it's occurred to me recently that all the money i've spent on parts/maintenance should've just been spent on tools. i am a terrible mechanic, but at least i would've learned something. srsly: a G on repairs in the last five years (nb i get a mid-winter overhaul annually), probs. i have the equivalent to an ak-37 now, plus stand, but all those tools would've been a whole lot more useful years ago
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 22:43 (eleven years ago) link
Fuck, my 3-spd is STILL in pieces because I never got that drive-side crank apart and I know anyone I take it to now is going to want to shoot me.
― how did I get here? why am I in the whiskey aisle? this is all so (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 22:43 (eleven years ago) link
"we don't do that here"
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 22:44 (eleven years ago) link
I'm embarrassed to even watch them r-their-de at me.
xp to be honest it really helped that I hardly needed any specialized tools to start? For older bikes, you can get everything you need (or at least a make-shift solution) at yr average decently stocked hardware store.
― how did I get here? why am I in the whiskey aisle? this is all so (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 22:45 (eleven years ago) link
by which you mean "a hammer"
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 22:57 (eleven years ago) link
but yeah, the simplicity of old stuff is nice. tho i think that modern mountain bikes (more than fusty ol road bikes) have done a lot to standardize things. a tri-tool can do a whole lot these days. and almost all adjustments can be handled by a single set of allens: shifter/levers, brakes, stem/headset, pedals (installation and removal), cinch bolts on cranks (outboard), seat/post, derailleurs (mounting). funny splined wrench, headset press, truing stand, spoke wrenches, philips-head (several), stand, "small parts (including cable/housing)", yr set.
i'm leaving out tools for hub work because that shit is alchemy to me
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:04 (eleven years ago) link
^^^ gbx's shopping list
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:05 (eleven years ago) link
otm about allen keys but pedals without spanner grip are disgusting, savage.
― ledge, Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:14 (eleven years ago) link
eggbeaters are allen only!!!
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:25 (eleven years ago) link
I've got some Candies that are, but my regular ones ain't!
― ledge, Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:28 (eleven years ago) link
weird, mine are
they old-ish
― catbus otm (gbx), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:29 (eleven years ago) link
apparently only the chrome ones take a spanner. whhhhhhyyyyyyyyyy.
― ledge, Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:31 (eleven years ago) link
I bought a really good basic toolkit from rei for ~$50 which had all these tools in. Presumably it would duplicate a bunch you have but it was cheaper than buying odds and ends. Plus it had things like a cable stretcher which I'd never considered I needed but it turns out to be super useful.
There's a bunch on eBay as well.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 03:30 (eleven years ago) link