What Tire Lever Do You Carry On Bike???

[DHallerman]

Hi,

As the subject line says, what tire levers do you carry on your bike(s)?

* Why is that one your favorite?

* What makes it good?

Dave, who has been disenchanted with the one he's used for years

[rePhil]

But for tough to mount tire wheel combinations like Campy wheel / Continental tires, I like this Var :http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-VAR-VAR-Tyre-Lever-903.htm

Kool Stop makes this one I would like to try as the above are getting hard to find:http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire-Jack/dp/B001AYML7K

For my Velocity and Ambrosio wheels cheap plastic ones work great.

[Ozz]

I carry a couple Park plastic ones...they came in a tool kit I received as a gift.

[dave thompson]

I've carried the Crank Brothers Speed Lever for years. It helps get the tires off the rims, helps get the tires back onto the rims, it's the best tire tool that I've found. A review here:http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001005.php

[Ti Designs]

Below freezing I just use a PowerBar.

[deechee]

i've broken a crank bros. speed lever on a really stubborn tire, but I agree it does it work pretty well.

I carry michelin levers, I love how flat and thin they are. The little hook at the end grabs the tire rims nicely, and they're hard. At home I use the pedros levers, and they feel rock solid (no bendy) which I really appreciate. I also love that they're bright yellow, and I can find them easily inside my box of random tools. I never liked the park ones, found them too clunky and fat...

[victoryfactory]

Thumbs, baby

[sg8357]

VAR, since Conti tires + mavic rims = bad language.
Various Panaracer tires + velocity rims = no levers
Var in America at http://www.veloclassique.com/

Powerbars are used to boot tires in Summer, anti-dog device in winter.
Here poochie, try to eat this.... :)

[pbbob]

pyramid steel levers. because when I put them in my bag they bring the bike up to the uci weight limit.
And steel is real.

[veloduffer]

I carry a Quick Stik tool in my saddle bag. You only need one and it's the best at taking off a tire.
Quick Stik (http://www.amazon.com/Quik-Stik-Tire-Changer-Levers/dp/B000C128PC)

If you have a bear of a tire to put on, I recommend the VAR tool as well, if you can find one. I've got mine from Rivendell many moons ago.

I tried the Crank Bros but couldn't get it to work. It also felt fragile when using.

[Chad Engle]

Pedros. Don't know how I ended up with them. They work well, kind of big though. Haven't ever broken or given many any problems. I'd give them 4 of 5 flaming chili peppers.

[Idris Icabod]

I had some titanium levers, I think they are made by King. Anyway, dumbest idea ever! Ti is so much harder than aluminium so don't slip or else you will gouge your brand new rims and end up sanding the buggers back to smooth, get some plastic ones or just learn to sweat with your thumbs.

[93legendti]

I use quick stiks and pedros. I broke a crank bros lever.

[Pete Serotta]

I use the Park or Specialized or whatever else I get that are free :D

[alexstar]

Pedros. I've never broken one, even on the tightest rim/tire combinations.

[Avispa]

I have tried about 10 different brands... No one comes close to the red Bontrager. These are wide, but with a small tip and won't pitch the tubes. They work great with alum or carbon rims.

http://www.wizzbike.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=61_144&products_id=1153

Now, I also gave up on these hard-arse tires... The ones that will break your fingers before you install them.

..A..

[rugbysecondrow]

Park, but I try to practice not using one unless it is necesary. Like somebody else said, I just use fingers and thumbs and it they work 95% of the time.

[rePhil]

Fingers and thumbs will get me through most too. Another technique is using the palm to roll tires on. But my Gatorskin / Campy rim has snapped a few plastic levers

[johnnymossville]

I have pedros, but sometimes I just use my hands if I'm feeling mighty. hehe

[scrub]

I just broke my Crank Bros lever, had it for a while and I really liked it before but a Matrix titan/gatorskin combo was too much for it!

Pedro's are good too.

[bironi]

I prefer a rim tire combo that my weak little hands can handle. :beer:

[kestrel]

left hand, right hand, never use a tire tool of any kind. Pre-fit all tires to wheels at the house. If I can't get it off and on by hand, it gets donated or traded to someone else.

Campy Euros and new Conti's are a challenge.

[gauvink]

Pedros. I've never broken one, even on the tightest rim/tire combinations.

+ 3 on the pedros. Have em in my toolbox, garage, and both saddlebags. If all else fails Rub hands once daily on sandy brick.

[Blue Jays]

Tire installation, removal, and repair is done by hand.
Park Tool makes a big honkin' set of irons if anyone has challenges with tires at home.

[Hokiemon]

Crank Bros. works best for me.

[toaster]

Good thumbs and good technique. I carry a blue plastic lever just in case.

[pdmtong]

on the bike: lenzyne aluminum (kysriums)

at home: Park big one...only needed it once...

most of the time: hands

[AngryScientist]

once again i default to lezyne products. they are simply the best. light and tough. come with a nice neoprene sleeve to keep them quiet in the saddle bag too.
http://www.nexternal.com/icycles/images/62349.jpg

[capybaras]

whatever the person fixing my flat has

[xjoex]

I like the Quik Stik. I don't carry it on my road bike, just my mountain cause it is kind of big. But man does it work...

-Joe

[gdw]

I can remove my tires without a tool but carry an old steel Gripfast tire iron in the bag as a last resort defensive tool against marauding coyotes.

[Chad Engle]

whatever the person fixing my flat has

I'm the guy with the frame pump. Have we met?

[Benjamin]

pedro's, park, whatever i have kicking around.

i've broken some of everything over the years, but i'm not too picky about tire irons. they all seem to work well enough and i lose too many of them to buy fancy ones.

[capybaras]

I'm the guy with the frame pump. Have we met?

I think we have. You are an excellent windshield. Thanks for all the help!

[jlwdm]

once again i default to lezyne products. they are simply the best. light and tough. come with a nice neoprene sleeve to keep them quiet in the saddle bag too.

I think the Lezyne levers are the worst levers ever made. Too small.

Jeff

[Kevan]

you have to travel with virtual screwdrivers. That's why I almost trust my Pedro's. Honestly, it's ridiculous how hard some tires fit on these rims.