Every mechanic has encountered a tyre/rim combination that has just been a real pain in the ass to work with. Remembering back to my early days in the shop, struggling to wrangle a particularly stubborn wire bead tyre off a wheel, my lack of experience and no doubt ham-fisted approach saw me snapping the ends off all of the plastic levers in the workshop. I can’t exactly remember the types or brands, but none of them were a match for me or the tyre. Finally after all other options were exhausted, I grabbed the levers that came with a set of Mavic Cosmic Elite wheels that graced my bike at the time. These levers didn’t shirk the task at hand, and had the rubber settled on the alloy in no time.
To look at them, you’d think they would be the most likely to snap, being long and fairly thin, but whatever material they are made from has nearly the strength of metal levers, but without the damaging properties of those bastards. There is a cool little hook at the lever end, which always grabs the bead just right, and runs around the rim in a smooth, fluent action. And at the other end, there are molded in pins so you can adjust the bearings on your Cosmics just so.
Luckily, even though there is always one bundled up with my spare tube, I haven’t had to use them many times in the ten years or so since discovering their magic qualities. That was until today when the new Kenda rubber I’m trying put up a spirited fight against my Roval rims, but the little Mavic soon stamped its authority and spared my curses; at least until I get a flat and am struggling with frozen knuckles on the side of the road, where once again it will step up and save the day.
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I broke two damned nashbar levers trying to install a tubeless tire on UST rims for *cough* a 29'er....
Eventually I got as much as I could onto the rim, then zip tied it in place while prying the rest on. My elderly neighbors thought I smashed my hand with a hammer or something, as much as I was cursing at the damned wheel......
Rule #5 boys. I haven't used tyre levers for about 15 years. I will admit to the lovely campag rims I ran being an utter bitch to get tyres off, but I had these levers made from recycled plastic milk bottles (I think) that came free with a cycling mag. You could bend them double without them snapping or losing performance, they were brilliant. In the end I think I lost one, so hardened up and used my hands. I probably still have the other one at the bottom of the toolbox
A Rule 5 breaking recidivist I know of (who may or may not have been me) has opted with the following: For ease of messing with tyres at home (particularly those on Campag tubeless 2-way rims), said recidivist uses the Park Tool Shop Tyre changer. The mark of a true pussy, but gee they make things easy...
@Jarvis
Pedros Milk Levers they were.
Hands usually work best, but sometimes they are no match for particularly stubborn Kevlar beads. My Specialized tyres virtually fell off those rims, yet the Kendas weren't giving in without a hell of a fight.
Touch wood, no flats...
Ugh, some rim/tire pairs just suck, no matter what you try, what levers you use, and how drunk/sober you might be.
I have some nice, small SKS levers that I picked up recently. They are nice to carry because they are so small, but the first time I used them they didn't work so well. I eventually got them to work, but it took a few tries, and that isn't cool when you are out on the road.
I haven't tried any levers better than the Pedros ones. Come in a set of two, very strong, always do the trick. They are a bit big in comparison to others, but work so well I'll put up with it. Yep, I too lash one lever to my spare tube and throw both in a jersey pocket.
Here's to the damned skinned knuckles that always seem to happen when mounting new tires!
Any mechanic worth his salt owns the "Thumbs of Steel" workout DVD's.
@brett
I am pulling my old tire levers out of the kit and replacing it with my Mavic one. One question, before I find out the hard way: Is one enough to get a stubborn tire off the rim? Or should I pack two?
I'd like to introduce these levers into my love-making. Suggestions?
@krx10
Dutch tyre lever?
I love that Mavic lever. It's been my go-to for 6 years until I broke it last week on a Continental UST tire - drowned my tears with beers.