Bicycle tools - bring or buy

[Gregjam]

As I actually enjoy working on my bike despite it being cheap to get someone to do it for me I am looking at getting some decent tools. My initial investigations indicate that the special tools are either unavailable or just ridiculously expensive. Am I looking in the right places or am I better off getting them while abroad. I know that I can get a really good quality Birzman set for less than 300 UKP. Obviously the weight is always an issue but if I could get something local at reasonable prices I would be tempted. I would want to get the Shimano Specific tools and want good tools that will last.

[NOKYAI]

I'm slowly bringing all my quality tools a bit at a time from the UK as I have only seen Chinese crap here. A tip is to use a Golf bag and fly with a quality airline such ad Emirates as this is not included in your allowance. Last time mine was stuffed with cordless power tools and various spanner and socket sets

[GLCQuantum]

I think for 'proper' tools you will find that they are more expensive here as they'd probably all be imported. I'm sure there will be copy sets suitable for your shimano set up but... will they last, I've no idea.

Maybe go into a bike shop with your bike and ask if you can dismantle it yourself using their tools (with a small tip of course). If they seem good enough - there you go.

[Ginjaninja]

The 'Hua Hin bike shop' on Petchkasem road has a small selection of tools. 'Usual Suspect' will provide further information on that subject I'm sure.
You best option is to hand-carry from your home-country as previously suggested. This I try to do at every opportunity.
Recently I have setup an account with R.S.- Thailand and ordered some decent Bahco spanners, a Bahco socket-set and some other items. Relatively easy to do and they ship promptly. Their email response is also at a high standard which as we know is unusual for Thailand. The tools I ordered were for general/motorbike use and I'm not sure if you'll find something suitable for a bicycle. Worth a look at their website though.
Cheers,
GN.

Edit: Looking at the 'Birzman' tool-kit, it is unlikely you will get specialised tools like that....

[Gregjam]

Currently I am working out of Oz and will go to the UK before returning home to Hua Hin in March so am comparing costs versus carting the tools half way round the globe and back again. The tools I am looking at are cheaper in Oz but not in stock at the moment. From the responses I will definitely get them before coming back. It is worth paying extra for good tools particularly when it is so difficult to get them in Thailand. Last time out I brought back a Bosch oscillating multi tool and have yet to see anything similar in either Wasadu or Home Pro.

[Nereus]

Not bicycle specific, but general quality hand tools and garage equipment in Bangkok.
The German "Koche" hand tools are top quality. They are usualy at the car shows, although I did not see them this year as I was not looking for tools.

There is a young bloke there that speaks good English, and they would probably post a cataloge if you were to ask them.

http://bcpimport.com/index.aspx

[STEVE G]

Currently I am working out of Oz and will go to the UK before returning home to Hua Hin in March so am comparing costs versus carting the tools half way round the globe and back again. The tools I am looking at are cheaper in Oz but not in stock at the moment. From the responses I will definitely get them before coming back. It is worth paying extra for good tools particularly when it is so difficult to get them in Thailand. Last time out I brought back a Bosch oscillating multi tool and have yet to see anything similar in either Wasadu or Home Pro.

There are a couple of very efficient online cycle suppliers in the UK such as wiggle.com that will be able to supply things at that end if you want to cut out part of the journey.

[Ginjaninja]

Currently I am working out of Oz and will go to the UK before returning home to Hua Hin in March so am comparing costs versus carting the tools half way round the globe and back again. The tools I am looking at are cheaper in Oz but not in stock at the moment. From the responses I will definitely get them before coming back. It is worth paying extra for good tools particularly when it is so difficult to get them in Thailand. Last time out I brought back a Bosch oscillating multi tool and have yet to see anything similar in either Wasadu or Home Pro.

I've been staying in Perth W.A. and plenty of good quality bike shops in town.
Also gotta love Bunnings... my favourite shop down-unda.
GN.

[usual suspect]

I guess it all depends on what tools for what tasks you are thinking of..?
Cone spanners for the cycle hubs..HH Bike, good quality..cheaper than UK ebay.
Park Tool style spanners, again available in H.H.Bike.
But..if I need a hub service on a rear wheel I take it to Mo's shop near Big C..120-200B sees him strip the freehub, grease, check the pauls,& cones, cassette back on & unless he's happy he'll potter till it's right..hence no need for that cassette socket or whip/chain tool etc.
Wheel/spoke/rims trued-up..he does that for very little money also.
I did however bring a spanner/tool for my Shimano XT cranks, along with a brake bleeding kit for my Avid system, & spare pads..unsure if Avid pads were easily obtainable here.
Shock pumps, spare bladders for hydration packs, tubes (up to 2.35 wide)..all for sale here..

[Gregjam]

I live quite close to Mo's and have had some work done there in the past which I have been more than happy with. I just like doing work myself and as the wife has plans for us to build a place in Nongplab I will have plenty of time to tinker and be quite a distance from the nearest repair shop. I bought a repair stand at HH bike (much too big to bring back) and although a fair price for here I could have paid a lot less in the UK. Currently I am checking Pushys website in Oz and both wiggle and chain reaction in the UK. It would be great if there was an online seller in Thailand so I could get a realistic comparison. Before I left for work I was at the shop on the way to Cha Am and not only did the put the plastic protection plate between the cassette and spokes on the wrong way which required a return to get it sorted but when asked did not have the cassette remover tools or much else like that available.

[Nereus]

Not sure if this shop actually sells online, but I am sure that they will post stuff if you don`t want to go to the shop. They have good quality tools.

http://www.probike.co.th/

[usual suspect]

Gregjam..what type of cycle do you ride..?
I'm only asking because if you've a decent mountain bike, then Velo over at Takiap (on your left as you go in) has a shop in BKK, plus (I'm quite sure) deals with the major bike shops in the capitol..& I'm sure as Khun Ae to's & fro's from BKK he could obtain the gear you need/fancy having.
(Khun Ae speaks enuf English to nearly always understand what you need)..

[Gregjam]

I have a Korean Alton hardtail sold under the Chevrolet brand so nothing special. Have put on some Schwalbe Marathon plus road type tyres as I got fed up with getting punctures (a lot to do with being overweight). I ride with a couple of neighbours, one a Thai who also has a MTB who I help maintain it and the other is a German guy who has a twenty year old expedition bike with All the kit including a Rohloff 14 speed setup.
I just fancy some really good tools which willl not need replacing for a long time. I plan to get another bike to use for more local trips and in case of one being out of action too plus use it as a learning experience should I ever splash out on something a lot better. For now I am trying to improve my fitness so am not too worried about the weight of the bike. Just before I returned to work I managed a trip out to the vineyard and back which I could not have dreamed of a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. With the cheaper bike I am expecting to do more maintenance hence wanting good tools to do the maintainence.

[JimmyGreaves]

Thinking of getting a Trek Dual Sport DS as my first bike for fitness and give me the option of a bit of trailing, any comments from you experts?

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/ci ... ds_series/

[usual suspect]

Jimmy the Trek hybrid you're looking at seems a nice bike.
It's got a Shimano Hollowtech based crankset, has SLX brakes & rear mech..altho' the brake disc on the front looks like it's only 160mill (usual mtb spec is 180mm).
All in all there's some good quality components on there..