Anyone looking to buy a VAR tire lever?

[ny biker]

I'm going to buy one of these:

http://randonneurextra.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

from www.biketoolsetc.com.

However their minimum order is $20 and the tire lever only costs $10.50. So if anyone who lives reasonably close to Arlington would also like one, I'll order two of them, have them both delivered to me and then arrange to get yours to you. Or if anyone wants to order anything else from biketoolsetc, we could combine orders.

Let me know if anyone is interested. Thanks.

Also thanks to whoever first mentioned this thing on another thread. I already have the Kool Stop tool which works great, but I'm buying the VAR because it's smaller and will fit better in a bike bag.

[7rider]

Do they really work???

I read this from their website:

"Gotta tire that is really tough to get on the rim? I mean, really tough. Blood, sweat, tears, and cursing, tough. Well, the VAR tire lever can come to your rescue."

And I think...Oh, yeah.
Trying to get the Hutchinsons on my Axiom's Shimano Ultegra wheels (well...just about ANY tire on those Ultegra wheels) produces an absolute meltdown on my part - complete with screaming, crying, pleading, darn-near throwing the wheel across the room, and an absolute refusal to ride the bike on the road without DH nearby, in case I get a flat tire and have to actually change the blasted thing.

So...yeah....if this thing ACTUALLY works to get a stubborn tire on an impossible wheel....then yeah, I'd be interested.

[ny biker]

Well I read about it here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=36112&highlight=kool+stop

And since I have Conti Gatorskins, I figure I'll give it try.

Don't know about Ultegra wheels, though, since I still have the lowly Matrix Aurora that came on my bike. ;)

[7rider]

Don't know about Ultegra wheels, though, since I still have the lowly Matrix Aurora that came on my bike. ;)

My LBS made me an offer I couldn't refuse on some demo wheels he had....back in 2000. They've been bomb-proof (but not parallel grate proof ;)) ...but certain tires are darned near impossible to mount.

Sure...I'll give it a try. It'll give me a good excuse for us to hook up for a bike ride.

[Maxxxie]

I've been very happy with my VAR tyre lever. It's reduced the time spent messing about mounting a tyre from 2 hours to under 15 minutes. Well worth the dollars. My mum has the same hassle with her tyre (also a conti gatorskin. Coincidence? I think not!), so I'm getting her a set as a gift :)

Max

[ny biker]

Sure...I'll give it a try. It'll give me a good excuse for us to hook up for a bike ride.

Order has been placed. And for once I will not let stupid last-minute stuff get in the way of meeting up for a ride!

[7rider]

Order has been placed. And for once I will not let stupid last-minute stuff get in the way of meeting up for a ride!

Success!!!
I tried it out on my very difficult Hutchinson Equinox tire on my Axiom's front wheel. I took the tire off completely AND was able to put it back on...with no screaming, cursing, crying, or hurling objects across the room! :D
A little bit of leverage is a good thing!
Thanks for ordering these!

[ny biker]

Awesome!!

The trip to Amicus was very successful. They helped me a lot with flooring, tile and grout decisions. Now I'm waiting for an estimate to see how much my choices will cost...