Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Snek Lifeboat Tyre Lever with integrated tubeless valve core remover launches on Kickstarter

Perfect tyre lever for tubeless fans and even includes a bottle opener as well

If you run tubeless tyres this is the tyre lever you need in your life. The Snek Lifeboat Tyre Lever is one of those “why didn’t I think of it first” products, in that as well as removing tyres, it also has an integrated tubeless valve core remover. Oh, and there’s also a bottle opener as well.

The company has taken to Kickstarter to make the product a reality. It’s hoping to raise £7,084 and if you want to support them and get your own tyre lever, it’ll cost from $9 for a single lever, or $18 for a set of two levers. If successful they’ll be shipping in November to anywhere in the world.

- What are the pros and cons of tubeless tyres?

snek_lifeboat_lever6.jpg

Most tubeless setups use valves with removable cores. This allows you to easily add sealant after the tyre has been mounted to the rim. It also allows easier inflation with a pump during the initial installation. In rare cases, you might have to add more sealant during a ride, particularly a mountain or gravel ride over rough terrain, and there are various products like GUP and Vittoria Pitstop that act as repair kits.

So there are times when you need to remove the core. Most tubeless valves come with a small plastic tool designed to remove the core, but due to their small size, they are easy to lose. I should know, I’m always misplacing them.

snek_lifeboat_lever10.jpg

That seems to be the inspiration for the Lifeboat Tyre Lever. “I was tired of looking for a tool to remove the valve core of my tubeless tires everytime I wanted to add sealant. My valve core remover was hard to keep track of and always seemed to be missing. That’s when I thought, why not just have a valve core remover as part of the tire lever?” explains Jonny Hintze of Snek Cycling.

“In addition, the lever includes a bottle opener for the post-ride beverage. It was time for a tire lever that kept up with cycling trends and technology.”

Having a tubeless valve core remover built into a tyre lever seems a pretty good idea then. You’re less likely to misplace a tyre lever for a start, and if you ever need to remove the valve core during a ride for whatever reason, you’re going to have one with you.

snek_lifeboat_lever4.jpg

The tyre lever is made by sandwiching a metal core with a plastic outer to ensure it is capable of removing even the most stubborn tyres without damaging the tyre or rim in the process. It’s made in the USA and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

“I was also frustrated with levers breaking. I wanted a lever that was tough enough to handle the repeated abuse of tire maintenance, and was built to last rather than something that was disposable,” adds Hintze.

More at www.kickstarter.com/projects/2116107835/snek-cycling-lifeboat-tire-lever

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

Add new comment

12 comments

Avatar
Ratfink | 5 years ago
1 like

I just use my fingers to remove the core and tighten it.Not had a calamity yet.

Anyhow i'm thinking of starting a kickstarter campaign for this innovative technique for just £5 i'll allow you to use your fingers in this way,For £10 you can also use your other fingers to hold the valve cap.This is providing the funding target of 10k is met.

Avatar
jimt | 5 years ago
3 likes

I think a rather than undooing valve cores this will be far more usefull to tighten them after they have been inadvertantly removed by your screw-on mini pump miles from anywhere... not talking from bitter experience, honest!

Avatar
Scottish Scrutineer replied to jimt | 5 years ago
0 likes

jimt wrote:

I think a rather than undooing valve cores this will be far more usefull to tighten them after they have been inadvertantly removed by your screw-on mini pump miles from anywhere... not talking from bitter experience, honest!

So you used Continental tubes too  1

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to jimt | 5 years ago
0 likes

jimt wrote:

I think a rather than undooing valve cores this will be far more usefull to tighten them after they have been inadvertantly removed by your screw-on mini pump miles from anywhere... not talking from bitter experience, honest!

We've all been there!

Avatar
Cugel | 5 years ago
2 likes

Here's a better one:

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chains-and-extras/produc...

It serves as a holder for quick links as well as a means to both open and close them. The valve core remover and tyre lever functions are joined by a valve locknut remover, since such locknuts are too tight to unscrew by hand, with tubeless tyres.

It's very light and even closes magnetically. It can be had from various UK retailers for £26-30.

Cugel

Avatar
sergius replied to Cugel | 5 years ago
0 likes

Cugel wrote:

Here's a better one:

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chains-and-extras/produc...

It serves as a holder for quick links as well as a means to both open and close them. The valve core remover and tyre lever functions are joined by a valve locknut remover, since such locknuts are too tight to unscrew by hand, with tubeless tyres.

It's very light and even closes magnetically. It can be had from various UK retailers for £26-30.

Cugel

 

That's a nice bit of kit, I do note the warning about Carbon rims though.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Cugel | 5 years ago
3 likes

Cugel wrote:

Here's a better one:

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chains-and-extras/produc...

It serves as a holder for quick links as well as a means to both open and close them. The valve core remover and tyre lever functions are joined by a valve locknut remover, since such locknuts are too tight to unscrew by hand, with tubeless tyres.

It's very light and even closes magnetically. It can be had from various UK retailers for £26-30.

Cugel

Yeah, thanks a lot for that. Now I'm down £30.

Avatar
Scottish Scrutineer replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Cugel wrote:

Here's a better one:

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chains-and-extras/produc...

It serves as a holder for quick links as well as a means to both open and close them. The valve core remover and tyre lever functions are joined by a valve locknut remover, since such locknuts are too tight to unscrew by hand, with tubeless tyres.

It's very light and even closes magnetically. It can be had from various UK retailers for £26-30.

Cugel

Yeah, thanks a lot for that. Now I'm down £30.

 

Wolftooth pliers available for £26 delivered from https://www.ubyk.co.uk/catalog/search_results.php?searchwords=wolf+tooth...

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
0 likes

I'm now torn between backing this or realising that I have way too many tyre levers plus a healthy collection of valve core removers. This can wait until I'm feeling more impulsive.

Brilliant idea though - every tyre lever and multi-tool should include a valve core remover as it's only a shaped hole.

 

Avatar
Pfaff | 5 years ago
0 likes

Will probberly work as an icecream spoon as well when needed.

Avatar
Pfaff | 5 years ago
7 likes

Will probberly work as an icecream spoon as well when needed.

Avatar
sergius | 5 years ago
0 likes

That's a great idea.

Latest Comments