Bike-specific tools are great when they make maintenance easier, and even better when they do double-duty and protect your bike too. A chain keeper does both- For those who travel regularly, its the best way to keep your chain tight and in position to prevent in-transit damage to your frame. In the shop chain keepers make it easier to clean the bike and drivetrain by replacing the rear wheel, thus providing plenty of space for working hands.
Velo Gold Bicycles is a full service shop in Fort Worth, Texas that also offers custom machining services. Shop owner Joshua Clark is now producing Velo Gold bicycle tools and accessories, which are all hand made in his garage workshop. Clark has just announced three different chain keeper tools, including one for mountain bikes with 12mm rear axles.
Get your peepers on Velo Gold’s keepers below the break…
The CK1 is Velo Gold’s simplest chain keeper and the most universal. It works on all bikes with standard dropouts and any axle width, as it only clamps to the drive side. This model holds the chain with a single-slot fixed position roller, so it does not offer the ability to shift gears while cleaning and tuning your drivetrain. The CK1 is made of 6061 aluminum, and comes with either a polished or knurled grip finish. Either option sells for $65 USD.
The CK2 is a more deluxe model ideal for professional or home mechanics. The quick-release unit works as a travel spacer or chain keeper with a mobile roller that allows the rear derailleur its full range of movement for easy ‘wheel-off’ drivetrain maintenance. The CK2 fits both 130 and 135mm rear ends with no need to disassemble or switch parts around and includes a good quality skewer (Velo Gold’s website actually states “We despise crappy skewers!”). The CK2 is available in 6061 aluminum with a knurled grip for $85, or in a cheaper Delrin model for $65.
Not forgetting the off-road market, Clark has created a chain keeper for mountain bikers too. The CK3 is a chain keeper device that fits over a 12mm axle. Its large handle allows you to easily pull the chain into position and slip the axle through. The CK3 is made of Delrin, and the handle can be customized with knurling, grooves, steps or thread patterns. The CK3 sells for $30, and a full-length travel spacer version is on the way.
Clark is already working on other designs including derailleur alignment tools, so keep an eye on Velo Gold as their tool line expands. All of Velo Gold’s tools come with a lifetime replacement warranty against wear and tear or defects.
