Tools

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able to
work on the bike from a-z.

Tool number zero is Knowledge. Go to the library; brows the bike
repair and service books. I personally favor the Zinn books. Once
you've had a chance to see what is involved, you can make
better-informed decisions about which tools to buy, or whether to grab
one of the everything-in-a-box kits from somewhere like Nashbar.
(Many of those are pretty good, but the way, but most of the larger
kits will include things that you don't need. On the other hand, the
kit with extra stuff may well be cheaper than just buying the
individual items that apply to your bike.)

For a relatively new bike, doing basic service, here's what I'd want
to have around:

Spoke wrench
5mm and 6mm Allen wrenches
#2 Phillips screwdriver
Flat-blade screwdriver
Tire levers and tube patch kit
Tire pump (preferably with a guage)
Tire pressure guage that works with Presta valves
Presta-to-Schrader adapter (leave it on the bike)
Chain lube of your choice
Open-end wrenches as required for locknuts
Pedal wrench if you plan to swap pedals at all
Roll of the blue "shop rag" paper towels for general cleaning

In my opinion, it's unlikely that you will need more than this for a
while; those items will cover such tasks as cable, brake pad, bar and
seat position adjustment, and maintenance like chain lube.

About chain lube...

Whether to engage in extensive chain cleaning, and how best to do it,
is a Matter Of Opinion around here; the topic has been Discussed. At
length. Repeatedly. Chain lube choice is just as much of a matter of
opinion, and has been Discussed just as much.

About tire pressure...

Until you have a feel for "how hard is right", using a tire pressure
guage to check inflation is a good idea, but most riders I know rely
on their thumb and forefinger to check air pressure once they've had a
little experience with what the tire feels like when the pressure is
correct.

Beyond that, bike maintenance and repair is a learning process; you
won't know what you need to know (and have) until you need it, but
unless you live in an area where the stuff is hard to get (or the
bike's availability for reliable transport is a critical need), it's
probably not essential to go out and buy every tool you could possibly
require right away. On the other hand, picking up one of the bike
tool kits from a place like nashbar might bail you out on a Sunday
afternoon when the stores are closed. It's you call on which way to
go on these issues. I'm just suggesting considerations.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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"Javier" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1134654441.070976.248550
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge.

www.parktool.com describes (in detail) all the important bicycle maintenance
jobs and what tools you need for them.

Ken wrote on Thursday 15 December 2005 16:18:

Quoted message said:

"Javier" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1134654441.070976.248550
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge.

www.parktool.com describes (in detail) all the important bicycle
maintenance jobs and what tools you need for them.

It's worth reading in conjunction with Sheldon's site though - he
sometimes has suggestions for alternative, home made tools where the
Park equivalents costs real money.
--
Regards
Alex
The From address above is a spam-trap.
The Reply-To address is valid

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able to
work on the bike from a-z.

Javier

Most of the mail order houses have toolbox kits with a general
assortment of tools. That and a good bike maintenance book should carry
you a long way.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

www.parktool.com describes (in detail) all the important bicycle maintenance
jobs and what tools you need for them.

Keep in mind you don't have the Park version of the tool. Some of their stuff
is [censored]. Other stuff is overpriced [censored].
-------------
Alex

I'll want to build or at least maintaining my wheels so I'm assuming a
good quality truing stand and repair stand would be essential? Any
suggestions on a make? Park seems really expensive on the truing stand
side of things.

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able
to work on the bike from a-z.

Javier

An adjustable wrench is all you need for 99% of repairs!

Sometimes the occasional hammer supplements the wrench.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

find parks tool's website-park's put up an info service
biketoolsect is an oregon company doing mailorder-get the catalog, its
instructive.
a good snapon curved jaw visegrips for BB and threadde headsets
needle nose visegrips as thrid cable hand and some cone wrech apps
a 12" channel locks for the deral adjustor and threaded headset wrench
plus a real headset wrench
and a snap on adjustable wrench.
and the propane blowtorch for loosening the red loctite.
if you need a pin tool get a pro monster.
such tools mar the finish but are effective
nashbar has a company tool line

Javier said:

I'll want to build or at least maintaining my wheels so I'm assuming a
good quality truing stand and repair stand would be essential? Any
suggestions on a make? Park seems really expensive on the truing stand
side of things.

You don't need a truing stand to adjust or build wheels. I just use the
brake pads as a guide and true on the bike. For a stand, I just hang the
bike by a rope.

Here's the stupides question on earth. When trueing a wheel on the bike
should I remove the tube and tire or leave them on? Stupid question...I
know but I have no idea.

In article <[email hidden]>, Werehatrack

Quoted message said:

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able to
work on the bike from a-z.

