MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
As in the title really, I'm wondering if there are any folk close by to me (North London) who might be interested in helping me strip a couple of bikes and build up a couple of new ones (well, new to me)?
Basically I live in a teeny tiny flat and have no room to work in, I'm sick of paying good money to a bike store to do things that I know I should be doing myself (removing/fitting headsets, cassettes, bottom brackets, shortening brake hoses all that sort of stuff) so I would like to learn how from someone who knows the ropes 🙂
Anyone interested? I can supply your drink of choice and a willing learner, what do you reckon? 😀
If I lived in the place I did a couple of years ago,I'd say come round, ad we'd build 'em up in't garden.
Sadly, all I have now, is a small balcony. 🙁
I can help you out with removing/fitting cassettes; easy peasy. Headsets? I bash 'em out with an old screwdriver (bit at a time, don't just whack it), and bash 'em in with a block of wood and a hammer. BBs; depends which type. I can get square taper and ISIS ones out, as long as they're not too stubborn. External, I did have a tool, but it's not been returned to me.
Shortening brake hoses is easy as well. Just a bit messy.
All these things, you can do even in a tiny flat.
I'm in North London and have a shed and a garden, yet I do all my bike work in the living room!
As brakes, I'm nearly in North London, have a shed and a garden - yet everything gets done in the living room 🙂
Just a tiny balcony for me too.
I also live in flat but have a garage but I still use the bedroom for my fettling
OK then... 🙂 seems my situation is fairly common and I'm just being lazy 🙂 So... what tools should I buy to do my own fettling? I have a full set of allen keys along with a full set of torx keys. I have an ISIS BB tool (but nothing to fit it to!) and that's about it (oh, I have a Gerber multi-tool with the plier grips etc 🙂 ). So, what should I buy to set up my loungeroom workshop?
cheers 😀
You will be needing a BIG hammer.
Seriously!
I kitted out a full bikeshop workshop once. Big hammer was first on the list...!
Just buy tools as you need them to do what you need.
There's little point buying everything right away.
Aidy, so what would I need to build my wife's bike? I have an existing LX BB to remove from the frame, an older set of XTR cranks to fit (with BB), I need to remove a cassette from a set of wheels I've sold. I need to remove a headset and fit it to another frame... So what do I need to do all this??
cheers 🙂
Headset press, homemade or otherwise (although people will be along to tell you you can do it with a big hammer and a piece of wood shortly).
Bottom bracket tool
Cassette tool
Chain whip
Suitable set of spanners/allen keys to use previous tools
Some grease and threadlock
get a pedro cassette tool, it has a center shaft to assist removal and it will also remove centerlock discs UNLIKE my cheap cyclo cassette tool (dont get it)
some cheap chain whip, or make your own
home made headset press easy to make, think details on this site.
hammer and fat screwdriver to remove headset, i'm serious!
pedal spanner is well worth paying for
dont get cheap alan keys
some bb tools if you need them
a star nut tool is very handy, one which goes over the steerer tube
one of them tools to help remove your chainring bolts, i aint got one and its a pain in the ass
that will get you started
Where in London are you? I might be able to help if near.
Hi Hairychested. I'm based in the North (Islington).
Ear, what you wanna do, is get yerself down to Decathlon. Canada Water station on the Jubilee. They've got a great selection of tools, decent quality, but a tad cheaper than yer average LBS, speshly yer Cycle Scurgery and Evanses.
Halfrauds are doing a 3 for 2 on tools online (including some Park ones). Free delivery iirc too.
Or get one of those basic Lifeline kits from Wiggle, good quality (apart from chain breaker) and more economical than buying each bit separately.
If you're after a cassette tool get the type with spanner flats on the outside and a drilling through the centre so you can pop your qr through to keep it in place in the lock-ring while you get a big adjustable on the outside.
As for stuff like bb/headset removal/installation i'd let a decent shop do the honours, right tools + skills = proper job! And get them to make sure the logo's are straight on the headset!!
It's a bit far right now, sorry.