abbeycombodogfoot
Not A Bike Review

Not So Heavy Metal

Photos Mike Ferrentino

The old adage "a poor workman blames his tools" casts an opposing shadow among mechanics, something along the lines of: "with a little ingenuity, a good mechanic can make do with a rock and some bailing wire." This is a belief I have long held dear, but at the same time, ever since I first heard the siren song of the Snap-On truck, which may or may not have happened somewhere between wearing diapers and puberty, I have been a sucker for nice tools. "Nice", in this case, implies some combination of aesthetics and function; the tool is a pleasure to hold, is well balanced in the hand, is designed to do its job cleanly, and is well made enough to last a long time. As I mature, the origin of the tool has grown in importance as well.

Which, not so roundaboutly, brings us to Abbey Tools - designed by bike mechanics, for bike mechanics, and made in Bend, Oregon. One can look at certain Abbey offerings, such as their bonkers $1,450 US truing stand, or their $205 derailleur hanger alignment gauge, and assume that Abbey Tools are the kind of fancy shit that only very dedicated or very well-heeled mechanics (oxymoron alert, there) are likely to invest in. Not so. During the ongoing resurrection of my tool kit, I've found a few Abbey offerings that are absolutely price competitive with their Park or Feedback analogs, and at the same time are oozing with a high-touch aesthetic that completely satisfies my inner tool slut.

abbeywhip

Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum, duuum-tssshh, duuum-tssshh, when a problem comes along, you must whip it. Before the cream sits out too long, you must whip it.

Whip-It Chain Whip

Chain whips are ubiquitous and absolutely indispensible items in the bike mechanic's canon. They've been around forever, and without them it is a monumental pain in the ass to try and crack a cassette off a freehub. Modern evolutions of the design show up as something like a channel-lock plier with sections of chain in the jaws. They have their merits, but old school chain whips still get the job done admirably. Abbey's Whip-It does the job with no bells or whistles, and just enough mass to its smooth 12" long handle to provide the necessary counter-torque to hold the cassette in place while going at the cassette nut with an appropriate wrench. It costs $47 US, which is right on par with Park's SR-2.3, but the Abbey offering is shiny and made from stainless steel. No, you don't really save any money at all compared to either Park or Feedback's cassette pliers, but having gone back and forth plenty between pliers and whips, I am still partial to kicking it old-school.

The length of 10-speed chain that makes up the whip will fit any thickness cog from 7 to 13 speeds, and if the proletarian cleanliness of the Whip-It just doesn't match your new Merlin Newsboy/XX1 AXS zeitgeist, you can spend a whole lot more on a titanium version.

abbeycrombiethru

The evolution of the tool that started it all - the Jeff. No, wait, the Crombie. As in, Jeff Crombie.

Crombie Tool, Thru-Axle, Dual Sided

The Crombie came about when Jeff Crombie came to Jason Quade in 2012 and asked for a tool that would allow him to check cassette lock-rings without having to remove the quick releases, eliminating a pain-in-the-ass step in the daily routine of a race team mechanic, where there may be dozens of wheels needing checking or cassette changes. 12" long handle, precision machined lock-ring castellations. This was the tool that jump-started Abbey.

Fast forward a decade and change, and here we have a dual-sided Crombie. One side features the traditional hollow-headed cassette lock-ring wrench, while the other has a stub that fits into the hole of a thru-axle hub, aligning the tool so that it can cleanly and effectively tighten or crack free a cassette lock-ring without slipping and "boogering things all to shit", to use the parlance of the times. This version - stainless steel with a solid handle - is the least expensive one, at $53 US. You could buy a can or two of beer or maybe a couple tacos with the difference you'd save by purchasing a Park or Feedback. The solid handle option is the way to go when it comes to dealing with chronically overtightened lock-ring bolts. I know none of the astute and well-educated readership of this site would stoop to the hamfisted ape antics that require a heavy hand removing an overtorqued lock-ring, but it can happen. Or so I have heard.

