So – I don’t want to blow a wad, but equally don’t want to end up short of important bit’s or tools that break after half a use.

Anyone got any ideas?

(Note: I want tools that will allow me to strip down a bike for maintenance and put it back together again without too much fuss. Specialist “serves one purpose” tools for dismantling forks, stripping out hub bearings, trimming headsets or whatever are not necessary. Just a basic tool set).

Cheers

http://www.weldtite.co.uk/16/pages/knowledge-centre/essential-tools.aspx

Lidl occasionally do a cheap set of bike tools that has most of what you need. The quality isn’t amazing but it’s well worth having to get you going. I’ve built a couple of bikes and never used a torque wrench btw.

Check eBay for Britool bit sets (like this). You’ll get a full range a reasonable quality hex, torx and screwdriver bits for around a tenner. Their 1/4 drive ratchets are also very good for the money.

The bit set, ratchet and, if you really must, torque wrench will cover most things on your bike, then just pick up a chain whip and BB/cranks tools.

Three-fish

that’s kind of the problem, I was hoping to go and buy “1 Box”. It seems when you buy separates it starts to get quite pricy e.g. extra Torque wrench, extra BB tool, extra Chain whip etc etc.

All-in-one boxes will always leave you with stuff you’ll never use. Their quality is also generally low, unless you stump up for the better stuff, where you’ll still end up paying for tools you’ll never need.

To save me repeating myself, here’s something I wrote for a beginner’s guide to buying tools. It might be of some use to you.

wont a torque wrench in a basic set be not worth the metal its made from?

I would look for a decent tool set and invest separately on a decent torque wrench if I was you.

EDIT: if you really need a torque wrench at all? I have lots of carbon bits and bobs and have managed fine so far without one! (touch wood)

Cheep torque wrenches are a waste of money. I never use one on a bike anyway and you would need two – a high range one for BBs and the like and a low range one for stems and bar bolts

Halfords professional range are a good price / quality compromise.

OK – thanks for your suggestions peeps.

If anyone does have good experience of a 1 Box toolset, please let me know type/make etc

Cheers