Getting started: tools? Tips please!

Which are the best old boots for fucking?

A bug wrench and some tight nuts go along way...

speaking of tools.
tommy - if you ride out west for a pint with me, murtle and big daddy, i will give you your bb tool back AND ride back with you.

is that a real light sabre ?

wow !!!!!!! !!

1. The fucking manual of course!
   And don't forget to read it.

2. Spanners (preferably 2 of each) 6 - 15mm and/or box wrenches

3. Spoke key

4. Flat, thin spanners
   15mm extra long for pedals
   13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (2 of each) for hub axles

5. Headset spanners, if you have a threaded headset, 2 pcs.

6. BB tools (combi with headset spanners, Sugino, Campag, Shimano) in case you have a cup/cone BB-set.

7. Scissors

8. Hobby knife

9. A friendly neighbour who can fix everything on a bike

10. some oil and grease (I know, not a tool, but still good to have)

is that a real light sabre ?

Sci-Fi fail. Thats Dr Who's sonic screwdriver.

speaking of tools.
tommy - if you ride out west for a pint with me, murtle and big daddy, i will give you your bb tool back AND ride back with you.

Nice offer but I'm pooring over maps at the moment last minuet work for a trip. Will do i a week or so though it would be good to see some westsiders too.

cool - gimme a shout.

cool tommy, long time and all that

I don't know what else to add........

Oh yes I remember now:

Just got into riding a fixie and got my first bike, loving it

Just need to know what tools i will need to maintain my bike for small jobs

For example i only use a front break (not used to skid stops yet) and one of the pads fell off the other day, but because i had no tools i had to take it into a shop.

Was thinking of getting a multi tool and then something else if i really need it such as a 15mm wrench for pedals or something

Oh and i'm a student so don't have much money to spend haha, just want a few things so i can maintain my bike well

Allen keys maybe then? ;-)

I was in the same position as you a little while ago and reckon it's best to buy good quality tools rather than cheap ones as it'll cost you more in the long-run anyway when you have to replace broken stuff.

The only tools I have which I used to build my bike and look after it are; large adjustable spanner from a DIY store, set of allen wrenches (long-handled allen keys), chain whip/gear tool, wheelnut spanner (which has a bottle-opener on it so there's a saving!) and a chain tool. Although I did get a crank-puller too as I needed to get the old crank off my bike.

The allen key set I have is this one: http://road.cc/content/review/48473-one23-hex-key-set

HTH

Bare minimum (ie things you'll use most regularly):

Puncture repair kit
Pump
15mm spanner
Alan keys
Chain lube

I wouldn't bother with anything else at the moment. Agree with winter re buying decent tools though. Shit tools are a false economy (and generally unsatisfactory to use)

Beyond the basics:

After the basics I'd get a track pump - you'll use it weekly so worth getting if there's any extra ££, rather than any other tools which are nice to have but infrequently used.

A chain splitter is good to have but not really used very often. You could get a multitool with one on (although separate ones are generally nicer to use).

You'll only need a chain whip it you're changing sprockets. Doubt you'll do this often. So leave it and borrow one if you need.

If you go to B&Q (other d.i.y. shops are available) you'll be to get allen keys a lot cheaper than those above.

+1 for the track pump.

Track pump, puncture repair kit, Allen keys, pump to take out on bike, 15mm spanner job jobbed.

Buy a good puncture repair kit, and track pump. Make sure you get one that fits presta so you don't have to faff with adapters ;)

Allen keys and spanner should be good ones as you'll need them for most jobs on a bike - the exception of course is if there free/from a car boot sale so cheaps :)

As you need a 15mm spanner to repair punctures road side you may as well get proper sized Allen keys as it's not like you'll be able to have a really small kit when your carrying a spanner

£65 would be well more than you need, probably 50 if you get a cheap track pump :)

for home mechanics:
metric allen key set, cost about a tenner for some decent ones.
15mm spanner, a couple of quid from a diy shop
track pump, try not to get the very cheapest one, but I got one for a tenner in a sale and it's bad b but does the job.
Chain whip, you don't have to spend a lot, they're all the same unless you get a really expensive one.
Lockring tool, it's included in some chain whips, so get one of them.
Chain tool, you can get a half decent one for a fiver.
Cable cutters, fairly expensive but you can just buy some when you need them.

On the go mechanics:
Small travel pump, they're all shit, it just needs to get some air in the tyre so you can get home.
Tyre levers, get Pedros, they're the best.
15mm spanner, you should already have this.
Spare inner tubes, carry at least 1 with you on all journeys. You can often get deals like 10 for £20 online, chain reaction cycles have been doing this recently.

You can just buy the tools as you need them, but being prepared will save you money and time having to take your bike to a shop to get fixed especially if you get a puncture on the way somewhere.

Another note on the track pump, get one with a gauge

Best place to buy tools?
I was given a lifeline tool set at XMAS and a couple of the tools have broken already! Some great, some not so great. Thinking of upgrading to Park Tool but they are so expensieve. Any views on the best places to get good deals!

^ slightly off topic but I have a set of the LifeLine T Handle Hex Wrench Keys (long allen keys) and I really like them. It's always difficult to compare but they do as well as the Park Tools tools I have so was surprised to hear some of your ones had broken. I shall be a bit wary of them in future.

the hex wrench keys are fine. Sadly, The crank puller and the chain break tool both broke after only a few uses.

Thinking of upgrading to Park Tool but they are so expensieve.

But probably not as expensive as continually replacing broken tools and the extra time that would have been saved by using a better tool?

Draper tools and Ice tools have served me well. If it's for spanners any Chrome Vanadium ones will do.

for a fuller tool box i have been advised that ceeway.com have some very nice quality precision engineered tools, it is a frame building website so there should be all manner of reamers / threaders / cutters / compressors etc
if you want to take it to the next level