Rear wheel QR: what wins races?
#1
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,014
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 281 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2200 Post(s)
Liked 4,630 Times
in
1,773 Posts
Rear wheel QR: what wins races?
A while back I saw a picture in which Fausto Coppi had his rear wheel QR the "wrong" way around:
Today I saw another picture, of Benoni Beheyt, with the same phenomenon:
Intrigued, I spent some time on the 'net and found this wasn't a coincidence.
More Fausto Coppi:
More Benoni Beheyt:
I even found a third former World Champion with the QR lever on the drive side: Briek Schotte:
Any idea why? Is there a practical reason? Why only the rear skewer?
Today I saw another picture, of Benoni Beheyt, with the same phenomenon:
Intrigued, I spent some time on the 'net and found this wasn't a coincidence.
More Fausto Coppi:
More Benoni Beheyt:
I even found a third former World Champion with the QR lever on the drive side: Briek Schotte:
Any idea why? Is there a practical reason? Why only the rear skewer?
Likes For non-fixie:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,490
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1641 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 832 Times
in
540 Posts
I think that it's the mechanic in charge of the bike that's deciding what side to put the QR lever at.
There seems to be some logic putting it on the drive side as operating the lever and managing the chain at the same time with the same hand when removing or installing the rear wheel might be easier to do for some people.
There seems to be some logic putting it on the drive side as operating the lever and managing the chain at the same time with the same hand when removing or installing the rear wheel might be easier to do for some people.
Likes For Chombi1:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,280
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3815 Post(s)
Liked 3,348 Times
in
2,184 Posts
-----
at one time it was fairly common for Italian manufacturers to illustrate their machines in catalogues with this configuration
have an Ideor Asso catalogue from roughly 1960 where all the road models are shown exhibiting this arrangement
in my own work have always put the lever on the NDS and never had a customer who requested it otherwise
-----
at one time it was fairly common for Italian manufacturers to illustrate their machines in catalogues with this configuration
have an Ideor Asso catalogue from roughly 1960 where all the road models are shown exhibiting this arrangement
in my own work have always put the lever on the NDS and never had a customer who requested it otherwise
-----
Likes For juvela:
#5
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,119
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 854 Post(s)
Liked 1,441 Times
in
821 Posts
Seeing the set up of those bikes and the positioning of the riders, makes me cringe. I certainly remember them, do not miss them.
#6
Not so New
Maybe habit going back to the Cambio Corsa derailleur witch used the QR on the gear side.
Likes For John D:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,089
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4520 Post(s)
Liked 6,404 Times
in
3,684 Posts
Likes For merziac:
#8
blahblahblah chrome moly
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,997
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1181 Post(s)
Liked 2,578 Times
in
1,078 Posts
Maybe the question should be "why did some riders/mechanics stray from the well-established (and blessed by Tullio) practice of putting the lever on the right side?"
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
1955 cat.#13
1960 cat.#14
1967 cat.#15
Notable in this one, the hub in the lower-right is a Pista! (Note curved levers)
1974 cat.#17
1982 'Olympic' catalog
1984 cat.#18
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
1955 cat.#13
1960 cat.#14
1967 cat.#15
Notable in this one, the hub in the lower-right is a Pista! (Note curved levers)
1974 cat.#17
1982 'Olympic' catalog
1984 cat.#18
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Likes For bulgie:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,482
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1830 Post(s)
Liked 3,391 Times
in
1,586 Posts
Maybe the question should be "why did some riders/mechanics stray from the well-established (and blessed by Tullio) practice of putting the lever on the right side?"
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
.....
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
.....
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
I was going to mention that even my old mid-70's Cyclo-Pedia catalog used drawings by Rebour that showed the lever on the right....
but my Raleigh catalogs of the era show the QR lever installed on the left.
Maybe someone has race photos from earlier that indicates when the transition occurred?
Steve in Peoria
(nice to see a new issue/question pop up)
#10
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,014
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 281 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2200 Post(s)
Liked 4,630 Times
in
1,773 Posts
Maybe the question should be "why did some riders/mechanics stray from the well-established (and blessed by Tullio) practice of putting the lever on the right side?"
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
So, should we now all go and flip our rear skewers?
Likes For non-fixie:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,490
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1641 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 832 Times
in
540 Posts
Hard to argue with that!
I was going to mention that even my old mid-70's Cyclo-Pedia catalog used drawings by Rebour that showed the lever on the right....
but my Raleigh catalogs of the era show the QR lever installed on the left.
Maybe someone has race photos from earlier that indicates when the transition occurred?
Steve in Peoria
(nice to see a new issue/question pop up)
I was going to mention that even my old mid-70's Cyclo-Pedia catalog used drawings by Rebour that showed the lever on the right....
but my Raleigh catalogs of the era show the QR lever installed on the left.
Maybe someone has race photos from earlier that indicates when the transition occurred?
Steve in Peoria
(nice to see a new issue/question pop up)
Last edited by Chombi1; 02-01-24 at 04:15 AM.
Likes For Chombi1:
#12
Senior Member
Maybe, most people are right-handed? It's easier to handle the rear QR with your right hand if it's on the right. And, easier to handle the front QR with your right hand if it's on the left, since your facing the bike from the front. Just thinking out of the box.
