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SCENE: A naturally but dimly lit classroom filled with hand-painted drawings, tiny chairs, and marginally bigger tables hosts a teacher and a handful of next-generation thinkers. The small humans sit orderly on the floor: it’s time for the weekly show-and-tell.
A curly haired boy named Dave steps up, nervously looking down at his scuffed shoes. He pulls something shiny out from a Pelican safe case. The teacher audibly sighs. It’s yet another new bicycle tool. The boy begins to gleam, and suddenly, he’s filled with equal parts excitement and confidence as the eyes of his peers begin to glaze.
Oh yes, it’s time for another edition of New Tools Day!
PrestaCycle recently updated its range of Pro Torqkeys with colour coding for the various pre-set torque figures. PrestaCycle sells the full set as shown for US$145 / AU$220 / €135. Alternatively individual tools are available at US$25 / AU$38 / €18 a piece.Like other "Torqkey" branded tools, these will click when the labelled torque figure is reached in a clockwise direction, and unlike most other torque tools, they are safe to use for undoing bolts in an anti-clockwise direction.The pictured Pro version (left) offers a larger handle for more comfortable use when compared to the more common regular Torqkey (also rebadged by the likes of Ritchey). My dainty wrists like the larger handles of these Pro Torqkeys for up to 6 Nm, or 8 Nm at a push, while the higher-torque options (10 and 12 Nm) get a little uncomfortable under repeated use. Your results may vary.PrestaCycle has long offered small and portable ratchet-based torque wrenches, and now there's one more model in the range – the TorqRatchet Go. This new model increases the torque range from the previous 2-10 Nm up to 3-12 Nm (which now gets you into the range of Shimano crank pinch bolts among other tasks). This one sells for US$55 / AU$90 / €55.The tool is comparable in size to many multi-tools and it can be used as a regular bit-ratchet (without torque function) in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions.Meanwhile the beam-type torque wrench is activated by pressing on the black end component with your thumb (clockwise-direction only). The tool is accurate so long as you carefully apply pressure and keep a close eye on the gauge. You're done as soon as the white indicator appears at your desired torque figure. I'll be returning to this category of pocket-sized torque wrenches in a future edition of Threaded.First revealed at the Sea Otter Classic, Presta Cycles’ new Pro Presta Head is quickly proving to be one of the nicer options out. It works by simply pressing onto the valve, where an automatic mechanical lock is engaged and ready for secure inflation.To release, merely presss the big red button and the whole head seamlessly lets go. It's wonderfully simple and efficient. While I'm teasing future Threaded editions, the topic of Presta pump heads is on the list. It was also discussed in this week's Geek Warning episode with mechanic Brad Copeland.Pictured are the Pro Schrader (left) and Pro Presta (right) heads. Both simply attach to an existing Schrader pump head or threaded Schrader attachment. The Pro Presta head sells for US$39 / AU$59 / €36, while the Schrader version is US$25 / AU$38 / €23.Both work in the same way, press on to engage, push the button to release.PrestaCycle is also offering the new Pro Presta Head as a package with some of its tyre inflators (for use with an air compressor). It's still early days in me testing this new pump head, but so far the only significant compromise I've found is that you need to hold the pump head in place if trying to seat a tubeless tyre with the valve core removed.Lastly from PrestaCycle is the new PrestaFlator Mini Pro (US$49 / AU$75 / €37). This is a fairly bare-bones shop-style Presta and Schrader push-on inflator. Designed for use with an air compressor, it works somewhat like a CO2 inflator head where pressing down on the valve allows the air to flow.It's most comparable to something like the EVT Bam-Bam Inflator (Presta-Only inflator pictured) in that it's designed to be operated with one-hand and has no delicate gauge to worry about.Just be warned that the Presta-side doesn’t work with the valve core removed, while the Schrader seems to inhibit airflow. In other words, avoid this one if you’re trying to seat a stubborn tubeless tyre. Runwell is a Japanese manufacturer of high-end bicycle tools largely focussed on the track and fixed-gear side of cycling. The company recently released a small range of T-handle hex wrenches which sparked the interest of many tool geeks beyond Runwell's usual customer base (guilty!).
