The cyclist's secret weapon

We've all experienced those amazing bike rides where everything just clicks and falls into place. Conversation flows freely among friends, legs feel strong, and you can feel the tires rolling even better over the asphalt than usual. You feel like the king of the road, until... pssssssst...nothing is more disheartening than the sound of air escaping from your bike tube. It's the scenario we fear on every ride: having to wrestle a stubborn bike tire off the rim and then fight an - if possible - even bigger battle to get it back on. Sometimes it's almost an impossible task, especially with certain rims and tire types. But fear not, there's actually a little tool called the Tyre Glider, that promises to make tire changes a breeze. It sounded convincing enough for me to decide to buy one, and luckily for that, because on my latest gravel ride - where I inevitably got a flat tire - I had the perfect opportunity to test out this little red tool.

A closer look at the Tyre Glider

My tire - a Specialized Pathfinder - sits extremely tight on my Roval Terra rim, yet my disappointment was significant when, on the first attempt, it proved to be an impossible mission to get the tire off with the Tyre Glider - I had hoped my troubles would be over and that it would be as easy as pie, but there simply wasn't enough space between the tire bead and the rim for me to access with the Tyre Glider. Therefore, I ended up resorting to the good old tire levers, which are also difficult to get under the tire but at least possible. So the first half ended 1-0 to the old and familiar tire levers.

"Here, the Tyre Glider rose from the dust like a phoenix, redeeming itself after the initial defeat to the old tire levers."

When it came time to put the tire back on, luck turned in my favor. Usually, if the tire is difficult to remove, it's truly a challenge to put it back on - especially with frozen, mud-covered fingers on the roadside. But here, the Tyre Glider rose from the dust like a phoenix, redeeming itself after the initial defeat to the old tire levers. It was incredibly easy to maneuver along the rim edge and simply pulled the tire into place with an ease I hadn't dared to hope for. Here, it showed its true strength and justification. Quickly, I could pump up the tire, pack my tools away, and get back in the saddle. No more long, icy-cold stops by the roadside, and no more frustration and time wasted. The Tyre Glider proved to be a true time-saver, allowing me to spend more time on the road and less time struggling with punctures. It will definitely be a staple part of my gear on future rides.

Regarding the Tyre Glider's initial struggle with tire removal, I must mention that when I got home, I decided to give it another chance, this time without wet and cold fingers - and therefore with a little more patience. After some time, I managed to get it under the tire, and I could remove it without much effort. However, I must be honest and say that it takes some time to find the right technique when there is limited space between the rim and tire. I also tried it on one of my other bikes with tires that weren't as tight, and I experienced no issues. This shows that the Tyre Glider can indeed be used to remove a tire, depending on the tire/rim combination, but it's probably a good idea to try it out at home before relying on it as the sole tool during a ride out in the world.

Considerations and price:

One minor thing one could wish for is that the design of the tool accommodated both right- and left-handed users. Although I could easily use it as a left-handed person, I felt that it was a bit cumbersome to hold. A more ergonomic design approach that caters to both hand preferences could enhance the user experience and make the Tyre Glider even more usable and easy to handle for everyone. Alternatively, the Tyre Glider could be offered in a left-handed version as well. Furthermore, there's one last important thing to mention: this little piece of tool costs around 100 kr. This must be considered an affordable investment for any cyclist, regardless of budget. Additionally, the Tyre Glider is extremely robustly built and doesn't snap at the slightest provocation like most tire levers, so for your modest outlay, you get a faithful companion for both the bike shed and bike trips that is sure to last for many years to come.

Check out

Read the exciting interview with Tom Cools, who founded the cycling lifestyle brand Çois Cycling Legacy.

With Rackbuddy, I can organize all my cycling gear, from clothing to helmets, shoes, and cycling glasses.

There are thousands of pictures of bikes on Instagram, and you've probably come across the hashtag #baaw.

Highlighted

Instagram