Bike Grease and Coffee: A Tour of Logan’s Favorite Shop Tools

Back in the late aughts and early ’10s, I regularly haunted a few blogs in search for bike gear ideas and route inspiration as I was planning our trip through Mexico and Central America. One such tome was Bike Grease and Coffee, an inspiring travelogue by a seasoned bike mechanic turned around-the-world cyclist named Kurt Sandiforth, one of only a handful of similarly minded dirt-focused bike touring blogs available at the time. There was a lot of interesting fodder on those pages with his custom long tail and original musings as he used a fatbike to explore far corners of dirt. Subject matter and wanderlust stimuli aside, the title “Bike Grease and Coffee” always resonated with me. After all, there’s nothing quite like settling into a cozy grease-aroma-filled bike workshop on a winter day with a hot mug of strong coffee. And that’s exactly what I was doing during the months leading up to a big trip: building, tinkering, and reconnoitering my Surly Troll to ready it for a life-altering excursion.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve had a grand total of three “home” bike shops. The first one where I assembled and tweaked my Troll was a 12-by-16-foot shed I built in the backyard of our old house in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was there I acquired my first bike stand and started gathering tools, which was at the time a relatively daunting and financially draining task. After that, I moved my shop into our van and squeezed my meager collection of tools into two gray Rubbermaid toolboxes while we lived on the road or at my in-laws’ house in between bikepacking tours. Now located in what a buddy of mine fondly nicknamed the “BIKEPACKING.com World Headquarters,” or more casually, “ShedLife 5000,” my workshop is contained within a self-built 18-by-24-foot workshop that doubles as my office and our merchandise shipping facility whenever we sell batches of swag. It’s divided in two spaces with about half of it (as shown below) completely dedicated to bikepacking gear and acting as a fully functional home bike workshop.

While some folks who stop by might see it as a complete shitshow, to me, this little work space is a relatively comfortable haven, although I’m admittedly often drowning in review bikes, parts, and bags, particularly during the high season. If you poke around, you’ll find a lot of equipment and tools I’ve acquired over the years and a few I’ve made on my own. Most of the time, I know where all of them are, although anyone who’s spent time in this shop might argue otherwise. At any rate, short of a shop tour, which would be brief, here’s a rundown of some 30 favorite tools I’ve made or acquired that help it run more efficiently.

Old Tools

As to be expected, some of my most-loved shop tools are things I’ve inherited or had for the better part of my life. There’s an element of nostalgia at work, of course, but there’s also some specialized utility. For example, I have a couple vintage flat-head screwdrivers that are so worn down they no longer effectively serve their original purpose. However, they both come in particularly handy when prying or wedging or tackling other duties only a small and eroded blade can. I feel an innate sense of satisfaction when I need to get one of them out for a very particular purpose.

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I’m also quite fond of this heavy, nondescript adjustable wrench. It often brings to mind the adage they don’t make ‘em like they used to. I think it’s the only adjustable spanner I’ve ever had that will hold its position over multiple uses. This vintage wooden-handled rubber mallet also gets a special spot on my tool wall. Other old enough to almost be classic things include my Park Tool Allen wrench set that’s now some 18 years young and an ultra-handy small pair of wire cutters that I’ve had around for quite a while; it has a unique spring-back mechanism that makes it perfect for cutting zip ties when cabling (and un-cabling) bikes.

Oft-used Essentials

A list of favorite tools wouldn’t be complete without mentioning several staples. None of these are particularly novel or interesting, but they’re each used in heavy rotation. They’re tools I would consider vital in rounding a complete shop:

• Park Tool DAG-2 Derailleur Hanger Alignment Tool: No proper bike workshop is complete without a DAG, unless it’s operated by a dedicated singlespeeder or someone committed to a gear box/hub drive. This one has rescued many a hanger, particularly those pesky and soft Kona ones during a long stint with my beloved Sutra LTD.
• Park Tool CN-10: I’ve owned a pair of Park Tool CN-10 cable/housing cutters since the early 2010s and don’t plan on replacing them any time soon.
• Topeak Smartgauge D2X: I’ve tried a few digital pressure gauges over the years, many of which are complete crap, but have been happy with the Topeak D2X (not shown). It works seamlessly with Presta and Schrader valves without changing internal head parts, and it seems to get accurate readings without bleeding too much air on press or release.
• Wheels MFG Bearing Press: A long time ago, in a press-fit galaxy far far away, Wheels MFG sent me a bearing press kit to go along with some threaded press-fit hybrid bottom brackets I was testing. I only used it for PF BBs once, but it’s since been employed for countless headset installs. It’s well made and super versatile. Wheels no longer sells this particular configuration, but the Headset Pro Install Kit seems like a similarly useful match. PS: Bikepacking Collective members can take 15% off their purchase through our Industry Discount program.
• TNS-4 Star Nut Setter: Prior to investing in the Park Tool TNS-4 (Deluxe Threadless Nut Setter), one of the most annoying aspects of building a bike was having to take the fork up to the bike shop to have the star-nut hammered into place, a 30-second task. Sure, there are DIY options, but this tool makes it easy.

