JayC
02-12-2007, 01:15 AM
http://parktool.com/images/products/productimages/spr_TL-10_2005729_40062.jpg
I bought this tool because it seems like Ive been changing tires a lot over the winter between riding outside and riding the trainer. Granted it's not too difficult to change a tire with regular tire levers but it does take a few minutes and it seems like I'm always having to hunt around to find some levers or get a bike down off the wall and take them out of my seat bag.
I decided to buy this tool based off of the fact that it's intended for shop use and supposed to be a real time saver. I figure if it's marketed towards the shops, it must be a marked improvement over a set of levers.
In a nutshell, it is. Removing a tire is so easy, it makes me never want to look at a set of levers again. The tool snaps onto the hub of your wheel and have a plastic lever that handles removing and installing the tires. Basically just like a regular set of tire levers, you put one end underneath the bead of the tire and pry it up. That's about where the similarities end with a regular tire lever. From there, you snap the plastic piece back onto the bar and grab the end of the bar and just rotate it around the tire. Since it's connected to the hub, everything stays put and the tire pops right off.
For reinstalling, that's where this tool shines. Essentially you put one side of the tire on, put the tub in and flip the plastic lever over to the install tool. This part of the tool has a lip that sits down over the rim and basically pushes the tire onto the rim. Same thing as before.. you slide the lever down, lock it into place and just spin it around the wheel. Even those last 6 inches that are always so much fun with regular levers go right on.
This tool makes changing tires super fast and because of how the tool install the tire, it keeps the tube from getting pinched underneath the bead.
The tool retails for $29.00 and probably would last forever in a shop so in a home enviroment, you'll probably give up riding before you wear it out. The downside is that it's not really something you can carry with you on a ride which sucks because after you use it, you won't want to go near a set of levers again.
I bought this tool because it seems like Ive been changing tires a lot over the winter between riding outside and riding the trainer. Granted it's not too difficult to change a tire with regular tire levers but it does take a few minutes and it seems like I'm always having to hunt around to find some levers or get a bike down off the wall and take them out of my seat bag.
I decided to buy this tool based off of the fact that it's intended for shop use and supposed to be a real time saver. I figure if it's marketed towards the shops, it must be a marked improvement over a set of levers.
In a nutshell, it is. Removing a tire is so easy, it makes me never want to look at a set of levers again. The tool snaps onto the hub of your wheel and have a plastic lever that handles removing and installing the tires. Basically just like a regular set of tire levers, you put one end underneath the bead of the tire and pry it up. That's about where the similarities end with a regular tire lever. From there, you snap the plastic piece back onto the bar and grab the end of the bar and just rotate it around the tire. Since it's connected to the hub, everything stays put and the tire pops right off.
For reinstalling, that's where this tool shines. Essentially you put one side of the tire on, put the tub in and flip the plastic lever over to the install tool. This part of the tool has a lip that sits down over the rim and basically pushes the tire onto the rim. Same thing as before.. you slide the lever down, lock it into place and just spin it around the wheel. Even those last 6 inches that are always so much fun with regular levers go right on.
This tool makes changing tires super fast and because of how the tool install the tire, it keeps the tube from getting pinched underneath the bead.
The tool retails for $29.00 and probably would last forever in a shop so in a home enviroment, you'll probably give up riding before you wear it out. The downside is that it's not really something you can carry with you on a ride which sucks because after you use it, you won't want to go near a set of levers again.