Originally Posted by cyccommute

We call them "pokey tools" at my local co-op. The actual label on the bench says "Pokey tools. For poking stuff". We use old quick release skewers (just the shaft) and sharpen them to a point on a grinder. We use spokes with a triangle bent into the end and sharpen those. The little pokey tools are more useful than the larger ones.

I also carry around a short version in my shirt pocket all the time. It comes in handy as a pointer.