Pipe Cutter

The days of eyeballing a straight line and hacksawing off a couple of inches of steerer tube came to an abrupt head when I found this old pipe cutter in the piles of junk that came with the house we bought in an estate sale. It works better for aluminum steerers—think suspension forks—than it does on heavier steel ones, but it’s been a revelation, nonetheless.

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Pointy Things

Oddly enough, two of my most well-used tools often disappear in the cluttered recesses of my shop—or as a buddy of mine says, “the ghost hides them.” These two awls (or prickers) both come in handy for dislodging O-rings, removing gunk from crevices, and most importantly, prepping cut cable housing ends. I undoubtedly need to buy several more just to have them in multiple locations in the shop.

Park Tool RR-12.2 Measuring Tape

$9 at Jenson

Here in the United States, most of our measuring tapes—of which I have around five—are exclusively marked in inches and feet. This can be incredibly frustrating when operating in the world of bike parts and geometry—old man yells at cloud, “Wasn’t there hope that this godforsaken country would move to the logically superior metric system at some point, for crying out loud!?” I have a few metric rulers that filled the void, but a couple of years ago, I bought the small 3.5-meter Park Tool RR-12.2, which has come in quite handy. Not only does it have centimeter denominations, but it’s also well made, ergonomically superior to a lot of other small tapes, and generally nice to use.

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15″ Breaker Bar

$14 at AMZN

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve schrapled a bottom bracket shell trying to remove a stubborn BB. It’s nearly impossible to get enough leverage with a standard-sized socket wrench if the bottom bracket is over-torqued. I’ve gone so far as to use a piece of pipe to put on the socket wrench for added leverage, and I’ve even taped the BB tool on so I could stand on the wrench to try and break the thread seal. Neither of these techniques are recommended. A couple of years ago, I decided enough is enough and picked up a breaker bar, which is essentially designed to accomplish such tasks. All I can say is this should have been one of the first tools in my toolbox.

DIY Crown Race Set

Back in 2011, a buddy and I made this crown race setter out of a scrap piece of 1 1/2” PVC and a press fit 1” fitting. It works to set crown races on both tapered and straight steerers, and I can’t tell you how many times this thing’s been used.

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DIY Headset Remover

Similarly, my buddy Mike made this headset removal tool out of a scrap piece of copper tubing in 2011 when he was our roommate before he, Virginia, and I set out on a ride from Mexico to Panama. I’ve used it countless times since then, and in my opinion, it works just as well as anything you could buy off the shelf. I’m pretty sure he forgot I have it. Mike, if you’re reading this, I’ll be out of town on the day you want to come by and grab it.

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Knipex Pliers

Prior to having a bench vise in the shop—or even a suitable place to mount one—a friend suggested trying the Knipex Pliers Wrench for light-duty tasks that typically call for a vise. After picking one up, it quickly proved invaluable for jobs like hub end-cap removal, shock hardware installation, and other tasks requiring precise, even clamping force. The Knipex Pliers Wrench excels at gripping, pressing, and bending, thanks to its high leverage ratio and parallel, adjustable jaws that provide a secure hold without damaging surfaces. I’ve used this versatile 10” version for all of the above, plus forging DIY metal parts, fixing derailleur cages, pulling apart hubs, and a lot more.

DIY Bike Pulleys

One of the most useful and space-saving “tools” in my workshop is a DIY bike pulley system I rigged up. The setup consists of three individual pulley systems mounted to the vaulted ceiling, all assembled from hardware store parts. Once hoisted, each bike sits about 7.5 feet off the floor, keeping them out of the way while doubling as functional shop decor.

