Getting new wheels!! Should I upgrade quick release skewer?
12-31-18, 04:11 PM
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Getting new wheels!! Should I upgrade quick release skewer?
Hey guys, I’m getting a new set of carbon wheels this week and was curious if there would be any benefits to upgrading the quick release skewers. I’m getting the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3’s
thanks
thanks
12-31-18, 04:18 PM
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12-31-18, 04:41 PM
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12-31-18, 04:54 PM
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Only if it adds more bling to your wheels and makes you feel better. You won't feel any difference in weight.
12-31-18, 05:50 PM
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12-31-18, 07:42 PM
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12-31-18, 07:54 PM
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I got some Zipp skewers for about 30 bucks. Shaved about 60 grams off. Pretty good gram to dollar ratio, there!
12-31-18, 08:10 PM
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I got some Dura Ace ones. They added some weight, but also some security over the open-cam boutique ones I had.
cf: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
cf: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
01-01-19, 06:23 AM
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I dig these by PZ Racing:
Oddly enough, not really for racing. But they are more aero than anything else... Pretty damn light, too.
Oddly enough, not really for racing. But they are more aero than anything else... Pretty damn light, too.
01-01-19, 11:53 AM
#12
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Can't go wrong with those PZ Racing. They're surprisingly light for how cheap they are. If your wallet is heavier, ControlTech Race Ti. Just for the blinginess.
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01-01-19, 04:53 PM
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After having had to source skewers as a wheel company as well as having to deal with them non-stop in the shop environment and as neutral race support, as a team manager, etc.....
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
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01-01-19, 05:43 PM
#14
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What PSIMET said. When I first switched to deep stiff CF wheels I found that generic skewers whould
make noise even when I tightened them beyond tight. Back to DA and problem solved. If you don't sprint
out of the saddle it might not be an issue.
make noise even when I tightened them beyond tight. Back to DA and problem solved. If you don't sprint
out of the saddle it might not be an issue.
01-01-19, 05:51 PM
#15
Non omnino gravis
...and if you don't race, you have absolutely no need of QR skewers. If a wheel needs to come off out on the road, it's because something that requires tools has occurred. Compared to anything quick-release, it maybe takes an extra 10 seconds to remove a "bolt on" skewer like the PZ Racing, ControlTech, etc. They also satisfy the weight weenies by being quite light, and the aero weenies by being (nearly) as aero as possible. A bolt-on front skewer saves around 1W! 
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01-01-19, 05:59 PM
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I got some Dura Ace ones. They added some weight, but also some security over the open-cam boutique ones I had.
cf: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
cf: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
I can't remember who gave me this advice here, but it was probably the single best bid of advice I have gotten on BikeForums.
I had external-cam boutique Salsa quick-release skewers, red ones that matched my Chris Bling, and was under the false impression that they were better than the old-style internal-cam (or closed-cam) metal quick release skewers.
I have one of the older style disc brake setups, with a first-generation Enve CX fork. Although the dropouts face forward, there is still a non-zero risk of wheel ejection, and I found I had to re-seat the wheel after every ride. Fortunately nothing worse ever happened, but after getting the (heavier) DuraAce quick release, the setup has been rock-solid and problem-free.
They are heavy, over-priced, over-engineered, and exactly what I needed (as opposed to what I thought I wanted).
01-01-19, 10:01 PM
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After having had to source skewers as a wheel company as well as having to deal with them non-stop in the shop environment and as neutral race support, as a team manager, etc.....
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
01-02-19, 04:02 PM
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You're in luck - the industry agrees with you.
I actually ran across some skewers recently and was like - "huh....haven't had to use these lately."
Although I will say at this time of the year I am always getting last minute bombarded by riders with no trainer axle converter. "you have one of those things so I can ride the computrainers here today? I guess I have a thru-axle thingy."
I actually ran across some skewers recently and was like - "huh....haven't had to use these lately."
Although I will say at this time of the year I am always getting last minute bombarded by riders with no trainer axle converter. "you have one of those things so I can ride the computrainers here today? I guess I have a thru-axle thingy."
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01-02-19, 04:05 PM
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I spend my winters riding skis instead of a trainer, so no worries on that front. 
01-03-19, 11:19 AM
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So a good quality internal cam skewer works well and does everything asked of it.
People replace them with gimmicky external cams, Ti etc to save a few grams and they barely work.
So the solution is to replace wheels and frame with a thru axle system?
If there is some logic there I am not seeing it.
People replace them with gimmicky external cams, Ti etc to save a few grams and they barely work.
So the solution is to replace wheels and frame with a thru axle system?
If there is some logic there I am not seeing it.
01-03-19, 01:17 PM
#22
Banned
In the Bike Shop, the typical repair wheels come with new skewers .. these are usually included with the hubs.. if you were just to buy the hubs..
As a result there is a bin full of used but still OK QR Skewers ...
As a result there is a bin full of used but still OK QR Skewers ...
01-03-19, 01:22 PM
#23
Banned
Pretty blingy https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/e...wheel/p/14834/
might need Dura Ace Skewers to be Elite Classy enough..
might need Dura Ace Skewers to be Elite Classy enough..
01-03-19, 03:34 PM
#25
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After having had to source skewers as a wheel company as well as having to deal with them non-stop in the shop environment and as neutral race support, as a team manager, etc.....
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
I have found a few things - skewers cause more issues (sounds/creaks/shifting problems/etc) than many are aware of.
The cheap ones generally do suck.
Internal cam ones are better. Way better.
Strength and reliability are the 2 most important factors. Remember this is when dealing with actual racers - not the perception of what racers are or want. Ever picked someone off the deck who smashed their face because their cool lightweight Ti skewer snapped? Not a pretty sight. Ever had someone lose because it took too long to change their wheel because their external cam skewer was so contaminated they couldn't get it off in a wheel swap? How about have a wheel slam over because their external cam skewer "felt" tight but wasn't actually tight....
Most racers leave the steel, old school trainer skewer on all the time because it's easier, works great all the time and helps with getting into and out of the trainer for warmups, etc.
For people riding generally - get Shimano skewers. The newer Ultegra and Dura Ace versions are really well done pieces of engineering. They are worth the money and worth using.
Thank you for this.
-Tim-