Update:
Bought the Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I am very pleased with it.
Detail:
After studying what people said and the links to which people sent me, and after
speaking to one bike shop, I (finally) figured out the Crank Brothers "Speed
Lever" is just a collapsible, lightweight version of the Park TL-10. (The photos
show it collapsed, so I was confused about how all it worked until I looked
closer at some of the drawings and what people like Dan said.)
I couldn't find the Park TL-10 locally. One store (of about ten) in my area had
the Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I didn't want to wait a week using mail order.
Also, as Russell suggested, I figured I could return the Crank Brothers Speed
Lever if I was careful with the packaging and any attempts to make it work. The
shop said that would be fine. Lastly, the Speed Lever is a lot cheaper than the
TL-10, at under $10 vs. over $20.
With a lot more baby powder; a little more air in the new inner tube; and
adjusting the air in the inner tube as needed as I checked for an even fit all
around the rim as I pushed the outer tire into place, the Speed Lever made
installation much easier. IMO there was much less risk of puncturing the tube.
One still has to be careful, as several of you said.
I did both wheels today, as the other wheel's outer tire was very worn so I
replaced it, too.
My blood pressure is way lower from my efforts yesterday. ;-) Overall I'm
pleased enough that I'm thinking of *starting* to carry a spare tube and my new
Speed Lever with me on all bike trips. I never did that before, mostly because
it was a roll of the dice as to whether I could do the reinstallation without a
puncture. Consequently, yesterday on an otherwise beautiful, flat, 30+ mile ride
along the Rio Grande yesterday, I rode with a flat for the last five miles(!)
I think I'll wipe the slate clean and start fresh again on another river ride on
Monday.
For the archives (and as some measure perhaps of what wheels the Speed Lever
works well on), my 1986 Vitus road bicycle's wheels are Mavic MA-40, taking 700
x 25 tires.
Thanks also to Weisse, Chris, Jonathan, Alex, Dan, Russell, and g. Daniels for
posting since I last posted. All the input helped me to make what I think was a
good decision.
"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote
Dan wrote
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:The Speed Lever is by Cranks Brothers-
http://www.gearhead.com/gh/staffreviews.htm?sid=526022K3942593&secid=0&itemid=92
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:
http://www.cambriabike.com/tools/crank_bros_speed_lever.htm
You still have to be careful about getting the tube out of the way,
but it is safer than using regular tire levers. It is somewhat flimsy,
but once I figured out how to push it properly it worked for mounting.
Then again, I used it for mounting just once as a test- I can use my
hands, so maybe anyone without the hand strength to mount a tire
wouldn't be able to use the Speed Lever?
The Park tool someone else posted looks like a much more solid version
of the Speed Lever. The only advantage to the Speed Lever is that it
collapses and could be carried on the bike.
And the Speed Lever is only $5.99 in all of the mail order catalogs
like Nashbar and Performance and Colorado Cyclist, etc. So it pays to
try it first. I have the Speed Lever and it works fine. I have used
it to mount tires on my Campagnolo Vento wheels. Campagnolo boutique
wheels are notoriously hard to mount tires on. You need lots of thumb
strength to do it without a tire lever. The Speed Lever still
requires strength, but not as much and the force is applied
differently. So the thumb strength to roll the tire over at the last
moment isn't as important to operate the Speed lever.
Next time you order from a catalog, buy the Speed Lever and try it.
If you don't like it, send it back. No harm done.
