Shop Talk
A collection of mechanical musings, advice, news, and other interesting things from Park Tool.
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Written by Calvin on May 30, 2012/Park Tool News
HESJEDAL WINS GIRO
Congratulations to Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin Barracuda on his victory in the Giro d' Italia.
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Written by Karl on May 10, 2012/Park Tool News
Switchback Magazine Features Park Tool
Thanks to the editors of Switchback magazine for the nice feature article on Park Tool.
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Written by Calvin on April 2, 2012/Calvin's Corner
How to Build a Spearfish
It has been 22 years since the Clark-Kent mountain bike was new (seen below, on the left). The time has come for an updated, contemporary machine, which in this case will be a Salsa Spearfish (on the right, still mud-free). At first glance you might think these bikes are for two different customers, but that is not the case, as both are mine. The Clark-Kent has a relatively low bottom bracket height compared to the Salsa. Saddle-to-pedal and saddle-over-bars dimension is nearly the same for both. However the larger 29er wheels and taller bottom bracket height give the illusion of two different fits.
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Written by Karl on March 30, 2012/Park Tool News
EK-1 Event Kit Rated Best
Bike Rumor recent reviewed several tool kits and found that our EK-1 Event Kit was the best on the market. Click to read the entire story.
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Written by Calvin on March 13, 2012/Calvin's Corner
Springtime Attention Brings Problem Prevention
Springtime is nigh upon us, the time when a true cyclist's heart turns to—what else—bicycle maintenance. With attention from you, plus some elbow grease, your early season rides will be coming up roses.
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Written by Karl on March 10, 2012/Park Tool News
Park Tool Hosts Tours For 250
During the recent Park Tool Tech Summit in Minneapolis, we bussed about 250 people to our headquarters in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota for a factory tour. We broke into groups of 25 and had staff members lead the 30-minute tours.
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Written by Karl on February 10, 2012/Park Tool News
The Winner Is...
From time to time, an unbiased third party will evaluate one product versus another. Here is an example where Mountain Bike Action (with whom we do not advertise) has chosen our IB-3 I-Beam Mini Fold-Up tool as the best of the lot they tested.
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Written by Calvin on January 27, 2012/Calvin's Corner
You Say You Want a (Shifting) Revolution
If you have been trying to set up your dream ride with the new revolutionary electronic shifting systems, such as the Campagnolo® EPS™, or perhaps the Shimano® Di2™, but somehow it is just not working out for you, then perhaps you should look, not to the future, but to the past, for a different, revolutionary, shifting system.
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Written by Calvin on December 10, 2011/Park Tool News
European Fastest Wrench. Czech it out.
The biggest trade show in central Europe is held in the Czech Republic and is called Bike BRNO. This year, some of the most entertaining action was taking place under a trio of Park Tool tents. For the second year, Pedalsport, Park Tool’s distributor to the Czech Republic has conducted a contest for mechanics called “Fastest Tool.”
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Written by Calvin on December 6, 2011/Calvin's Corner
2011 USA Cycling Race Mechanic Clinic
Each year since 1987, I have taught at the Bill Woodul Race Mechanics Clinic, hosted by USA Cycling. Bill was a former USAC Equipment manager. We lost Bill to cancer in 1996, but it was this man who created the clinic as a place to share experience and knowledge with newer mechanics.
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