Tool number zero is Knowledge. Go to the library; brows the bike
repair and service books. I personally favor the Zinn books. Once
you've had a chance to see what is involved, you can make
better-informed decisions about which tools to buy, or whether to grab
one of the everything-in-a-box kits from somewhere like Nashbar.
(Many of those are pretty good, but the way, but most of the larger
kits will include things that you don't need. On the other hand, the
kit with extra stuff may well be cheaper than just buying the
individual items that apply to your bike.)

Quoted message said:

For a relatively new bike, doing basic service, here's what I'd want
to have around:

Spoke wrench
5mm and 6mm Allen wrenches
#2 Phillips screwdriver
Flat-blade screwdriver
Tire levers and tube patch kit
Tire pump (preferably with a guage)
Tire pressure guage that works with Presta valves
Presta-to-Schrader adapter (leave it on the bike)
Chain lube of your choice
Open-end wrenches as required for locknuts
Pedal wrench if you plan to swap pedals at all
Roll of the blue "shop rag" paper towels for general cleaning

Good advice! Start with knowledge, the only indispensible instrument;
as for the remaining aids, you'll soon know what you can do without
buying, by the frequency and type of wrenching undertaken.

The above list will cover the tool requirements for basic maintenance
and adjustments. Further considerations: don't buy a multi-tool with
the anticipation of using it to service your bike at home - these
devices are awkward, save them for road-side emergencies; avoid buying
special seldomly used tools (adaptor for installing a Chris-King
headset crownrace); before buying inquire whether a homemade facsimile
is possible.

Exclude component replacement from your self-servicing equation, and
you'll discover how few tools are required for basic maintenance - they
all may be residing in your toolbox already.

Luke

Javier said:

When truing a wheel on the bike should I remove the tube and tire
or leave them on?

That depends on the circumstances. If it's a quick fix, like
replacing one spoke (or if you are on the road) don't take the tire
off. However if you are building a wheel or have it at home with time
to spare, always take the tire off because that is the only way to get
an easy reading of roundness along the outer rim of the sidewall.

There is also the consideration that maybe with an inflated tire, an
elastic rim tape is bearing on the spoke nipple or even the end of a
spoke. It is possible to cause a leak in that case.

Most important is that the interface between spoke nipple and rim is
oiled. Not doing that is what causes rounded spoke nipple flanks. If
there is insufficient oil on the threads, the spoke will audibly
complain so as usual, the squeaky wheel gets oiled.

Jobst Brandt

Javier said:

Here's the stupides question on earth. When trueing a wheel on the bike
should I remove the tube and tire or leave them on? Stupid question...I
know but I have no idea.

I've always built and trued wheels in the frame. Taking the tire off
isn't necessary for truing... I use my thumbnail steadied by the brake
pad to determine sideways "high" spots on the rim.

Javier said:

Here's the stupides question on earth. When trueing a wheel on the bike
should I remove the tube and tire or leave them on? Stupid question...I
know but I have no idea.

Try it with the tires on first and you'll see the answer.

JT

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Javier said:

Here's the stupides question on earth. When trueing a wheel on the bike
should I remove the tube and tire or leave them on? Stupid question...I
know but I have no idea.

No reason to take them off.

Jasper

Squid-in-Training said:

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able
to work on the bike from a-z.

Quoted message said:

An adjustable wrench is all you need for 99% of repairs!

Sometimes the occasional hammer supplements the wrench.

Don't forget the rock chisel for stubborn nuts.

Jasper

Phil said:

An adjustable wrench is all you need for 99% of repairs!

Sometimes the occasional hammer supplements the wrench.

You're a sinner in the hands of an angry god.

Javier said:

I ride a '06 Trek 1200 and I'd like to be able to perform most if not
all of my own adjustments and repairs in stand of having to haul the
bike to my LBS every time it's in need of service due to my lack of
tools and hands on knowledge. What would be a good collection of tools
to purchase in order to repair the bike at home. I'd like to be able to
work on the bike from a-z.

I'd recommend getting the tools as you need them. That is, if you need
to adjust your headset, get headset tools for the bike you have. If you
need to true your wheels, get a spoke wrench, and, if you need it, a
truing stand, etc.

catzz66 said:

Most of the mail order houses have toolbox kits with a general
assortment of tools. That and a good bike maintenance book should carry
you a long way.

Agreed.

Hate to recommend the big faceless mail order house, but you can't beat
a basic Nashbar kit for $40:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=99&subcategory=1232&brand=&sku=3521&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

You'd spend that just for a crank puller, chain whip and some tire
levers, but by getting the kit you get three times more stuff.

Then you can hit your LBS to fill in the gaps for any specialty tools
you want.

I've kicked myself many times for not just getting a kit--my tools
might be slightly fancier, but I payed 3X the price by buying them
individually.

If you've got the room, some sort of repair stand would also be nice.
Personally, I just flip my road bike upside down on a piece of
Park/appliance cardboard, and sit on a genuine Pedros er paint bucket.
:P I use the same cardboard when I change the oil or repair the exhaust
on the car--very versatile stuff!