Aaaanyway, if you have fat stacks of cash, or carry lock-ring wrenches on your rides, there's a hollow handled version for $10 more, AND a titanium version for (mumble mumble cough) $47 more.

The Crombie and the Whip-It play extra well together, with the handle of the Crombie sliding neatly into the handle of the Whip-It allowing them both to stash in the space that a single tool would usually take up.

In the case of either of the above tools, anyone who works on their own bikes should own some variation of these. You gotta remove a cassette to fix a broken spoke, replace a drive-side hub bearing (depending on hub) or part out a worn drivetrain. Can't do that with a hammer and a 2x4.

abbeycombo

Me and you, and you and me, No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be,
The only one for me is you, and you for me... So happy together!

T Way

Okay, this is a bit of a reach, since you can find real inexpensive three-way or combo wrenches in bargain bins at Harbor Freight or insert-your-favorite-chain-hardware-store-here all day long. Buuuut, they probably suck.

abbeyteewaypalm

The Goldilocks Effect illustrated and realized.

This tool absolutely does not suck.

The T Way can be had for $65 US with fixed heads in either 4mm, 5mm and T25, or 5mm, 6mm and T25. Those are sensible options, but somewhat limited. However, pony up $120, and you get TEN Wera bits (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 Torx) that snap into the handles thanks to surprisingly stout magnets, and configure the wrench any way you want. Also, since the bits are the same size as that galaxy of stuff that you can find at hardware stores, there are screwdriver bits galore in a very wide swath of budget options, as well as all kind of hex-to-socket malarkey available. The bits that come with this kit are sourced from Wera, the current darlings of high quality hex and Torx hardware, and they come snugged in a machined aluminum caddy with a magnet on the backside that is guaranteed to ruin your credit cards.

The basic wrench itself is beautifully weighted, and just the right size for what I think is the ideal mid-high leverage long wrench, as well as ideally proportioned for an easily spinnable T-handle. The spinnability is enhanced by a very pleasing knurling on the handle. It's a joy to use in either direction. I might be biased. But I really like the way this wrench feels. It's not perfect - deep reaches in narrow cavities will frustrate the T Way, but everywhere else, dang. This is one that stays in the top of the toolkit.

Yeah, this T-Way is a bit of an extravagance, but then again, it is only a very few dollars more expensive than Park's QTH-1, and is notably less expensive AND more pleasant to use than any of Wera's similarly adaptable T-sets. And now that I have one, I'm feeling all Charlton Heston "claw it from my cold dead hands" about the damn thing. Kinda feeling that way about the Whip-It and Crombie, too, come to think of it.

Man, after watching that is anyone really surprised that Charlton turned into such a freaky gun nut?

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Comments

mnihiser
+8 Mike Ferrentino taprider Cr4w Hbar Pete Roggeman vunugu capnron Jotegir

Was hoping to see the dog...

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mikeferrentino
+8 taprider Cr4w Hbar Pete Roggeman vunugu mnihiser capnron Adrian White

One day she'll get her own article...

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borris
0

I signed up only to agree with you.

Reply

MTB_THETOWN
+4 FlipSide Mike Ferrentino AndrewR Jotegir capnron DancingWithMyself

As a lawyer who has built my own personal bike shop for myself and my friends, I'm one of the lucky rare breed of well heeled and dedicated mechanics who keep these purveyors of tewlery (tool jewelry) in business. 

Love my crombie, but their derailleur hanger tool is really a work of art. It is one of those tools that turns an annoying task into a joyful one. 

I'll still take my unior cassette wrench over any chain based tool, but I have the advantage of working on mostly 11 and 12 speed bikes.

Also, I don't love the wera bits. The shape just doesn't transfer force quite as well as a perfectly sized hex, especially in smaller sizes. Pb swiss bits are my preference.

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FlipSide
+1 Mike Ferrentino

+1 on the HAG derailleur hanger tool. I love mine. Currently, I have the HAG, Crombie, Whip-it, 4-way, bit holder, Shimano crank preload thingy and fork seal press. I love all of them.

