off-road.cc

Granite Design's Clever is a tyre lever with a difference - namely that it doubles up as a chain split link plier when the two levers are interlocked. Clever stuff indeed. It's a really useful touch to a high performing and durable set of levers, but they're a fair bit more expensive than the garden variety.

• 11 tools every home bike mechanic should own
• Review: Blackburn Wayside 19 multitool - innovative trail tool
• The best hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes you can buy for under £1500

When it comes to the tyre levering functions of the Clever, it's nice to see that it's been, ahem, inspired by the classic shape of the Pedro's Tyre Lever. That's entirely a good thing as it's a totally solid design that can wrestle pretty much any tyre off any rim. Despite the extra bits needed to make the link plier work, you can still hook the lever behind a spoke as needed too and they nest together when not in use.

• Buy now from Amazon

When it comes to the split-link function, it's not exactly like using a proper tool, but once you get the knack, it's easy enough to separate links, with it even working on the tight, single-use items found on SRAM's 12spd drivetrains. I'm not sure how much heavy use you'd want to give it, but it'll certainly do the job for once-in-a-blue-moon trailside repairs.

The two tyre levers fold together to make a quick-link plier

However, with that said, once you've paid $13 plus around $5 shipping in import taxes - buying via Amazon in the US is the only way you'll get hold of these or any other Granite Design items in the UK - then it's pretty expensive.

Clever indeed - they work with everything including 12spd SRAM Eagle

Seeing as you can buy a workshop grade split link plier for around £8 and a set of Pedros levers for £4, you're paying a fair old premium for having it all in one. That said, they look very good value when compared to Wolf Tooth's admittedly more complex take on the design, which is £30.

The tyre levers are nicely broad and sturdy

Of course, if you're out in the wilds and desperately wrestling with a split link based issue without them, you'll probably be willing to swap your eye teeth for a convenient solution to the problem at hand, so there is that. Certainly, if you plan to head out on long trips in the back of beyond, then it's probably a good investment to have in the toolkit.

You might also like:

• Review: Topeak Microshock shock pump - minimalist lightweight design
• How to go bikepacking: A beginner's guide to getting started