So far, every tool that has come out of Abbey Bike Tool’s Bend, OR production facility has left us impressed, and the latest round of tools looks just as good. At the heart of development would have to be the new HAG derailleur hanger alignment gauge which has been in the works for some time, but definitely worth the wait. In typical Abbey Bike Tools fashion, the HAG is built to meet the exacting needs and precision of pro race mechanics, but includes clever features that any shop mechanic will appreciate.
Align yourself with the new HAG plus check out one of the best pedal wrenches we’ve seen after the break!
Hanger alignment is very important, especially as drivetrains add gears and reduce tolerances. If you’re trying to adjust a hanger’s alignment and your derailleur hanger alignment tool has any play in the bushings, it can be very difficult to set the hanger properly the first time. As a result, the HAG is built with incredible precision to ensure there is no slop in the tool which you can feel when you pick one up. Feeling more like an expensive micrometer rather than a bike tool, the HAG is designed to be rebuildable so that after years of use you can bring it back to the original precision. Speaking with Jason Quade, the guy behind the operation, he mentioned that the steel shaft for the HAG is machined down rather than using existing bar stock for exacting tolerances.
When using the HAG to adjust the hanger, the feeler gauge locks into place and the body of the tool swivels to allow for spoke clearance when rotating. This preserves the measurement on the feeler and allows for quick and easy adjustment.
When you’re done using the tool, the feeler arm stores in the end cap sticking with Abbey’s goal of creating tools perfect for the mechanic on the go. Though, even if you aren’t traveling with your HAG you’re going to want this tool. In addition to the standard steel HAG, there were also a few limited edition titanium versions Jason produced for the show. He says depending on demand it is possible that he will do a limited run of numbered SL versions that will be custom engraved for those concerned about the 564g vs 361g weight difference. It may seem odd to worry about the weight of a tool, but when you’re flying with your tool kit not getting dinged for overweight bags is a big deal. The Steel Hag is available now for $170 and can be had with custom engraving for an extra $10.
Somehow, Abbey keeps coming up with ideas for tools that fall into the “why didn’t I think of that?” category. Case in point? The forthcoming Abbey pedal wrench. The chrome plated tool features a beautiful American Oak Handle with the typical 15mm pedal wrench, but what sets the tool apart is the opposite end. The wrench features a dual sided 6 and 8mm allen wrench for pedals without wrench flats that is mounted on a swivel. The swivel allows you to break the pedal loose with the wrench perpendicular, then turn it parallel to quickly unthread the pedal without having to remove and reinsert the wrench. Brilliant.
Originally Jason was looking for an off the shelf part for the allen bit, but he couldn’t find anything that met his standards so the piece will be coming out of the same machine shop that produces the Crombie head. Hopefully the pedal wrench will be available by the end of the year with the price somewhere around $65.
Also pictured on the board is the green Stu Stick, which is an aluminum rotor truing stick that of course features a bottle opener. Jason was approached by Stu Thorne to create the tool which runs 1/3rd the weight of a steel version and has rounded edges so you can safely carry it in your hydration pack.
Speaking of Crombies, the Crombie Team Issue is officially on the menu and is the same tool that was used by quite a few pro tour road mechanics last year. Consisting of a single sided SL Crombie tool, the Team Issue has an Electro Polished finish that is sort of like a reverse anodization and actually removes around a thousandth of material from the tool.
Jason has also been working on a headset/bottom bracket press for awhile and is getting close to the final version. This prototype features c-shaped drifts so that you don’t have to unthread the whole tool to add or remove them. In another nod to the traveling mechanic, the travel version of the tool is designed to use the handle of a Crombie tool for leverage. Jason plans to have two versions, a travel version and a shop version since the c-shaped drifts are very expensive to machine.
Finally, Abbey will have a new spoke wrench that will fit Campy/Fulcrum nipples. Depending on demand the design can easily be adapted to other nipple standards in the future. The last prototype on display was a Campy Powertorque BB30 tool that Jason has been working with Campagnolo to design.