IMO, the 4-way would fit nicely in this article too. Not abusively expensive and super useful. Clearly my go-to tool for low-torque cockpit setup and building IKEA (or other) furniture. I have the fixed 3-4-5-T25 version.

Reading this article, it appears the T-way would be a nice addition to my toolbox. Sometimes I dream about the Abbey chain breaker tool, but then I wake-up, realizing how unnecessary it would be to throw that much money on a chain tool.

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mikeferrentino
+2 DancingWithMyself capnron

Interesting take on the Wera bits. I have not experienced any fit jank, but will keep an eye out. There are a ton of options should they end up being icky. My past experience with Wera full sized tools was that the bits worked and lasted well, but I was never really a fan of the handle shapes that Wera uses.

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MTB_THETOWN
0

The hex plus shape is the same as the full size ones. The fit is fine, but the hex plus shape means that there is only a small part of the tool engaging with the inside of the fastener. On the smaller sizes it seems easier to cam out or not have the same amount of turning strength as the PB Swiss tool shape, which is just a very precise hexagon.

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denomerdano
+3 Mike Ferrentino Velocipedestrian DancingWithMyself

I find the wera bits indispensable especially when working with tiny fox grub screws. Nothing else comes close to tightening those down on cables like the wera bit shape. Just my experience, not gospel

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Jotegir
+5 Mike Ferrentino Pete Roggeman FlipSide DancingWithMyself MTB_THETOWN

I'm also a lawyer with a substantial personal bike shop, but after a decade of wrenching on bikes "professionally" before and throughout school before being called, I'm not ready to shake my absence of staff deals despite now being able to afford retail like never before. So with very limited exceptions, no tewelry for me!

I will say the derailleur hanger alignment tool is the one worth owning. Even shops should be spending the money over the competition. It's beautiful but it just works so well. I'd happily never touch the park one again, the Abbey one gives such positive results.

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andrewbikeguide
+1 DancingWithMyself

No issue with the Wera bit set however I agree that there is something very nice about PB Swiss.

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cooperquinn
+4 Mike Ferrentino lewis collins Curveball capnron

The Crombie quickly becomes a "how did i live without this" tool, but don't get the hollow one - mine bent, and now despite my best efforts to straighten it, it doesn't quite fit back in the chain whip anymore. 

The Decade chain tool is also the biggest piece of excess out there, but the nicest tool to use that I own.

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Jason@Abbey
+2 Mike Ferrentino capnron

Send us an email, if you're a US based customer we can replace handles for you free of charge. The SL handled tools are great for the traveling mechanics that made up a lot of our original customers. They can struggle with bikes that are maintained to a lower standard than that of a race bike though. 

[email protected]

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mikeferrentino
+6 Curveball jaydubmah ackshunW Timer HughJass capnron

Jason said something along the lines of "if you NEVER overtighten lock-rings and NEVER encounter overtightened lock-rings, you'll probably be okay with the hollow Crombie, but get the solid handled one anyway..." So I got the solid handled one.

Because I don't think I've ever encountered a lock-ring that wasn't overtightened. And if I did, it was probably loose, so I would immediately overtighten it to restore order in the universe.

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pete@nsmb.com
+6 Velocipedestrian Mike Ferrentino Curveball vunugu HughJass capnron

A true "tighten until it strips, then back it off a quarter turn" situation...

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xy9ine
+4 Mike Ferrentino Pete Roggeman DancingWithMyself capnron

man, you guys must be serious about cranking the cassettes on with those long leverage devices. my only related specialty tool is a socket. brap off using an impact driver (only need to hold the cassette with a hand), and re-install using a regular ratchet. (i do profess to be a tool minimalist, tho).

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mikeferrentino
+1 capnron

I think conventional wisdom is not to crank down any tighter than recommended, but people invariably go way beyond that... sorta like the way people love to overtighten pedals.