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Although it has its quirks, the system has been indispensable since I’m constantly reviewing, building, and rotating bikes in and out of storage. It allows me to keep this meager space organized while making it easy to swap bikes as needed. I plan on improving the hooks for the saddle and handlebars to make them easier to use, and I’m on the hunt for replacement braided ropes—one of the flaws is the current rope twists and hockles, making it tricky to hoist the bikes after a few uses. If anyone has any recommendations, please leave a note in the conversation!

Digital Caliper

$25 at AMZN

A digital caliper isn’t going to be a necessity in everyone’s collection, but it’s an invaluable tool for random bits of gear review data. I replaced an older plastic on that stopped functioning with this well-reviewed stainless steel model and consider it a very a worthwhile improvement.

Wolf Tooth Pack Wrench

$115 at Wolf Tooth

The Wolf Tooth Pack Wrench and Inserts Kit has proven to be a useful addition to the shop tool box. This CNC-machined aluminum wrench features built-in magnets to securely hold its nickel-plated steel inserts, which include a Cinch and ISIS Spline Wrench Insert, Cassette Lock Ring Wrench Insert, 8mm Hex Wrench Insert, and 16mm Hex Wrench Insert. While the latter two haven’t seen much use yet, the built-in bottom bracket wrench and the Cassette Lock Ring bit get a lot of action. Compared to a standard BB tool and cassette spline tool, the Wolf Tooth Pack Wrench seems like it has a more secure fit and a relatively comfy grip, and like most Wolf Tooth tools, it’s machined with flawless precision in the USA.

Prestacycle Tool

$25 at AMZN

Despite having a full set of Park Tool hex wrenches, it’s refreshing to have a ratcheting bit driver at the ready. Sometimes, twirling L-hex wrenches gets old, after all. Neil’s mentioned this in a few of his videos where he always has the Silca tool nearby. Last year, I bought this Prestacycle T-Handle Ratchet, and it’s since become a regularly used staple in my shop. It’s one of the nicer small ratchet drivers I’ve used. For one, it comes with a two-position extension that snaps into place at both a long and middle position.

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Park Tool GG-1 Grease Gun

$25 at Jenson

At some point in my semi-amateur bike wrenching career, I got tired of buying tubes of grease and bought a tub of Polylube 1000 and this grease gun. I’m not sure why it took so long, but I’m really glad I pulled the trigger. Not only does it save some plastic from hitting the landfill, but it also prevents greasy fingers from time to time and helps save shop rags as a result.

T-handle Torx

$22 at AMZN

Speaking of twirling wrenches, I’ve yet to buy an L-handle Torx set. When I do, it’s undoubtedly going to match this Unior T25 that I bought as a one-off a few years ago. It’s seen a lot of action and seems like one of the better made L-handle wrenches I’ve used, with nicely designed ergonomics and well-machined Torx ends.

Angle Gauge

$30 at AMZN

Sometimes, analyzing bike geometry takes on a new meaning. That seems to be especially true in the field of hardtails, which I’ve spent a lot of time scrutinizing in the trenches. The fact is, you can’t always trust what’s on paper. And the bike industry is inconsistent. Some brands list angles and measurements that take suspension fork sag into account, and others do not. In addition, many hardtails are designed for a range of fork lengths (e.g. 120 to 140mm), where the two ends of the spectrum can result in completely different outcomes as it pertains to stack, angles, and BB height. For my own sanity, and to double-check angles on review bikes, I picked up this digital angle gauge. It’s pretty neat and has become a regular part of the process for me over the last couple of years.

Wilton Vise

Made in IL, USA / $206 at Wilton Store

I won’t go into too much detail about one of my favorite new tools, as you can read all about it in our recent Editor’s Dozen. But to summarize, after much deliberation, I finally purchased a bench vise—specifically, the Wilton Multi-Purpose Bench Vise (Model 550P) with 5 1/2″ jaws, a 360° rotating head, and base. Despite initially using Knipex pliers and clamps as makeshift alternatives, I quickly realized a bench vise was irreplaceable in the shop, using it five times in the first week alone. Choosing the right Wilton model took extensive research, but a Bob Vila article ultimately helped seal the decision. Now, the 40-pound vise is a prized addition to the workshop, offering a lot of new functionality that makes previously untouchable new projects a possibility.

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What are some of your favorite tools, purchase or improvised? Leave a note in the conversation below.

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