Tools - which set to buy?

le_boss

Hello

Looking at buying my first tool set so i can carry out basic servicing on my bike.

Have bought the Zinn road bike maintenance book, and now want a set of tools.

have narrowed it down to these 2:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/LifeL ... 360031531/

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 0000000000

just wondering if anyone has any others they can recommend?

im a total novice at bike maintenance (have a spare bike for winter so thats going to be my guinea pig for learning how to service the bike) so any tips or advice would be very much appreciated!

tim_wand

Both these look better quality than the LIFU set I started with.

However if your going to stick with this . I d buy the individual tools you need and stick with Park. Pricey I know but they last a life time.

Start of with a decent set of ball ended allen keys. Or even just their 4.5.6 combo (£10)

Their No2 Philips Screw driver (mech adjustment) about £8

A bottom bracket tool and a pedal spanner and a Freewheel lock ring tool and chain whip( £30 the lot)

a decent chain spliter (rivolli rivout ) £8


and finally a decent set of cable cutters (shimano/madison ones are decent but pricey)

Buy good stuff buy it once and look after it / dont lend it out.

And if you havent got a bike stand get one it will save your back.

giant_man

tim wand wrote:

Both these look better quality than the LIFU set I started with.

However if your going to stick with this . I d buy the individual tools you need and stick with Park. Pricey I know but they last a life time.

Start of with a decent set of ball ended allen keys. Or even just their 4.5.6 combo (£10)

Their No2 Philips Screw driver (mech adjustment) about £8

A bottom bracket tool and a pedal spanner and a Freewheel lock ring tool and chain whip( £30 the lot)

a decent chain spliter (rivolli rivout ) £8


and finally a decent set of cable cutters (shimano/madison ones are decent but pricey)

Buy good stuff buy it once and look after it / dont lend it out.

And if you havent got a bike stand get one it will save your back.

+1 - there are going to be tools in any one of the sets you buy which will break and you have so use for. Much better to buy a good case/box and buy the right tools as you go. I have done exactly this. The tool kits you have links to are that price for a reason.

Having said that, If I were going to buy a tool kit today I personally would look at the ones from BBB, which are Shimano or Campag equipped, which saves you buying specific Shim or Campag tools when you realise what you need.

http://www.bbbparts.com/tools_btl59.php
http://www.bbbparts.com/tools_btl58.php

apreading

I got this set

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/38 ... l-kit.html

based on recommendations on here. If I were getting serious about it I am sure I would pay more but this does what I need for now.

tx14

i have the life line tool kit in your first link. paid 40 for it.

the shimano bb tool is for newer external bb cups, not older ones where the splines are inside the bb shell. the pedal wrench could be longer too. other than that, no faults. although i personally would not pay more than 50 for it.

Coach H

tim wand wrote:

However if your going to stick with this . I d buy the individual tools you need and stick with Park. Pricey I know but they last a life time.
quote]

Not always true with Park. I have some good stuff but recently had a pedal specific allen key (longer etc) which not only got rounded off at first use with very little pressure but was just hard enough to also round the allen fixing on the pedal spindle. End result a knackered pedal and a pedal that will take considerable (destructive) effort to remove.

Its just my experience but I specifically bought a Park product to avoid this type of event.

thedirge

got the lifeline set here under my desk at work, mate needed to borrow it. Very handy would recommend it.