Tool kits..?

I have a very small amount of tools for my bike, and improvisation is not uncommon while fixing, adjusting, etc. Does anybody have a suggestion of a tool kit? Although Park Tools is great, I do not want to spend 300 dollars...I have been looking at the nashbar elite toolkit, does anybody have one? How well does it work, any problems? Are quality and craftsmanship apparent?

This is the link for anybody who wants to make an observation: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...p%20Essentials

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"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place." -Lance Armstrong

Why not just put together the 'tool kit' that you need and not go for the pre-made sets. In my experience the latter seem to be poor quality (although I have no experience with the particular nashbar set you mention).

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SOME of the LIFU "tools" are as-good-or-better than what an equivalent PARK tool would cost ... but, some (e.g., the cone wrenches ... which MOST people have no need for, now) are so inferior that you would probably only be able to use them a few times OR in an "emergency" -- they are better than nothing.

If a person has ZERO bike specific tools, then it is probably a good place to start ... OR, if the aggregate cost of some specific tools you don't have (e.g., chainwhip + Shimano-type "cartridge" BB tool + Shimano-compatible lockring tool, etc.) which might cost close-to-or-more than the $40+ at your LBS, then it is also something to consider.

BUT, if you only need ONE or TWO of the tools, then you might want to take a pass on the toolkit.

Currently, there are only a few tools which I need to maintain my bike. Some of the tools included I think would make maintenence easier, plus as you pointed out...some of the tools if bought as a stand alone tool it would be quite expensive. So I am figuring in the long run the tool kit will be more cost efficient because I plan on a lot more years of cycling and a lot more bicycles.

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"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place." -Lance Armstrong

Well, I just looked at the link you provided, and I now see that you were referring to the more comprehensive toolkit rather than the '$40 toolkit' (sale price) that you can buy through various outlets ...

Nonetheless, I'm still going to say (perhaps, more so when compared to the "Elite Tool Kit") that you have to weigh the cost of the individual tools if you were to buy them separately. The Cone Wrenches in the "Elite Tool Kit" are undoubtedly better than the ones in the $40 tool kit, but most people don't need/use them, now.

Other than bike specific tools (a long time ago), I got almost all my tools from SEARS (one was on the way home from work) ...

You can get generic tools (e.g., Allen & Torx wrenches) from Harbor Freight (there's one in Madison, Milwaukee, & West Allis ... the others in WI are further from you).