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ShawMac
+3 FlipSide Velocipedestrian AlanB

Oh my god. I do not get the overtightened pedal thing. I just snug my pedals and have never ever had one come loose. Maybe if you had nearly seized pedal bearings they would loosen off...

There is at least month buy and sell posts seeking or selling single crank arms because someone has stripped it. Are you doing using a breaker bar to tighten????

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alhoff
0

So, to be clear you can remove a cassette without a chain whip or variation of plier type cassette holder, with just the impact driver? If so that's awesome-and Thanks!  I just learned to use an impact driver on dt Swiss hub lockrings.

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mike-wallace
+3 Mike Ferrentino DancingWithMyself Velocipedestrian

To me the Wera hex fit is amazing.   I try not to let anything else touch important hex bolts such as pivots and DH fork bolts.

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DancingWithMyself
+1 Mike Ferrentino

Always love a good tool article. Thank you. Great point about the Abbie chain whip and cassette tools being nicer (or at least more aesthetically pleasing) than the comparable park stuff for very little price difference.  I've eyed both but get along perfectly fine for personal use with what I've got.

The t-handle can be had from fix-it sticks for just over $20US.  Looking at the Abbie, it might have better ergonomics, but I would have to hold it in my hands to know if it had that special feel that would justify the extra cash.  I use what I've got so much that I'd pay an extra $40 if it made me smile every time I picked it up.  

FWIF, I don't use my t-handle at my work bench.  Rather, I've got one set up with a 6mm, 4mm, and 2.5mm that lives in my helmet/shoe/etc. bag in the same compartment as my sunglasses case.  Great way to encourage myself to regularly check wheel axles, stem, and lock-on grips (can't give up the squarewave shape for push-on).  I trust my hand feel a lot more with a t-handle shaped tool than I do a traditional 3-way, because it more closely mimics the hex keys, small ratchet, and torque wrenches on my bench.  And I can put the high quality bits I want into it.  Would highly recommend, whether fix-it sticks or blingy Abbie.

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mikeferrentino
0

I'm a big fan of fix-it sticks, always carry a set on my rides. To my mind, the T Way is more of a shop or toolbox tool; bigger, heavier, more fancy. The fix-it sticks for me are super compact but more of a pain in the ass to deploy. I wouldn't want to use them as my daily workshop driver, because the Abbey is so much nicer in the hand.

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DancingWithMyself
+1 Mike Ferrentino

Should have been clearer.  Fix-it sticks makes a solid t-handle tool like the Abbie with a less fancy shape and more subtle branding.

Edited to Add Link.  And like Brad says below, they make ratcheting versions as well.

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mikeferrentino
0

Aha! I hadn't seen that. Nice tool. And yeah, $35 less expensive. I would counter that with something along the lines of "but, but, but, knurling, man... and 'Murica!"

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Roxtar
+1 DancingWithMyself

I don't know man, looks like it even has knurling...

knurrrrrrling

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Roxtar
0

OK, one last knurling comment.

If you need more knurling...

Stein Knurling tool

Forgot I had this. Was afraid I'd sold it when the shop closed.

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Roxtar
0

With flat tires and broken chains being almost a thing of the past, fix-it sticks are pretty much the only tool I use on the trail any more. After destroying the aluminum version (bud's trailside pedal cross-thread fix) I've gone to the SS one.

They also have a nice T-handled ratcheting version I keep in my truck.

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Roxtar
0

I also bent my hollow handled Crombie but it really doesn't effect the functionality.

A bikeshop owner best-friend-in-the-world recently gave me the ultimate gift in appreciation of some help I gave him:

Link

Yup, for those who feel Abbey is just too low class. It's the Silca 3D printed Titanium set.

(I haven't even dared to use them yet)

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cooperquinn
0

Still works as a Crombie perfectly well - but the assembly just takes up more room in my toolbox than it needs to now.

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Fat_Tony_NJ
0 Mike Ferrentino Kristian Øvrum

Who tightens lockrings these days? :)

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