BBB Head Fix Headset Spanners £10.95 each

The head-fix bridges the gap between a full-on workshop quality tool and the bargain basement get-you-by type when it comes to accurately adjusting and servicing the threaded headsets still prevalent on older road, tourers, cross and mountain bikes.

Weighing a reassuringly hefty 300g a piece, the Taiwanese made wrenches feature hardened, matt chrome steel construction and dual ended design to accommodate 26/32 and 32/36mm sizes. From the outset fit has been very precise, eliminating the risk of rounding or gouging-especially with repeated use on soft aluminium models.

However, while dual ended designs are a bonus in terms of convenience, open- ended tools offer greater leverage. Hard rubberised sleeves give improved grip with sweaty or greasy hands but a softer compound would’ve been nicer as they’ve a tendency to dig uncomfortably into the palm-especially tackling very weathered locknuts and curiously drilled holes mean they’re not the easiest to hang on the tool board.

To their credit, the finish has stood up to the usual workshop abuse and hasn’t tarnished despite spending a few nights in open coastal air. They’ll repay their investment ten fold in time and money for budding mechanics and seasoned riders fettling winter workhorses and/or classic mounts but open ended models are more comfortable over prolonged periods.

Verdict

Good wrenches for older bikes and cost conscious home mechanics