Old School Bicycle Multi-Tool

One thing that I love to find when going around flea markets and garage sales are old flat bicycle multi tools.

They are often overlooked by the seller because they don't know what they are and they can be had on the cheap. In general between $0.25 and $1 each.

I love these old tools because they look real cool, their quality is in general superior to whatever is being made now and most of the time they can still be used.

Most of them are flat so storage is not an issue and if you ride an old bike, chances are they can actually fit most nuts and bolts and more on your bike.

The examples pictured in this post can handle bottom bracket assemblies, pedals and most nuts on older bikes. They can not only be used on the road but in the shop as well.

So keep your eyes open, you just never know what you might find. I like nothing better than collecting old things that can still be used. I figure I get more value for my money than just getting a pretty looking paper weight.

Until next time ride safe and free.

Gerry :)

MY DEMOTIVATIONAL POSTER

Not a very brilliant post but I have been wanting to do an original demotivational poster of my own for a while. I came up with this. I've received so many comments about King Kong the wrench on my Youtube videos, I figured it warranted to be immortalized.

Why not do so and plug my blog as well. This huge wrench was given to me by my Father. He had bought it while working on the Olympic pool back in 1976. It was used once on that job and then became dead weight in his tool box for the next 20 years. He gave it to me when he retired and it saw more work in one week than the entire time it was with him.

King Kong the wrench, also known as Kowalski, has never surrendered to anything. Jammed freewheels and rusted nuts are no match for it's awesome brute force. Sometimes all I need to do to loosen a nut is to drop it. The shear weight takes care of things. It has also been used as an anvil, big fraking hammer and frustration outlet.

Until next time, ride safe and Godspeed.

Gerry :)

CHEAP BICYCLE TOOLS

Most bike repairs can be done with regular tools that you can find at the hardware store. Some however are very specialized and specific to certain tasks. For example the chain breaker tool or the pedal crank puller are pretty specific items that any starting mechanic should get.

Tools are not cheap and one source that might get you a bargain are the omni present flea markets and garage sales. Used tools, of any kind, are sometimes of better quality than the newer items and the price is often very decent.

The examples in the picture above are mostly meant for carrying in a saddle bag but I would be confident in using that 50's era tool that is at the bottom of the pic. That tool has everything I need to take apart an old style three piece bottom bracket and cotter pin cranks. The others I grabbed because I collect old bike stuff and I found that the tire spoon part could be practical. I got the whole lot for $6. Yes $2 a piece! Buying all the tools separately to take apart that bottom bracket new would cost over $60 easy.

Keep an eye open for old and used tools at flea markets and garage sales. Look up online for images of bike tools so you know what you are looking for. Chances are the person selling it doesn't know what they have and the price should be more than decent. That is one of the best way to get your hands on cheap bicycle tools.

Good hunting.

Until next time, ride safe and Godspeed.

Gerry :)