Likes For gearbasher:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,398
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2496 Post(s)
Liked 2,975 Times
in
1,687 Posts
Maybe the question should be "why did some riders/mechanics stray from the well-established (and blessed by Tullio) practice of putting the lever on the right side?"
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
<pictures snipped>
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Campy hubs were delivered with the lever on the right inside the box well into the '70s. Though you had to remove the skewer to install the freewheel anyway, so it didn't make any more work for you to flip it on re-assembly.
<pictures snipped>
Did they picture them "wrong" in all those catalogs, even into the '80s, as some sort of in-joke, or was this really how God and Campy intended them to be run?
Pages 95 and 96 of the C.O.N.I. book from 1972 show Campagnolo and Simplex hubsets. The Campy road hubset has the QR lever on the right side; the two Simplex hubsets have the QR lever on the right side for the high-flange set and on the left side for what the caption refers to as the "road hubset with normal flanges."
Never thought about it before, but why not have the rear wheel QR lever on the right, which is usually the stronger hand for right-handed people? How did having the lever on the left become the standard?
Last edited by Trakhak; 02-01-24 at 05:36 AM.
Likes For Trakhak:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,482
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1830 Post(s)
Liked 3,391 Times
in
1,586 Posts
So maybe putting the rear QR lever on the right is strictly a Campagnolo thing?? A carry-over from the Cambio Corsa era, as suggested earlier?
edit: I was poking through Heiko's scans of Daniel Rebour's drawings/illustrations on Flickr, and found one of some Normandy hubs (with Atom skewers) where the rear QR was shown on the right. The date is listed as 1962, so perhaps this was more common in the earlier days of the quick release??
https://www.flickr.com/photos/414206...n/photostream/
Steve in Peoria
Last edited by steelbikeguy; 02-01-24 at 07:17 AM.
Likes For steelbikeguy:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,398
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1105 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times
in
878 Posts
Next up. Why are QR levers curved now instead of flat like they used to be?
Because a flat QR lever looks the same open or closed (@ 90 degrees). A curved QR lever has the curved part facing out when open, very easy to spot.
Because a flat QR lever looks the same open or closed (@ 90 degrees). A curved QR lever has the curved part facing out when open, very easy to spot.
__________________
Likes For nomadmax:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,688
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 156 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2331 Post(s)
Liked 5,020 Times
in
1,786 Posts
I think the reason is really obvious if you think about it. For road racing you want the bike balanced in handling for both directions. So you have the QR's in opposite directions to keep the bike better balanced. Now for track use you do want both QR's on the non-drive side because all you are doing it turning left anyway.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,783
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1678 Post(s)
Liked 3,104 Times
in
915 Posts
Sometimes the d-ring on the nut on those Campy skewers will bump up against the RD and requires some fiddling to get right.
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,461
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 879 Post(s)
Liked 2,300 Times
in
1,286 Posts
If you put the lever on the drive side then you could put the cables in front of the handle bars and REALLY raise some chatter! Whatever floats yer boat.
Likes For Kabuki12:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,814
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3528 Post(s)
Liked 2,939 Times
in
1,782 Posts
Shimano has the last word. On location and QR direction:
Likes For smd4:
#20
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,800
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3594 Post(s)
Liked 3,404 Times
in
1,937 Posts
QUOTE=steelbikeguy;23144552]Hard to argue with that!
I was going to mention that even my old mid-70's Cyclo-Pedia catalog used drawings by Rebour that showed the lever on the right....
[/QUOTE]
As did Campagnolo's own catalogs:
But not Maillard's. Go figure:
I was going to mention that even my old mid-70's Cyclo-Pedia catalog used drawings by Rebour that showed the lever on the right....
[/QUOTE]
As did Campagnolo's own catalogs:
But not Maillard's. Go figure:
Last edited by JohnDThompson; 02-01-24 at 09:23 AM.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,530
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1508 Post(s)
Liked 3,482 Times
in
1,133 Posts
No wonder the industry went to through axles. You can't put those on the wrong side!
Brent
Brent
__________________
"I have a tendency to meander sometimes." B.G.
"I have a tendency to meander sometimes." B.G.
Likes For obrentharris:
#22
aged to perfection
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: PacNW
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 840 Post(s)
Liked 1,271 Times
in
669 Posts
great pics from the wayback machine, thank you!
I do believe that a small detail such as QR orientation is not a differentiating characteristic for race victories
/markp
I do believe that a small detail such as QR orientation is not a differentiating characteristic for race victories
/markp
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,831 Times
in
1,997 Posts
Consider Campagnolo’s history, the Cambio Corsa and those of similar type, used the active clamp mechanism on the drive side for the rear wheel.
forget the catalogs, look at what the top racers did.
forget the catalogs, look at what the top racers did.
#24
aged to perfection
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: PacNW
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 840 Post(s)
Liked 1,271 Times
in
669 Posts
/markp
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,814
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3528 Post(s)
Liked 2,939 Times
in
1,782 Posts
What about all the guys that had the QR on the right side that didn't win races?