TESTED: Abbey Bike Tools Wash Buddy pulley

Words and photos: Mike Blewitt
 
If you have an interest in bike maintenance, servicing, and high quality workmanship and tools, you probably follow a number of influential mechanics and tool aficionados on Instagram. You might follow David Rome (@romeandstuff) from CyclingTips, Lachlan McKillop (@spinthatup) from SRAM DSD, Brad Kelly (@bee_kay77) who works at Drift Bikes, or Brad Copeland (@bbcopeland) who is Kate Courtney’s mechanic. Any of their feeds will feature high end tools like those from Abbey Bike Tools, but also plenty of techniques that can result in greater results, or a step towards efficiency. Sometimes it is the latter that are the real golden nuggets, as most of use are looking for greater results for less time investment.
 
Abbey Bike Tools feature across those four mechanics’ Instagram feeds for a variety of reasons. One is that they make very high quality bike tools. Another is that their bike tools are often a bit lighter and more compact than others, which is a big deal if you travel for event support. But as a small company, Abbey Bike Tools also listen directly to feedback from people who use their tools to earn a wage. And that’s where one of their simplest, and cheapest, items comes into play.
 
If you take care of your bike, you’ll know that getting your drivetrain totally clean without flushing your hub bearings out with degreaser can need to be a delicate balance. Inline chain cleaners work really well, but when they really need a scrub sometimes they don’t cut it. Abbey created the Wash Buddy as a Team Issue tool – something just for the mechanics on pro teams. It used a Delrin pulley (seen here) with a high-quality quick release that clamps into the drop out. This way, you can have your bike in a workstand, clean you chain with your rear wheel off and get access to the jockey wheels as well. This sort of device isn’t new, but the Abbey one worked really well.

Now, add a through-axle mountain bike to the mix, and you only need the Delrin pulley, not the fancy quick release. This also makes the tool pretty cheap, just $29 from Lead Out Sports, compared to $99 for the whole Wash Buddy.
 
With the pulley slung over your through-axle, you can easily clean and scrub your chain with your bike securely in a workstand. Plus, you can shift to your lowest gear position so your rear derailleur is further from the frame, giving greater access to give it a good clean and lubrication. This might all seem like a small convenience, but if you have a couple of bikes to clean and maintain, it’s a useful time saving and convenient measure over time.
 
Away from bike washing and maintenance, the pulley can also help to keep the drivetrain in check when your bike is in a bike bag. A #protip would be adding a custom cut length of conduit to add some crush resistance for your frame.
 
The Wash Buddy Roller might not end up being the most glam tool in your tool kit, but it’s a cheap and simple addition to your collection. It is also a tool that will last years and give back a whole lot of time in convenience and efficiency. And that’s exactly what you should expect for a small tool that has come from Abbey’s team issue equipment.
 
RRP: $29 roller only | $99 Wash Buddy
From: leadoutsports.com
 
Hits:
–      Easy to use, easy to look after
–      Save time cleaning and maintaining bikes
–      Double duty for travel as well-designed
 
Misses:
–      Can create a cheap backyard bodge as well