality in the first place and they've been looked after
Rule #3: keep your tools in just one (or two) places, split into a) those that you taking on rides and b) ones for doing bigger jobs
Rule #4: don't let people take your tools away even if it's your best friend
Rule #5: if you need a specialist tool for a one-off job - don't buy it. Call me instead!

ESSENTIAL

• Multitools
  [INDENT]- nice quality - www.sjscycles.co.uk/blackburn-blackburn-heist-10-10-function-multi-tool-prod25356/ (£15)
  
• this one covers the 8, 9, 10 sockets too - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-B-Cycle-Bike-X-Tool-12-Function-Microtool-/400221295731 (£12)[/INDENT]
  
• chainbreaker - www.sjscycles.co.uk/topeak-topeak-chain-tool-super-prod16115/ (£12)
  
• Screwdriver - Phillips posidrive 2 (standard tool)
  
• Spoke key
  [INDENT]- this'll 4-way one will cover everything (Fat Spanner) - www.fredbakercycles.co.uk/180/FAT-SPANNER-Spoke-key-.html (£4.50)
  
• 3-way one is good too (X-tools) - http://tinyurl.com/6cmtdkp (£4)[/INDENT]
  
• Y-shaped three way socket set - 8, 9, 10 - http://tinyurl.com/5rq6mzn (£5) or there's one from Park Tool (higher quality) (£12)
  
• Track pump - www.sjscycles.co.uk/passport-resident-track-pump-prod18311/ (£10)
  
• Tyre levers - www.sjscycles.co.uk/park-tool-tyre-lever-set-tl-1-prod9930/ (£3)
  
• GT85 - spray on lube (not for chains, use after wet ride on moving parts, keep off wheel rims)
  
• Oil - get it from a bike shop, cheap stuff will do fine
  
  
  

VERY USEFUL

• 8, 9, 10, 15, 17mm spanners (14 for Andrew) (standard tools)
  
• Screwdriver - normal flat head, medium size (standard tool)
  
• Grease - get it from a bike shop, cheap stuff will do fine. (You won't need this unless you're doing advanced maintenance)
  
• 12" metal ruler - http://tinyurl.com/6gkrof3 (£3)
  
• adjustable spanner (standard tool)
  
• needlenose pliers (standard tool)
  
• puncture kit - old fashioned ones from the bike shop are best
  

Forget that crappy topeak chaintool, this is the one you want: http://www.freeborn.co.uk/ybn-single-speed-chain-tool-1 hubjub used to do it for £11 but I can't seem to find it. I can't fault mine at all.

Forget that crappy topeak chaintool, this is the one you want: http://www.freeborn.co.uk/ybn-single-speed-chain-tool-1 hubjub used to do it for £11 but I can't seem to find it. I can't fault mine at all.
best chain tool, got mine from clas ohlson in croydon but it looks like they don't sell them anymore.

^ and ^^ - I had one that looked just like that. Metal was bendy as fuck. The Topeak (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/topeak-topeak-chain-tool-super-prod16115/) one can be carried around easily unlike that monster.

What about bike stand / clamp

Bike stand? I have the Park Tools foldable stand PCS 9. It's brilliant, worth every penny. I use mine all the time, and transport it to the market every Saturday where I do www.doctorbike.org.

DFP's top tip;

Use tools how they were meant to be used. Even the best tools can be destroyed quickly from misuse. People often rag on cheap 'looking' things like cone spanners, but even the most basic ones will last you a lifetimes cycling if you use them appropriately.

If you find yourself getting frustrated because something wont work, dont reach for the hammer. Walk away and think about things logically, waiting a couple days to get delivery of the correct tool is not such a big deal. Even expensive tools will pay for themselves in no time.

^ I agree.

Obviously some tools are shit. But a lot of the time if you use them properly they can do the job. Especially if it a very simple tool.

I've got the Halfords Essential Bike Tool Kit.

it cost me a bit under £30 at the time.
**
Broken:
*** tyre levers

• lock ring tool
  
  

**Barely usable:
*** BB pin tool thingy - for old style BB's
**
Used often and still working:**

• Spoke key (almost 10 wheels built)
  
• Allen keys
  
• Crank extractors
  
• Chainbraker
  
• Headset spanner / chainwhip
  
  

Point is it was value for money at the time. I love good tools. There's nothing better than a well made tool that's right for the job. But I've only used the shimano cassette/BB tool maybe 10 times. The teeth aren't great and you can tell it won't last if I used it on a weekly basis, but I don't.

I say spend as much as you can on what you need.

But if you can't spend very much, some cheap tools will work fine if you treat them right. Although I'd caveat that by saying think about how a tool will be used. That ^ lockring tool was never going to last.

I have the same lockring tool, its not designed for things like fixed wheel lockrings, will never work on one of those.

But I have used it on basic loose ball BB's may times and its worked just fine.

I bought a Bike Tool Kit from LIDL. £20 absolute steal!
It literally has everything! I have never been short of the right tool for the job.
One thing I will say; the lock ring tool isn't too crackey. It's got a pivot on it so you can't get a decent purchase on the lock ring to give it a proper tighten. Pick one up off eBay for a couple of squirrels and you're sorted.

Again, those pivoted lockring tools work just fine for either headsets or BB's.

Hi all,

Been a lurker for a while now and my bike seems to be getting more and more fucked. I've been interested in building up a new bike for myself but I have absolutely no idea or tools so not sure where to start.

So i've decided, instead of buying a new frame and building that up from scratch, instead replacing parts on my Charge Plug just to get an inventory of tools and an idea of how to work my way around disassembly and assemble of a bike.

So just looking for some suggestions to parts / guides / tools i should get as it's a huge subject for me to jump into.

tl;dr: wants to replace stock parts on charge plug, what tools / parts do I need.

Cheers,
Eddie.

Start with going through the bike and finding out whats got to much play or is worn out and needs adjusting/replacing.
Once you have a list if you post it up here people can advise you on what to buy and what tools would be required. Thant way you could work your way through replacing and improving while keeping your bike rideable for the maximum amount of time.

Good starting point, plus a full allen key set, and a proper lockwhip. Should see you through most, aside from the occasional special tool for odd bottom brackets or whatever.

Search is up there.

Identifying the part you want to replace would be a good first step.

I'm pretty sure the BB is nakered as every 4-5-6 (not sure as it changes) pedal gives a click I can hear and kind of feel.

I found one of my chain links has a crack through one side of the link as well.

Will have a proper look over it when I get home this evening as it has been unrideable with a puncture recently (haven't had a chance to replace)

I appreciate the search is up there, but if you come into this subject with hardly any knowledge (other then picking up the names of the parts through normal conversations on here) it's pretty daunting to be reading about english vs french threaded when i'm not even sure what they are threading in to! (just one example)

Thanks for the replies all.