How you are equipped
You should budget around 400 euros to equip a simple workshop. However, this includes around 100 euros for a torque spanner, which even occasional wrenches should not do without, and a further 100 euros for a mounting stand. An inexpensive screwdriver set can form the basis for the most important bicycle tools. However, these tool boxes usually also contain parts that you don't need or that are of little use (e.g. square crank pullers or tyre levers). A good place to start is the mail order company Rose, where you can also get all the special tools individually. General tools, such as rubber mallets or screwdrivers, are best obtained from DIY stores. However, always make sure they are of good quality. If you want to work precisely, you will need a precision balance, spoke tension tester and a centring stand. With machining tools for the frame, fork and bearings, you can quickly end up with 2000 euros. However, we only recommend such work to very experienced mechanics.
THREE RECOMMENDED STARTER SETS
Pedro's Apprentice Tool Kit
Price 259 Euro
Info www.cosmicsports.de
Weight / equipment 3.71 kilos / 22 tools
Missing tools 10 mm Allen key, crank cap tool, chainring bolt holder
The high-quality Pedro's case is meticulously tidy, making it look a little empty. Nevertheless, it contains almost all the important tools in the usual convincing quality and great feel. The lever of the bottom bracket spanner is a little short. The special Pedro's cassette remover is extremely awkward to use.
Handling: 7 out of 10 points
Equipment8 out of 10 points
quality10 out of 10 points
PRO TOOL BOX
Price 189,95 Euro
Info www.paul-lange.de
Weight / equipment 4.13 kilos / 26 tools
Missing tools 1.5 mm Allen key, screwdriver cross/ slotted
The sturdy Pro case contains an almost complete set of basic tools, with only the screwdrivers missing from the range. The tool quality is impressive, even with frequent use. The rubberised handles sit comfortably in the hand and offer sufficiently large levers. The star Torx and the cassette puller with chain whip work particularly well.
Handling9 out of 10 points
Equipment9 out of 10 points
quality: 8 out of 10 points
ROSE ALL2GETHER II
Price 49,95 Euro
Info www.roseversand.de
Weight / equipment 2.4 kilos / 25 tools
Missing tools 1.5/10 mm Allen key, cable cutter
The inexpensive case from mail order company Rose contains almost all the basic tools. Although the quality is not always convincing, especially with screwdrivers and Allen keys, the Rose case definitely fulfils its purpose for occasional screwdrivers or when travelling. Some of the tools are quite angular, but the coating provides a good grip.
Handling8 out of 10 points
Equipment8 out of 10 points
quality: 6 out of 10 points
TOOLS FOR PROFESSIONALS
Complete package
With this professional equipment, you are guaranteed to be the envy of your bike mates and can now take over the maintenance of all bikes. Park Tool is known for its high-quality tools in shop quality. The practical case contains a complete set of basic equipment for the most common repairs. In addition, the set contains tools that are particularly useful for self-bike assembly. Fitting headsets and fork cones, shortening steerer tubes, aligning derailleur hangers or cutting threads for braze-on parts - these expensive special tools justify the price of 1299 for the PK-66 Euro. www.grofa.com
Please pack: Tools for travelling
What use is the best equipment if the tools are hanging on the wall at home during your bike holiday? You can get sturdy tool boxes from DIY stores for as little as around 30 euros, with a spacious main compartment, a removable carrier and organiser compartments for small parts. We opted for the Basic tool box from Stanley. It is manufactured to a high standard and also offers space for spare hoses and other accessories and can be locked with a cylinder lock if required. www.hagebau.de
You pay three times for cheap tools! - Interview with Dirk Zedler, bicycle expert
It is said that you pay twice for cheap material: first when you buy it and then again when you buy a replacement product that really works after it has worn out ...
You pay three times for tools! The third time can be really expensive, because it's all about screwed-up bike parts. The most conspicuous consequence is round hexagon socket heads, which then rust ugly. Good tools protect the material. Apart from that, you can't work precisely with imprecise tools.
How does a layman recognise a good tool?
Firstly, because it fulfils certain precision standards. For hexagon socket spanners, for example, this would be DIN 911 or ISO standards. However, you will hardly find such specifications for mini tools. It's more about visual inspection, experience and, if necessary, checking with a caliper gauge so that at least the tool diameters are correct. I generally recommend buying non-bike-specific tools from hardware stores. The classic German brand manufacturers are always a good choice here.
Wouldn't it make more sense to buy a high-quality complete set? Surely everything is included?
I don't want to deny that there are good sets. But there is always a lot of superfluous stuff that you pay for: If you don't have to maintain really old bikes, you don't need a square crank puller, for example. But that's also included in the set. Basically, it's become much cheaper to do it yourself: I can do 95 per cent of all work with a set of hexagon socket spanners from 2 to 8 millimetres or Torx spanners. If I have these in good quality, I still need a torque spanner with, for example, 3 to 20 Newton metres, some grease and a pot of carbon assembly paste. You should definitely have a torque spanner: many of the cases of material failure that we see in expert reports are the result of incorrect torques. Pre-assemble with the hexagon socket, tighten with the torque spanner - that's how it works - correctly and safely.
Didn't it used to work without a torque spanner?
Yes, that usually went well. But bikes have developed dramatically and are now high-tech. In car and motorbike construction, no load-bearing carbon parts are used that a layman can screw on - it's different with bikes. In addition, the number of screws has been minimised. Stems that used to be clamped with 6 or even 8 mm bolts now sometimes have titanium bolts with a diameter of 4 millimetres and a tightening torque of 3 to 4 Newton metres. The material has simply become more sensitive.
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Stefan Frey
Editor
