Eldi Emergency Spoke Bicycle Tool
A Spoke Recycler
The great thing about this bicycle spoke cutter and
bender is that it allows a mechanic equipped with a handful of long
spokes to fix bicycle wheels of any size. How? The tool shears the
head off the spoke. Then, by holding the spoke just so in the tool’s
jaws and squeezing the handles, an S shape is bent into the spoke’s
end as shown. Because you can put this shape anywhere along the spoke’s
length, you can size long spokes to fit every size wheel.
A Ride Mechanic’s Treasure
This spoke shaper is the perfect tool when you’re
wrenching for a ride or race. Instead of carrying several common spoke
lengths for repairs, simply pack a supply of long spokes and you’ll
be prepared to repair any wheel that needs help. It came in very handy
one year when I was manning a century rest stop in Paso Robles, California
during the Great
Western Bike Rally. Early in the day, I repaired a 700c wheel
and in the afternoon, a couple came through on a Bike Friday Family
Tandem with 20-inch wheels. I used the Eldi to size spokes to fit
and saved three riders from having to SAG in.
A Ridesaver
Bicycle spokes with this S bend are known by tourists
as emergency spokes because the special bend simplifies installation.
Carry some emergency spokes inside a pump, handlebar or bag and should
you break a spoke, simply wiggle it out of the hub and you’ll
be able to poke the emergency spoke’s S-shaped head in its place.
You won’t have to remove the wheel, cassette, tire, tube or
nipple (assuming you were smart enough to prepare emergency spokes
that match the nipples in the wheel). So, these spokes come in very
handy. And, they’re strong, too. I’ve ridden for years
on one with no problems.
A Keeper
I’ve searched for this tool without luck so
I don’t believe it’s available any longer. It’s
possible to create emergency spokes by cutting the heads off with
diagonal cutters and bending the S with pliers. But, that’s
a crude way to go compared to Eldi’s solution.
Update on finding a tool that can
create the bend: The wonderful wheel resource Wheel Fanatyk now offers
their Z-bend
Spoke Repair Pliers. Also, ace mechanic Roger at PacTour
told me about a tool for lawnmower throttle cables that can do this.
It should be available at lawn-care stores.
Shimano Pro-Set HG Bicycle Chain Cutter
Almost Too Nice to Use
This photo depicts my prize bicycle chain tool just
about life size. Put your hand up to the photo and you can imagine
using it. The handles are rosewood and wonderfully smooth. You might
not think it would make a difference when working on grimy links,
but I swear it makes the job easier. It’s not so much the quality
of the wood perhaps, but the size of the handles. A nice detail is
a small screw on the bottom of the handle that when removed, reveals
two Hyperglide chain pins stored inside. The tool’s pin is easily
replaced too, of course.
I Earned It
I favor this fine chain tool (and I’ve got about
a half dozen different types) but it’s special for another reason:
the way I got it. It was gift from Shimano for working as a mechanic
on their neutral support team during the Mountain Bike World Championships
in 1995. Every time I pick up this beauty it reminds me of that great
week in Vail, Colorado.
This is an unusual and rare bicycle tool made by a
machinist in Southern California and sold in the early eighties to
bicycle shops who used it to convert Campagnolo Nuovo Record and Super
Record double cranksets into triples (the smallest chainring these
accept is 41-tooth; not very small).
The jig is held in place by the bottom bracket axle
and you can then accurately drill and tap 5 holes in the spider. Into
these holes you insert Avocet/Ofmega triple-conversion adapter bolts.
These are steel and are mounted to the spider with locktite if the
crank will remain a triple. The adapters have female threading on
the backside to accept standard chainring bolts. To install the granny
ring, you simply rest it atop the Avocet/Ofmega adapters, screw in
the chainring bolts and easy pedaling is yours!
I recently found a new home for this tool with a bicycle
club that has several Campy-equipped classic bicycles in need of triple
conversions.
Click to enlarge even more!
Toolboards are personal things. Mine reflects the
bicycles I maintain, the tools I like most and a design that works
for me and my workshop. I try to place the most frequently used tools
closest and design the board so that the tools are within easy reach.
I don’t want to have to move too far from the bicycle repair
stand or stand on my toes to reach a tool. I also don’t want
too many tools on my board because it only spreads the tools further
apart and makes it more difficult to find tools, which slows you down.
I keep my cutting and milling tools in drawers to protect the sharp
edges, and also because they’re not used as often as the basic
hand tools, so it’s no biggie to open a drawer to get them.
I’ve used finishing nails in the past for my
toolboards and they work fine. This time I tried something different,
little
screw-in ball-end stainless-steel hooks. It’s not as easy
to get the tools off them, but they sure look nice and I think I won’t
mind taking a little more care when reaching for tools. This is a
new plier tools arrangement for me, too. I typically mount each plier
tool to the board separately; however, this new approach makes them
much more accessible because one handle is free and easy to grab.
The 2 x 4 rack also provides a superior way to hold the ratchet, 8mm
Allen and tape measure (it’s missing from the photo; it clips
to the Atala headlight bracket).
A good way to make your own toolboard is to pick up
a bike box at a shop. Cut one side off it and lay it on the ground.
Take all the tools you want on your finished toolboard and lay them
out carefully on the cardboard. Move them around until you have them
just the way you want them. Then you can trace around them with a
Sharpie marker. You now have a handy template, which you can hold
against your plywood. Simply drive nails through the tracings right
where the nails will support the tools, pull the template off and
hang your tools. Have fun!
Oh, if you’re wondering, those three small ratchets
on the right 2 x 4 hold a 4, 5 and 6mm Allen wrench. The little gizmo
protruding to the left of them is a combination magnet/screw holder
and the T-shaped item left of the yellow screwdriver is a valve tool.
Finally, people ask why I don’t outline my tools
on the toolboard. This is a common technique in shops where many people
use the toolboards. It helps at the end of the day when you want to
do a quick inventory and make sure every tool is back in place and
it helps non-mechanics put the tools back in the right place. In a
home shop, you get used to where your tools belong and you don’t
really need to outline them. Also, not having outlines is good motivation
to return the tools as you work, which keeps your workbench clean
and makes it easier to find the tools when you need them. Quick tip:
if you look high and low and simply can’t find the tool, check
your apron pocket. Without tool outlines, toolboards look cleaner,
too, and I like that. It’s the same reason I don’t use
pegboard for my toolboard. I find all those holes distracting compared
to simple plywood.
On this
webpage you can see pictures of the beautiful toolboard of world-renowned
professional mechanic Pietro Piazzalunga (and read a fascinating interview
with him, too).
