In a perfect world, everyone should own high-quality bicycle tools. However, in the real world, a broke college student needing to replace their cassette doesn’t always have the means to pay a bike shop. Thus, the $3 cassette tool enters the scene.
I can recall several instances where cheap bike tools failed me. For example, I once stripped the threads right out of my crank arm, and another time, a stamped steel cone wrench completely gave out. Ever seen a hex wrench morph into a twisted hexagonal prism? While I could continue citing examples of cheap tools failing, it would merely be cherry-picking.
The reality is that some inexpensive tools are perfectly adequate, especially for occasional use. But finding these gems requires the willingness to buy and test many turds. That's the essence of this video series. Here are a few tools that stood out:
