Home > Other Fun Stuff > Gadgets & Hacks

IB13: The Latest Crop of Blue from Park Tool – Gloves, Fatbike Adapters, and Sporks?

34 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0127

While many show goers were drooling over the latest Enduro this, and fatbike that, there was as always a steady stream of shop guys stopping by the Park Tool booth to see what’s new. Often having the right tool means getting the job done or not, so as new standards crop up vigilance among the tools is a must. While there were certainly a few tools you could do without (a spork?), most of the new products from Park are needed improvements over previous models, or fill a void in the range.

Check out why you may need truing stand adapters (again) after the break.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0143

Remember when 29ers were “new” and the wheels didn’t fit in truing stands without taking off the tires? It appears we’re right back where we started, only this time with fatbikes. The TS2.2 truing stand was modified to fit 29ers, but it wasn’t designed to fit the new 190mm wide fatbike hubs. So the TS-2 EXT.2 extensions have been reworked to not only fit 29ers on the original TS 2 truing stands, but allow for the TS 2.2 to fit hubs from 180-200mm wide. The dome shapes on the inside of the adapters also serve to hold thru axles with no need for additional adapters in the hubs.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0140

With the advent of 9 and even 10 (!) speed freewheels, a longer freewheel tool is needed to get to the splines. Enter the new FR-1.2.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0128

Ok, show of hands – who bought the original dummy pedal only to be disappointed because it wouldn’t stay in the crank arm and resorted to making your own threads/using tape, etc to keep it in place? While it should have been done from the get go, the new DP has a short stack of threads to keep it in place. Problem solved.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0144

Nothing major, but the new MLP-1.2 master link pliers open and close 5-11 speed chains.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0138

A favorite of many shop mechanics, the trusty 3-way has gotten a slightly less blingy, shop quality upgrade with the AWS-15. Built with a forged aluminum 2 piece body, the wrenches are made from Protanium steel and are replaceable.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0125

These gloves are sort of a crossover product with Park claiming they’re good for both wrenching and riding. The include a fleece brow wipe, and touch screen compatibility on the thumb and index finger. You’re still going to want to bust out the Nitrile for disc brake and suspension work though…

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0129

New standards – new tools. The BBT-29 fits Dura Ace 9000, XTR 980, and FSA MegaEvo threaded BB cups.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0124

Shops that do a lot of BMX will love this – a metric quad wrench for all your pegged needs. The MQ-1 includes forged 15/17 and 19mm sockets as well as a 3/8″ socket drive for a wild card. No more searching for the one extension the shop has that was last used to fish out a dropped screw from under a bench.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0133

Another tool simply filling a void is the SCW-26 cone wrench. Previously cone wrenches went from 24-28mm, now you can purchase a single 26mm for things like suspension caps.

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0137

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0132

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0136 Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0134

Park Tool new tools Interbike Spork20130918_0141

There were a number of other tools announced including a nice snap ring pliers set, a nipple driver for up to 50mm deep rims, an 8 and 10mm metric flare wrench for compression nuts on hydraulic lines (the closed but open shape will keep the wrench from slipping off the nut but still fit over the brake line), a forged Shimano spoke wrench for 4.3 and 3.75mm nipples, and finally a 4 and 5 bolt BCD gauge.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

34 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ajax
Ajax
10 years ago

The amount of stupid stuff that some companies make.

A spork?! Just dumb. It’s like Campy making a wine corkscrew remover and charging $200 for it. It’s called, wake up Park. Stick to tools. And while you are at it, fix that god awful centering thing on your top o the line wheel Truing stand. It sucks.

Peter
Peter
10 years ago

@Ajax:

They made the corkscrew because Tullio Campagnolo invented it.

R0b0tAt0ms
R0b0tAt0ms
10 years ago

I think the spork is quirky and fun. I have used their BBQ set for years and absolutely love it. They’re immediately recognizable by other cyclists, and are a talking piece to those poor souls who don’t ride and are curious.

Gonzoredneck
Gonzoredneck
10 years ago

The Pizza Cutter. Ya’ll remember that one? Still have mine. Still use it.

Besides, everyone needs a Park Spork to go with a campy Peanut butter wrench.

jaas
jaas
10 years ago

there are some people that go through life hating everything that comes their way. what a miserable way to go

The Guy
The Guy
10 years ago

@Ajax

YOU MAD, BRO?

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

One park engineer says to the other – “I hate how my spoon bends when i’m eating ice cream” the other responds – “let’s make a spork then” “haha, ok”

Lighten up Ajax.

Dyno-mite!
Dyno-mite!
10 years ago

Let me get technical and type that the flare wrench has 6 points of contact with the nut to prevent rounding of the corners on a brass fitting.
Thank you.

mtbtec
mtbtec
10 years ago

I Hate! SpOOOOOOrks! RAAAAAAAHHH!

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
10 years ago

I like the gloves and I think the spork is amusing, but I’d rather see the toilet paper holder brought back so I can upgrade my bathroom.
BTW Park’s wrenches for Shimano spokes are pretty expensive, the best value for home or light shop use is the Pro multihead wrench that has heads for all 4 Shimano spoke nipples plus standard spokes, and a bladed spoke holder.

MikeC
MikeC
10 years ago

While my Optimus Ti spork is still serviceable, I am intrigued by Park’s probably heavier, yet tool-dip-handled stainless offering. Perchance I shall purchase one. I was just thinking the other day, “Man, this titanium spork is fantastic, but I really need a spork with more vertical and lateral rigidity.” Kudos Park’s way for filling that niche of non-weight-weenie, yet quality spork-ware.

DTom
DTom
10 years ago

A toilet paper holder made from a truing stand would be the sh*t! (And not cheap.)

BShow
BShow
10 years ago

I have one of those stupid campy corkscrews and it’s by far the nicest corkscrew I’ve ever used. These random household items made by tool companies are not only superior to many of the items made by actual houshold companies. While I dont have much need for a nice spork, I think its’ pretty cool and I’m sure it’s the one of the nicer sporks in existence.

stratosrally
stratosrally
10 years ago
scott
scott
10 years ago

The pizza cutter is probably one of Park’s best selling items.

I had a $35 titanium camping spork forever. It was one of the best things I ever owned.

I look forward to getting a Park spork.

GS1
GS1
10 years ago

@jaas: Thank you.

Nate G
Nate G
10 years ago

4-Bolt BCD = Tape Measure

Stephen
Stephen
10 years ago

Not a fan of the spork, and the ergonomics of the pizza cutter look horrible, but the Park bottle opener BO-2 is one of the finest tools ever made.

http://www.parktool.com/product/bottle-opener-bo-2

goathead
goathead
10 years ago

Can’t we just focus our hate on fatbikes for once?

Nick
Nick
10 years ago

Need that spork.

WK
WK
10 years ago

Star Trek fans would luv that SPOCK

carl
carl
10 years ago

Spork lives at the shop. Eat my lunch with it. PERFECT!

CDG
CDG
10 years ago

I’m totally ordering that Spork!

Steven
Steven
10 years ago

Pizza cutter? And no-one mentions the great BO-1?
http://bit.ly/19oX1Iq

Alan
Alan
10 years ago

My BO-1 has never let me down!
…but it is a little heavy… 🙂

Robo
Robo
10 years ago

Ajax be trollin’ surprise surprise…

ben
ben
10 years ago

@DTom- Some friends of mine turned an upside down fork with a qr into a toilet paper stand.

anthony
anthony
10 years ago

love the metric quad wrench! ive said i would make one eventually. now i can buy it

Chainwhipped
Chainwhipped
10 years ago

Sorry, but a tool company making silverware is absurd.
(ab·surd: Adj.; wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.)

How about Park Tool toothbrush, or maybe a Park Tool curtain rod? Oooh, oooh! A Park Tool Rectal Thermometer!

Gravity
Gravity
10 years ago

@Chainwhipped – Do you mean like Craftsman?
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-4-pc-barbecue-gift-set-with-bottle/p-00941656000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-bottle-opener/p-00941626000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Seriously, just shut up people. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. God you people complain a lot.

Chainwhipped
Chainwhipped
10 years ago

@Gravity – Yes. Just like Craftsman.

There IS a line between useful and dumb. If only we all ridiculed companies that crossed that line regularly.

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

I got something to complain about, SCW-26. How is that a good idea? Its gonna mar the crap out of that alloy top cap with two points of minimal contact. Just go buy a cheap 6 point box wrench that will hold the topncap better by any measure. Or use a socket. Park cone wrenches suck to begin with, now this? I’m not going to buy it. And this isn’t going to alter my perspective on this beautiful day. Time to go for a ride!

Sam
Sam
10 years ago

The Spork might be popular with the touring crowd that refuse to go to a multi-sport shop.
I personally prefer my fork/spoon/knife/corkscrew/can-opener utility knife thing.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.