Ideal Tool Kit

yeh i bought the lifeline set a year or so ago when i moved out from a house with loads of tools, it's the only way to acquire a good set of bike tools cheap.

but things to bare in mind are, the tyre levers are rubs, so is the chain breaker (which broke), the chain whip is 3/32 (can change to 1/8 with spare chain though), quite a lot of the tools are only applicable to geared bikes. but you get a decent crank puller, 15 spanner, crank hex, cable cutter etc.

the only items i use regularly from the lifeline set are these

everything else i have had to replace. and i don't really use the mini tool as it is so smal you can hardly get any leverage on an allen bolt.

so the more i think about it the more i think it's not worth it.

Excellent review snoops!

Buy single tools as you need and can afford them.
Remember - buy cheap, buy twice!
Borrow what you can't afford at drinks.

ahthankyou

tools you recommend to have for mounting/dismounting my bike

Legs and feet are good he he

Sorry couldn't resist. I carry a spare tube / patches, levers, pump, one-one multi tool and 15mm ring spanner. At home I've got a good set of allen keys, adjustable spanners, chain whip, lockring spanner, pedal wrench, crank puller, headset spanners (for threaded headset). Oh and a wheel truing jig, but thats just me. Stuff like a headset press I've debated buying, but that's what a bikeshop's for right?

home made headset press

The Polish multi tool is the best!

Tried the Polish method, works okay as long as you're careful.

Nice one snoops, will know for next time!

I'd go for a tool set then add some tough track specific tools. I have loads of stuff from Park tools which I like alot despite them being a tad overpriced. The track specific tools I have and can recommend are.
Dura ace chainwhip - tough, 1/8", and does lock ring too.

Cracker chain breaker - tough, and has nice features (limiter collar).

Both are available from HubJub amoungst others (not sure where's cheapest at the mo).

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Just looking for a tool kit to build my 2 single speed / fixie projects. I own most tools, such as allen keys, decent socket set. But I don't own many/any specific bike tools. Infact, I do have a Park Tools headset spanner, chain tool but thats about it.

Can anyone recommend a good quality/value all in 1 kit that will do the job, or at least list the tools I will need so I can order them seperately.

I plan to make my own headset tool with a threaded bar, I (think) I will need:

Work stand
ISIS BB tool
Chainring bolt tool
Crank extractor
Hub spanners
Chain whip
Freewheel spanner (4 tooth)
Casette lock ring spanner
Fixed sprocket lock ring spanner
Low range torque wrench (only have one that does 28-210nm)
BB hex nut spanner
BB lock ring spanner
BB cup spanner
Some thread lock and assembly grease.

Anymore anyone can think of? Just want to be prepared for when all the parts arrive

Have you got either the Park Tool Bike maintenance book or the rather longer but very readable Zinn and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance. Latter has several levels of bike repair / maintenance toolkit recomendations but it is a tad on the 'American Workshop' level where you have to have everything. It's diagrams and blow-ups are great for a start. If you buy either, get them on Amazon or on www.abe.co.uk where they will be secondhand but usually readable & much cheaper. Good luck

Cheers for that, Zinn looks like a good book - just trying to get it for a good price.

To get decent quality tools you've got to throw a bit of money at them. The tool sets I've seen have been around the £50 mark and are largely shit and full of duplicate tools you will already have. Park,wrenchforce and shimano are the only bike specific tools I would touch.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/m/cycle/7/Park_Tools/

there's a start.

I'd get them as you need them. That way you can get good tools rather than buying a lot that are shit or spending a hell of a lot of money in one go.

Also you don't need a work stand, or a lot of the other tools you mentioned... might as well get what you need as and when you need it...

just checking do you need a specific crank removal tool for Campag cranks?
or are they all the same?

yeah think about if you really need all those tools. there's always a mate you can borrow one from if you need it. i've used my chainwhip all of once.

just checking do you need a specific crank removal tool for Campag cranks?
or are they all the same?

Mine's got a hex key? oddly sized though

just checking do you need a specific crank removal tool for Campag cranks?
or are they all the same?

all you need:

yeah but seriously, the tool i have i've used on JIS cranks- you know after removing the boltsyou screw the extractor in and then pop off the cranks.
i know it doesn't work on stronglights.

anyone?

Trouble is I'm not sure if anyone is around here I can borrow tools from.

Do you reckon these will be decent tools or should I go to condor and buy a slightly more premium set?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370230967274&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

What brand of tool do the majority here use? I mainly just want a chainwhip and lockring tool.

They look cheap and the chainwhip is 3/32.

Fail.

LifeLine tools from Wiggle are good bang for buck.

Condor tools are cheap and reasonable quality if you're in London.