HINT: Buy two packs of these levers and you'll have enough for three bikes!
They have worked almost without exception to enable flat fixes and tire change outs while in the garage or on the road. (The one exception was when trying to install 700x27, yes 27, Panaracer wire beads onto a Shimano 540 wheelset for cyclocross then I had to resort to the big boys the beefy man-sized metal Park TL-5s)
HINT: These levers, unlike the TL-4s, have a very useful feature. See those hooks on the end? Nope, they're not for gutting fish on the pier or for cleaning out field fowl after shot-gunning in the cornfield use them to hook onto a nearby spoke after levering a portion of the tire off your wheel's rim very, very handy as a third hand!
These levers are a rare bargain and a standout example of quality and utility in today's corncucopia of cheap import tools get a pair for your kit or bag!
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Context: I ride about 120 miles a week and spend much of my free time repairing/refurbishing/building bicycles.I love these tire levers because they are plenty sturdy enough, and most importantly, small and lightweight. I have a set of the CrankBros steel ones(which are AWESOME), but I don't ride with them because they're obnoxiously big and heavy. These lil guys fit into a tiny top bar-mounted pack meant for gelpacks --along with a multi tool, a patch kit, and a squirt gun :)
As someone noted above, they may break or bend on high-tension wheels -he mentioned 23x700s, and I've found the same to be true on my Contis as well. I've done tons of work on kids' bikes, and that is usually the only other situation when one of these levers bends or breaks. (Stripping little kids' bike tires is a PITA!!!)
But for general usage, these can not be beat. I am just now replacing a set I've had for several months (and as you might tell, I use them a LOT) and that's because I handed them off to a friend who had a blowout near my neighborhood. I'm doubling up on my order, actually.
Best Deals for Park Tool TL-1 Tire Lever (Pack of 3)
I bought these due to the Park Tools reputation.They worked well on wider tires (MTB). Unfortunately they don't work on the Continental Ultra Gatorskin 23 x 700C tires on my road bike.
The spoke hooks on two of the levers broke off after a few uses; the end used for prying the tires off have bent backwards, making them completely useless. Granted, these tires are incredibly difficult to install and remove. However, I expected a Park Tools product to be up to the challenge.
The only tool that works on my Continental tires is the Crank Brothers speed lever.
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