Review: Abbey Bike Tools Socket Crombie

(2023) Having precision tools encourages one to maintain the bike. Bend, OR, based Abbey Bike Tools leads the cycling industry with aesthetically pleasing tools and unsurpassed functionality. To add a Socket Crombie means the lock ring on the cassette can now be certifiably torqued.

Several wheelsets ago, we were plagued with under torqued cassettes. The reasoning was simple - there was hardly justification to take the bike to the local bike shop simply to snug the cassette onto the freehub body. What followed was a gouging of the freehub body as the cassette spun microscopically on its mount. Each time a new cassette was called for, the freehub would have to be filed down once the final rings were plucked off. If only there was a tool that could snug up the cassette from home, expediting confidence in our pressure.

Though the Socket Crombie be small, it is fierce.

Though we have a Crombie Tool, the Socket Crombie is perfect for the plague of less-than-set cassettes. The Socket Crombie is perfect for tightening using their 3/8” square drive with a torque wrench; the Crombie Tool is ideal for loosening on its own. The socket is cut deep to work quick release levers and for precision work. For those who take bikes off-road, the S Group Socket Crombie will work on newer RockShox suspension forks using S group lock-rings. S Group Socket Crombies work for Shimano and SRAM; the Campagnolo version is compatible with Campy.

Put to use immediately with our recently reviewed Park Tool Torque Wrench 6.2, specifically for Newton meters (Nms) between ten and sixty, the Socket Crombie integrated perfectly on the socket. With magical tolerance, the Socket Crombie went right into the Shimano lockring and the rear cassette was snugged happily. Not only was the wheel on the bike torqued, so, too, was the cassette on the smart trainer. One small tool added a dose of satisfaction that the bike, at least the cassette, was meeting build standards. 

Abbey Bike Tools Socket Crombie is the perfect addition to the home mechanic wall. Abbey Bike Tools leads the cycling tool industry and with good reason. Their tools are superior quality with strong attention to detail. The ability to confidently torque cassettes has always been a hole in the service course at creakybottombracket.com. Now we can check every bike hanging on the rack for no reason at all other than having confidence in our tools. Except now we have further confidence in our machines.