The Chainlink

Best place to buy bike tools?

Hi knowledgeable ones:

 

I need to clean up my bike and need to pick up a new chain and chain clamp thingamajig. I am interested in doing most work myself.  Where would you tell me to go for the best selection/price? My bike isn't high end, so am looking for reasonable prices.  Are there some favorite places out there?

 

Thanks for your input.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on April 7, 2010 at 9:58am
Hey Dug I added more to my original post. With a little more of an explanation. Essentially adding stuff about my successful self employment competing against many larger firms. I was wondering what you thought of that, but from your answer I think it's safe to assume that you, "get annoyed when [you] have to compete for business with people who have no overhead because they are not a legitimate business."

So what I am gathering is that you don't like home businesses because they hurt your bottom line. I'm sorry but that's not a compelling reason for anyone to stop doing their thang. After all that's capitalism for ya!
Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on April 7, 2010 at 10:16am
If I may add to the poop :)

None of the 5 points listed by Dug negate a home-business from his definition. I, personally, am in great favor of mixed-use space. IMO, it is a great tragedy of urban life that zoning laws technically endanger so many small businesses (by DUG's legitimate standards).
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on April 7, 2010 at 10:21am
Look at my list, there is nothing there that excludes a properly set up home business.

Doing web design I doubt you need liability insurance and I would guess you are operating with only you as an employee so really as long as you are paying your taxes and properly registered with the state as a business then I am all for you giant slaying.

It's the under the table stuff or people who are competing with a shop who has to pay insurance that annoy me.

Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! said:
Hey Dug I added more to my original post. With a little more of an explanation. Essentially adding stuff about my successful self employment competing against many larger firms. I was wondering what you thought of that, but from your answer I think it's safe to assume that you, "get annoyed when [you] have to compete for business with people who have no overhead because they are not a legitimate business."

So what I am gathering is that you don't like home businesses because they hurt your bottom line. I'm sorry but that's not a compelling reason for anyone to stop doing their thang. After all that's capitalism for ya!
Permalink Reply by Ali on April 7, 2010 at 10:44am
Aren't you the guy who also converted this beauty? Fuji Palisades

Oh boy do I feel sorry for the guys who buy conversions from you, as there are a number of things I would be concerned about that particular bike...But I am sure you have came a long way in the past few months...

-Ali

mfa cycle factory said:
I here what you are saying. However, I am not a regular consumer.I fit in the
basement mechanic category, and that category is not large in population,so it does not have a huge effect on the revenue that lbs generate yearly.
Your avg consumers do not know anything about bikes,so they are going to be the ones pumping money and providing revenue for LBS,which is the way it is suppose to be. LBS exist for the purpose of providing services to people that don't know how to fix their bikes. That market will always be there for
LBS to exploit (just saying).

The more a person learns about building and working on bikes,the less visits that person will make to the lbs.....which is why some lbs like to keep people ignorant when it comes to bikes...

it's a catch 22

notoriousDUG said:
mfa cycle factory said:
online:75 percent
lbs:15 percent craigslist:10 percent.

No crying when local bike shops close then...
Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on April 7, 2010 at 4:53pm
As compelling (and amusing) as it has been to read the main exchange here, I think you may have been shortchanged on recommendations of where to buy good tools at reasonable prices. As far as LBS's go, I would suggest you take a look at the selection at Irv's Bike Shop in Pilsen (Halsted and Racine), which in addition to Park Tools and Pedro's also carries Avenir tools and others that are somewhat less expensive. One other source I am reluctant to name. While dog-sitting for my parents in the suburbs recently, I decided out of boredom to enter a Wal-Mart for the first time in my life to see what they carried in the way of bike-related items. To my surprise, the had a fairly good selection of tools and accessories, including Bell tools (known for helmets, of course) which I have not seen anywhere else. They had a chain tool for like $4.96 or something ridiculous like that, and a single-speed chain for $6.96. I won't actually shop there for all kinds of personal reasons, but for the absolutely budget-conscious without a social conscience, you are unlikely to find lower prices on either of these items, and Bell is fairly trustworthy.
Permalink Reply by ReNae on April 7, 2010 at 7:51pm
Yea, thanks for the recs. I wil check it out. As for Walmart, I'm with you. It's just one of those things that I will never do - go into a Walmart. Ever. Kinda funny, I don't think you'd ever find those prices online either....just at the Wal.

Cheers!

Moc Artsy said:
As compelling (and amusing) as it has been to read the main exchange here, I think you may have been shortchanged on recommendations of where to buy good tools at reasonable prices. As far as LBS's go, I would suggest you take a look at the selection at Irv's Bike Shop in Pilsen (Halsted and Racine), which in addition to Park Tools and Pedro's also carries Avenir tools and others that are somewhat less expensive. One other source I am reluctant to name. While dog-sitting for my parents in the suburbs recently, I decided out of boredom to enter a Wal-Mart for the first time in my life to see what they carried in the way of bike-related items. To my surprise, the had a fairly good selection of tools and accessories, including Bell tools (known for helmets, of course) which I have not seen anywhere else. They had a chain tool for like $4.96 or something ridiculous like that, and a single-speed chain for $6.96. I won't actually shop there for all kinds of personal reasons, but for the absolutely budget-conscious without a social conscience, you are unlikely to find lower prices on either of these items, and Bell is fairly trustworthy.

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