Monthly Archives: August 2011

Zog’s Headset Wrench

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I picked up this awesome Zog’s headset wrench at Interbike sometime in the mid-90s and had assumed the company had gone the way many of other small, US-based manufacturing companies. But no, these thin, laser cut tools are still being made in Oregon under the name Thinwrench. They don’t seem to make this particular headset wrench anymore, which was way thinner and more awesome than anything else available at the time (and makes for the perfect companion to the Park Professional Headset Locknut Wrench), but here are the bike tools they still make. The Headset Pedal Cone Take-Along Combo Wrench looks pretty sweet.

Used for: 15+ years
Price paid: don’t remember
Purchased at: directly from the Zog’s guys
Rating: 5 stars!

Zogs Headset Wrench

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Park Professional Headset Locknut Wrench

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The Park Professional Headset Locknut Wrench is a work of art. It won’t bite into or round off the top nut of your spendy Chris King or Campy threaded headset. And unlike most of my other Park stuff, they haven’t change this one in 15 years. I guess you can’t mess with perfection.

Used for: 15+ years
Price paid: probably around $30
Purchased at: don’t remember
Rating: 5 stars!

Park Professional Headset Locknut Wrench

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Phil Wood Hand Cleaner

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This is my favorite hand cleaner and I just picked up two more tubs in my recent Rivendell order. It doesn’t totally trash your hands with chemicals like some of the more commercial stuff. It claims to be “100% natural and biodegradable” and Rivendell says it’s made out of wood pulp. Someone told me that Phil Wood simply repackages a product that is available for a lot less, but I haven’t found it–if someone does, let me know. A few more pics after the jump!

Used for: 10 years
Price paid: $8
Purchased at: Rivendell
Rating: 5 stars!

Phil Wood Hand Cleaner

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Var Dishing Tool

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I like this dishing tool because of the color, and because it works well with 26” and 700c wheels (I believe the Campy dishing tool still only works with 650c and 700c wheels). The Park dishing tool has gone through several permutations since I got this, but still isn’t nearly as elegant. I don’t know if you can get these anymore, and mine’s not for sale–sorry! More pics after the jump, including an image from the old Var catalog, via Sheldon Brown.

Used for: 15 years
Price paid: a lot
Purchased at: can’t remember
Rating: 5 stars!

Var Dishing Tool

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My Recent Bikeman Order

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Aside from the 3T bars on my first decent road bike (a Bianchi Nuovo Racing which I purchased new in 1983 at age 15) I’ve only ridden Cinelli bars, and mostly the 66 model. Well, the 66 is long gone and so is most of the NOS supply. I was pretty leery to try any of the newer bars on the market, especially with the ergo bends, but I decided to suck it up and stop being such a retrogrouch. So I ordered some Ritchey Comp bars and a matching Comp stem. 31.8 seemed like overkill, but whatever. I did stay with the Cinelli tape. Oh, and of course Shimano brake levers. I love Shimano brake levers. Continue reading…

Bikeman Order

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Felco C7 Cable Cutters

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These are the best cable cutters on the market. They are standard in most shops, and they never seem to wear out. Buy a pair–they will last you a lifetime.

Keep in mind they are really just for brake and derailleur cables. They do work well on SIS housing but don’t work well with brake cable housing (I use diagonal cutters for that). You can use them to cut spokes out of wheels if you want, though.

Used for: 20 years
Price paid: a lot
Purchased at: can’t remember
Rating: 5 stars!

Felco C7 Cable Cutters

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