How to Build a Bicycle Tool Kit

[@faridmoayed9246]

Great video.

[@77gmcnut]

Good information. There's been a significant change since i was working in a bicycle repair back in the 1970s - 1980s.

[@bikernaut1]

Bleeding is so simple and kit is very cheap, I don't understand why people don't do it. And one thing you forgot for common tools - thick needle for expanding hose ends 😅 Also shock pump is a must.

[@al1843]

Just came across your channel. Fantastic videos.

[@davidlewis1886]

Knipex adjustable smooth jaw pliers, various sizes (6” and 10” ones most useful).

[@ryanallison6774]

Always good info!

[@_xnk7257]

I can listen to your tool talks all day… Would you consider doing a tool tier list / favourite list

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Thanks! I'll probably generate an article on the website that has the pyramid categories and some recommendations within them for sure. It's a BIG topic!

[@PapaSorin954]

The bleeding thing is somewhat understandable if only because there's so many different adapters needed. Also, the amount of Avid Juicy/Elixir and Hayes 9 with dead internals leads to scenarios where it's better off just saying theyre too old to service. Ive turned bleeds away in the past due to this and got negative reviews.

[@davidlewis1886]

Nitrogen fill tools for RockShox.

[@zedtony8110]

I think one tool that you missed in uncommon tools is a rear derailleur hanger alignment tool. One tool that people don't really need but I love using is sliding t-handle allen wrenches

[@NeutralSupportNews]

I slipped it in there with no audio, but I did totally not mention it in my original filming 😅 I have never seen a sliding t-handle I didn't like! Maybe a little tough on the portability spectrum, but awesome nonetheless

[@StanEby1]

Awesome job. If you are just getting started and don't want to spend much, I found the Foundation tool kit sold by Jenson USA to be extremely useful and versatile. Bought one for me and one for my grandson. All the best.

[@KamaTanha]

What about the wall clock with no battery in it? Where does that fit in? Seems advanced.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

No good shop is complete without a wall clock that died 9 years ago

[@larry4674]

lol. I'm covered there too.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

Cyclus, VAR, Bitul Make good quality bike tools as well

[@JoseSorianoPhotography]

I have experience working on a bike shop that sells bikes and now I work on a serviced centered shop and the tools I use now compared to a shop that sells bikes are a bit different. I dont care and never use these days the facing tool, campy tools nah... The list goes on and on. Great video, youre doing a great job!

[@PierreRides]

Yooo, thanks for all these superb videos on tools and inventory! This will come in sooo handy since I've just started to gather my first sets of tools. This particular one shed the clearest of lights on the infinite maze of bicycle tools. You've earned a new subscriber.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Glad you found it helpful! 🤙

[@pawelasek513]

I can't imagine shop that refuses brake bleeding since it's relatively easy job to do (except for seized as hell Sram/Avid brakes haha).

[@SevenTwo5ive]

Without their dumb tool 😂 Any recommendations for digital air pressure gauges? I would add a shock pump to the top of your list maybe! Good video thanks for the info!

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Thanks! Shock pump, definitely. I go super-accurate analog for tires with the EVT Bleedin' Gauge (digital always seems to be fickle on the readings). Digital shock pumps, Topeak and Rockshox make usable options. I'm not a fan of the Fox head (swivel) even though the readout portion is essentially the same as the other options.

[@willmaxim07]

Just found your content. Super well explained and thorough. After watching a few vids I immediately subscribed. Please keep the content coming. It's very interesting.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy it

[@tweed0929]

Funny. I own many steel Italian road bikes and I definitely need those facing and thread cutting tools, especially 24x36 ITA bottom bracket thread cutter, which is damn expensive for what it really is. I'm cheap, so usually I choose the cheapest option on the market. No way I could afford those fancy Campagnolo kits from the 70's, though this could be the last toolkit purchase in entire lifetime, cause those tools are massively overbuilt. They have a brake lever height setting device made of 4 mm thick steel plate and it's not even a load-bearing part, LOL! Also, completely disagree on not needing a truing stand. I've built several wheelsets WITHOUT one and gotta tell ya dishing and truing wheels using infamous zip-tie method gives you only headaches instead of results. If you know which way spoke wrench turns to tighten or loosen the spoke nipple, you definitely need a stand. Preferrably with gauges and a tensiometer for peace of mind. This way you can speed up the process 10-fold and start riding earlier instead of dunking your nose into dose of alcohol, because everything you wish after finishing is to get blackout drunk.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

You're exactly why everyone's pyramid is different! Evaluate what you are doing and what you need to accomplish it - the beauty of being able to customize your tools. I think I have a cutter in your size that still has the wax on it 😁 As for truing stands, I've acquired many through shop moves etc and have been a wheel builder for a decade - all the tools are important to me. But not necessarily the starter home guy, or the innovative co-op that repurposes an old fork and builds one themself. If you're truing or building a bunch of wheels, get the stand. If you are just tweaking a few spokes on your own bike, maybe save the stand for a later purchase 🤙Priorities!

[@cosinus_square]

Absolutely buy the professional version of a tool if possible, I've bought bike repair tools and tool kits commercially available on amazon and the like, ended either in the bin or giving them away. Started building my tool kit a couple years back, each tool as required, mostly Unior, shop grade or OEM where available.

[@pbanthonyv]

I've had mixed results, sometime I buy twice and sometimes I feel it's "just as good".

[@holdentrout7193]

You showed the Unior Professional chain breaker as your chain tool example. Is that your favorite chain breaking tool?

[@NeutralSupportNews]

I don't think so, but I'll probably throw together a chain tool comparison at some point. I've been using the CT-3 and its successors for so many years it's hard to adjust to a new chain tool.

[@jakemichael8586]

need to do a series on improvised tools! now for a spoke wrench could one just use a small adjustable wrench? i have a baby 4 inch one. I have a automotive/ equipment background so I am used to using tricks to get the job finished. i find you can get the job done 95% of the time with out special tools! \/

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Eventually if you do it for long enough, you just have all the tools anyway :-) Being a good mechanic means problem solving for sure - improvised tools are part of that! There's totally a tipping point where the right tool for the job saves you time and makes the work you're doing more accurate (think bottom brackets, almost always a need for a specialty tool).

[@jakemichael8586]

@@NeutralSupportNews true to having all the tools if you do it long enough but the problem is if you are tight on $ for long time you find ways around it. :) but you are right you will hit a wall at a point! o what off the shelf non bike specific lubricant works good on chains? refuse to spend 10+$ for a few oz of lube where that would buy quarts of quality heavy duty lube in the auto motive world.

[@pbanthonyv]

Threaded BB tool isn't strictly needed if you have Channel Locks and it's your own bike :/ Great vid by the way not even a criticism. "Basic Tools" would come before a BB tool.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Using channel locks on my own bike as an unemployed teenager led to my first purchase of a bottom bracket tool 😂

[@actonblue2012]

Are you at the point where you buy duplicates of tools because the new one looks cool? Or is it just me do I need help?

[@NeutralSupportNews]

You're in good company!