Park Tools!

[mtnbike28]

This is just a huge thumbs up to Park Tools. I recently striped my chain tool's internal threads, when I went to my LBS to replace it, they said e-mail Park and ask about a warranty. Three days later a brand new tool arrives in the mail! Great service! In a time when many of us have had less than good luck with vendors, I thought I would write a positive note for one.

 

[bluedog]

We had a simular experience with one of our shop reapir stands. we sent in one of the arms and a week later it came back re-built at no charge. Keep in mind this was used in a bicycle shop every day for 3 years.


B.

 

[TCM]

Park can easily be considered the Snap-On of bicycle tools. The warranty is pretty much no questions asked. I have used their tools for years with no breakages. They could just stand to add a few specialty tools to the line-up. But only a complete bike geek like myself would think their product line is not completely comprehensive in every way.

 

[eugene]

Thats good to know, I paid a little more for their new btr1 tool roll. It clips inside our burley trailer and used their pump today for someone else's bike.

 

[Cackalak Han]

I sometimes regret not buying a big tool kit from Nashbar or Performance, because of the huge savings, but stories like this make me glad I bought Park from the get-go.

 

[Scott Brady]

Is Park considered the Snap-On on bike tools?

 

[TCM]

Well, strictly speaking I would consider Campagnolo to be the Snap-On of cycling tools, but they no longer manufacture the range of tools they once did. Their tool range is now limited to tools for frame preparation and tools specific to their line of components. It is no longer in production, but 20 years ago a complete Campy tool kit was considered to be the holy grail by bike mechanics. Bicycles have also changed a great deal and many of the tools in this kit could no longer be used on modern frames of carbon construction. But given the renaissance of steel as a frame material I could see the demand for this type of tool kit returning. So in light of Campy's now limited tool range I consider Park the premier supplier of bike tools.

Here are photos of the Campy kit in all its glory. The pictures don't nearly do it justice. To see it in person is to be humbled.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Campagnolo/CampagToolKit/photo2.jpg

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Campagnolo/CampagToolKit/photo9.jpg

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Campagnolo/CampagToolKit/index.html

And I just have to mention that Campy does currently make what is undoubtedly the most extravagant, over built, expensive but none the less beautiful chain tool on the planet. And it can only be used specifically on their 11 speed chains. Yours for only $300 retail.

http://www.bikyle.com/images/Parts/Campagnolo_ChainTool11_09.jpg


For a range of specialty tools not made by Park I recommend the Following companies.

The J. A. Stein website is comically simplistic, but the few tools they make are really top notch.

http://www.jastein.com/

Not readily available in the US, but none the less a fantastic line of tools are those made by the Hozan company in Osaka Japan.

http://www.hozan.co.jp/cycle_e/catalog/index.html

Also good is the Var company from France. They are the Park Tool of Europe. Unfortunately their web site is currently available in French only.

http://www.vartools.com/fr/index.php

The best place to source tools from Stein, Hozan and Var is United Bicycle Supply in Ashland Oregon. But they primarily serve the trade and their web presence is almost non existent. Their web page does not even list contact info, but they really are the best source for these tools. The phone number is 541-482-1750.

Of course no list of cycling tools would be compete without mentioning Pedros. They make nice tools to be sure and I have several of their tools in my kit, but I considered them to be a step below Park in quality.

http://www.pedros.com/products_tools.htm

 

[EricWS]

Park can easily be considered the Snap-On of bicycle tools. The warranty is pretty much no questions asked. I have used their tools for years with no breakages. They could just stand to add a few specialty tools to the line-up. But only a complete bike geek like myself would think their product line is not completely comprehensive in every way.

Huh? There warranty is close, but the quality and precision of Park tools is nowhere near that of Snap-on.

I replaced my park tools with Snap-on where possible ten years ago...

 

[TCM]

My point is that Park tools are the best quality bicycle tools available. Just as many people consider Snap-On to be the best quality hand tools available. In a head to head comparison of course Snap-On is better. If you need need screw drivers, ratchets, hammers etc, it would be silly to buy Park. But the last time I checked Snap-On did not make a headset press or bottom bracket installation tools or freewheel tools or chain tools or a long list of other tools specifically required for bicycle maintenance. For these tools it is hard to do better than Park and we are talking specifically about cycling tools here not general hand tools.

 

[T.Low]

yes, I do love my Park tools, but...

My problem is that instead of fixing a broken bike, I grab one of my other bikes (or kayaks, or skates, or 4x4) and go for a ride, dropping the broken bike off at my buddie's shop on the way, to be repaired.

 

[TCM]

Sounds like a good deal to me!