Tire Levers

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

BobT

See

http://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html

Also should be available at your better LBS.

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy <snip>

titanium levers from king cage. work great.
<http://www.kingcage.com/Home.html#>
Regards,
Larry

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

Michelin, the best, smallest and lightest ever made.

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

The Park Tool levers are very good. Also, if you don't get on with the
Scwalbe tires, try the Specialized Armadillos.

"BobT" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1W3Zg.304$uF.59@dukeread12...

Quoted message said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

BobT

I've given up on the plastic sets of 3 tire levers, they break too
easily.

I like the Minoura (made in Japan) aluminum tire levers but they can
bend on hard to remove tires.

I bought one of the Crank Brothers tire tools that works like the levers
used on tire machines for removing and installing car tires. It works
well on easy fitting tires but it can damage the beads on the tires that
are hard to fit on the rim.

There used to be flat zinc plated steel levers that were strong and
resisted bending but I haven't seen them in years.

Chas.

Chas said:

There used to be flat zinc plated steel levers that were strong and
resisted bending but I haven't seen them in years.

Sounds like what I use. I must have bought them 30 years ago.

Art Harris

"BobT" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1W3Zg.304$uF.59@dukeread12...

Quoted message said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

BobT

Here's the one I use at home, but it's plenty small/light enough to carry.
It'll remove many tires before it ever bends, and there's lots of leverage:
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=AC-QS

And to install, this is the best, but it's definitely a shop tool:
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=KS-TJ

Lots of steel lever here, if you want to go that route. I'm not the biggest
fan, as it's easy to dent your rim:
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&c=Tools&sc=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers

-pete

joe said:

See

http://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html

Also should be available at your better LBS.

Very sweet -- I'd never seen those before.

Thanks,
--
JT
****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

Technically not levers, but I like the Crank Bros tool.

BobT wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

"Tight tires" can often be compensated for with better technique and/or
thinner rim strips.
There's a couple things you can do:

1. When removing the tire, pinch both beads of the tire towards the
middle of the rim around it's entire circumference. This will give you
more slack in the bead, making it easier to pry over the side of the
rim.

2. If you have cloth rim tape in the rim, try replacing it with plastic
rim strip or several (3 or 4) layers of fiberglass-reinforced strapping
tape. This is thinner than the cloth tape, again giving you more slack
in the bead.

I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my bike. I can remove and install them on
the rims without using tire levers.

Jeff

"joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

BobT

See

http://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html

Also should be available at your better LBS.

They look very nice. I'll have to try a pair.

Chas.

"Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chas said:

There used to be flat zinc plated steel levers that were strong and
resisted bending but I haven't seen them in years.

Sounds like what I use. I must have bought them 30 years ago.

Art Harris

I had several sets. I think they were made in England or France. They
made a loud clank when they fell on the floor as the bead broke loose.

Chas.

"Pete Grey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"BobT" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1W3Zg.304$uF.59@dukeread12...

Quoted message said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

BobT

Here's the one I use at home, but it's plenty small/light enough to

carry.

Quoted message said:

It'll remove many tires before it ever bends, and there's lots of

leverage:

Quoted message said:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&d=single&c=Tools&s
c=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=AC-QS

Quoted message said:

And to install, this is the best, but it's definitely a shop tool:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&d=single&c=Tools&s
c=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=KS-TJ

Quoted message said:

Lots of steel lever here, if you want to go that route. I'm not the

biggest

Quoted message said:

fan, as it's easy to dent your rim:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=208862535519&c=Tools&sc=Tire-an
d-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers

Quoted message said:

-pete

Thanks for the links.

How does that Kool Tool keep from pinching a tube?

Chas.

"BobT" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1W3Zg.304$uF.59@dukeread12...

Quoted message said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

My friend and I were unmercifully attacked by thousands of goat
heads while riding Sunday. I fixed two flats on my bike in the
first ten minutes of riding. My friend had a flat five minutes
later. While stopped, attempting to fix his flat, my tire went
flat a third time.

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

I specifically avoid rim/tire combos that aren't easy to change so I haven't
owned tire levers in a decade or two.

Greg

JeffWills said:

BobT wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

"Tight tires" can often be compensated for with better technique and/or
thinner rim strips.
There's a couple things you can do:

1. When removing the tire, pinch both beads of the tire towards the
middle of the rim around it's entire circumference. This will give you
more slack in the bead, making it easier to pry over the side of the
rim.

Good suggestion #1

Quoted message said:

2. If you have cloth rim tape in the rim, try replacing it with plastic
rim strip or several (3 or 4) layers of fiberglass-reinforced strapping
tape. This is thinner than the cloth tape, again giving you more slack
in the bead.

And good suggestion #2; in addition to being thinner, plastic rim
strips have less friction than cloth, making it easier to move the tire
around during removal.

Quoted message said:

I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my bike. I can remove and install them on
the rims without using tire levers.

Jeff

BobT said:

To deal with the goatheads, I ordered some Schwalbe
Marathon Plus tires. I read that they also can be very difficult
to mount or remove from the rim. I think I need to get
some really stout tire levers.

I recommend Slime in this instance. The world's greatest tire lever
can't speed the process of patching a tire enough to keep a good ride
from being badly interrupted, and your locale seems to be oversupplied
with tirekillers.

That said, the US$2.50 Lifu steel tire lever set from
www.biketoolsetc.com works quite well for me, and it's plenty strong.
There are nicer designs, but this one has the advantage that if the
set gets lifted or lost, the monetary loss is small.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

"JeffWills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

BobT wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

My friend had a tire that was so tight that it was very difficult
remove it from the rim. I broke one of my tire levers getting
the tire off. I broke my other tire lever trying to get the tire
back on the rim after fixing the tube. I was never able to get
the rim back on the tire. I didn't bother fixing my third flat
and we walked back to the car together.

"Tight tires" can often be compensated for with better technique

and/or

Quoted message said:

thinner rim strips.
There's a couple things you can do:

1. When removing the tire, pinch both beads of the tire towards the
middle of the rim around it's entire circumference. This will give you
more slack in the bead, making it easier to pry over the side of the
rim.

2. If you have cloth rim tape in the rim, try replacing it with

plastic

Quoted message said:

rim strip or several (3 or 4) layers of fiberglass-reinforced

strapping

Quoted message said:

tape. This is thinner than the cloth tape, again giving you more slack
in the bead.

<snip>

I've never liked cloth rim strips. For one thing when riding in the rain
or through water they absorb moisture and stay wet unless you remove the
tires and tubes and let the wheels dry out. The moisture causes
corrosion around the spoke nipples and eyelets.

Panaracer makes some nice polyurethane rim strips. they're called
PolyLite Rim Tape but they are circular rim strips. They don't turn hard
like some other plastic rim strips. They're hard to find.

http://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/index_ac.html

Ritchey Snap On Rim Strips are also good and easier to find.

http://www.ritcheylogic.com/web/Ritchey~Logic/Ritchey~Site/web/EN/main/p
roduct/accessories/rimstrips/AccessRimStrips_SnapOn.html#

Chas.

LF said:

titanium levers from king cage. work great.
<http://www.kingcage.com/Home.html#>

How badly do they scrape up rims?

--Blair

Morten Reippuert Knudsen said:

BobT said:

I am looking for suggestions for tire levers that are very
difficult to break but not so big and heavy that they would
not be practical to carry with me on the bike.

Michelin, the best, smallest and lightest ever made.

How long are those?

How do you hook them on a spoke?

--Blair