Review: Abbey Bike Tools Whip-It Chain Whip

(2022) The importance of quality tools can be seen as well as felt. Tools that have graced our bench have felt out of place or awkward. Then there are the tools that feel like they are an extension of the body. Perfectly weighted, beautifully aligned, and thoughtfully considered engineering can be felt when using the tool or showing it off. Bend, Oregon’s Abbey Bike Tools creates versatile tools with dependable performance.

A couple of years ago a stubborn lockring gave all the tools in the service course a durability test. A chain whip designed for transport (see: flat) first twisted, then proceeded to break at the handle. Luckily a backup blue shop tool was nearby but even that one struggled with holding the cassette in place. Eventually the lockring gave way, probably terrified of the devices we were discussing to employ for its removal. It was at least a decade ago but blowtorches were starting to get considered. 

The Abbey Bike Tools Whip-It Chain Whip engages neatly around the cassette and provides leverage for any stubborn part.

Tools that are quality are also leaned on heavily, figuratively and literally. The Abbey Bike Tools Whip-It Chain Whip is just the tool to lean on with elbow grease. The versatility comes with a chain that can work on cassettes from 7-13 speeds. There are certainly some old doubles out there that could benefit from a Whip-It removal. The stainless steel tool stands out with its lack of plastic while grabbed for in a pinch to crack loose any cassette. The price is a little higher than other chain whips, but we won’t be replacing a broken one any time soon.

The Whip-It’s handle stores the Crombie Tool for ease of use in any situation.

To use Abbey Bike Tools is stylish, so it’s no surprise that the Whip-It Chain Whip can store the Crombie Tool (ours is for thru-axles), used for the lock ring, within its own handle. Since these tools are used in tandem it makes sense to make them compatible with storage. If one needs to quickly remove a cassette, these two tools, stored together, are all that is needed.

The chain whip is an intimidating-looking piece of machinery but is so vital to have in the workshop. Abbey Bike Tools’ Whip-It Chain Whip serves its purpose by performing beautifully while looking wonderful on the shop wall. The stainless steel device looks and feels great when employed to get a rear wheel updated or repaired. Or maybe we will just walk around with the Whip-It Chain Whip and Crombie Tool in our back pocket. When someone points out we are toting around Abbey Bike Tools, we can simply respond with, “Oh these ol’ things?” and act like everything is normal.