Koyote

We were talking about disc brake bikes with QR dropouts, so I don't think thru axles are a solution to that.

shoota 

Agreed. I also think the whole "disc brakes will rip the wheel out of the dropout" is completely over-inflated too.

chaadster

Thru-axles eliminate that problem.

Koyote

Not if the bike has QR dropouts, which is what we were discussing.

If you want to take part in a conversation, it helps if you pay attention.

chaadster

The problem of disc brake alignment with quick release wheels, which is caused both by the variability of wheel location and by insecure wheel retention, is a strong argument for thru-axle design.

mstateglfr 

^ nickname checks out.

chaadster

it’s no nickname, it’s a statement of intent.

mstateglfr 

Apparently I need to change mine from 'sunshine' to 'not as daft as I seem'.

Koyote

Well, going off-topic and stating the obvious are great ways to kill a thread. Mission accomplished.

chaadster

You think thru-axles are less germane to the OP’s decision whether to upgrade to hydro discs or not than quick releases are?

Bad look, bro.

shoota 

Welp, once again, I just spent the last few days building up, working on, riding, adjusting, tinkering with my 2019 CAADX with a dreaded QR rear. Nothing bad happened, the disc didn't even rub once. *shrug*

Hmmm

When I purchased a new bike I only went hydro SRAM for the hoods. Those beautiful big SRAM hydro hoods..

As far as maintenance, I wish I had mechanical. As a beginner mechanic, it seems to be more manageable. Maybe I'm wrong.

shoota 

You're definitely not wrong. I'm not a beginner mechanic but I don't mess with hydro stuff. I always thought I would need to when I got my first hydro setup but time has proven otherwise. With a good shop in town, and only needing them once or twice a year, it just makes sense for them to do the work. If I didn't have them I'd have to learn how to do it for myself though.

Koyote

If the wheels did not spontaneously fly off of the bike and cause a catastrophic crash, you are clearly doing it wrong.

scubaman

I concur with the recommendation to use internal cam skewers, or the clever DT Swiss RWS skewers (https://www.dtswiss.com/en/wheels/wh...rws-technology). I won't use external cam skewers, especially not for the rear wheel.

I also concur that converting a drop-bar drive train from cable to hydraulic disc brakes is expensive and complex, especially with brifters. Including because the cable fittings might not be designed for hydraulic hose. TRP Spyre are moderately priced and work well, Paul Klamper are expensive, pretty, MUSA, and also work well. Both are easy to set up and maintain.

mack_turtle

sultanofsuede

Learned a lot on this thread and I found a bike with hydraulic brakes that I think I want to buy (used). Now my worry is that it is a QR set-up, and I had no idea that could be a bigger issue. Its 5 year old bike, carbon, awesome components, and pretty much pristine - but its got the QR. hmmmmm.......... Do I keep looking?

mack_turtle

it's not an issue. someone on this forum ignorantly made a big stink about it recently and now it's an inside joke. ("disc brakes and QR skewers are a SCAM!") thru axles and disc brakes are probably better, but wheels with QR skewers works just fine. it's probably a good idea to get a strong QR skewer if you're using disc brakes, but it should never be a deal-breaker. my last CX bike had QR skewers and hydraulic disc brakes and I never thought twice about it.

franswa

and if they’re flat mount it’s pretty simple and quick to center the rotors between the pads. I just did this earlier today and took about 3 minutes.

chaadster

Yeah, I agree it’s not an issue and not a deal breaker. As I said before, I have both cable and hydro, and the cable discs are on qr hubs while the hydros on thru axle. Actually, I had hydros on qrs with the MountainCycle...Shimano Hone brakes. Anyhoo, while the hydro/thru combo is a little easier and less fussy with regard to wheel removal and installation, I’ve never had a problem with qrs coming loose while riding or braking. I’ve been riding the cable disc, QR equipped Novara Buzz for 15 years, three different wheelsets with either Shimano or no-brand internal cam skewers or external cam Ritchey skewers, and it’s my utility/winter bike, so it has pulled axle mount trailers and seen all the worst weather. QRs and discs were never a problem.

fooferdoggie 

after reading here Now I know why my two e bikes with hydro's get loose qr's. my e bike has front and back and both have come loose. I really crank them down and it seems that works. my e tandem has a through axel on back I can't remember if it came loose but the front is qr and it has.

chaadster

That’s nothing to do with discs, and is rather an issue of lousy quick release skewers.

fooferdoggie 

they are Shimano skewers I think deore. I also had a Pitlock locking sewer come loose and that is a very high product.

chaadster

Ah, sorry for being presumptuous. In any case, the failure of the QR to secure the wheel is a QR problem, not a brake problem. Perhaps what you think is really tightening them down hard is actually just right, and you were undertightening them before? If you are indeed closing them with a lot of force, it’s possible they have been overtightened, and you’ve got deformation of the pieces going on, which reduces clamping force.

fooferdoggie 

they loosened even after the bike shop did them. then I started doing them tighter not as tight as they could go but pretty tight now so far I have not had a loose one since. the tandem has a through axle and man I sure love it hope my next bikes have them.