Caliper

It seems that wing nut axle bolts used to be a thing, but any nutted wheel today comes with a plain hex nut. Is this just cost savings? Did the wing nuts not work well? Rips your leg open in a crash?

CliffordK

Can one get them tight enough for horizontal rear dropouts?

They are probably OK in the front, or with vertical dropouts.

seau grateau

Wing nuts were used so that riders could take off and reinstall wheels on the road without needing to carry tools. Quick release rendered them obsolete because it does that job better. Track bikes don't use them because wrench nuts do the job better and track riders use tools at the track. Fixed gear road riders use them because they are the current standard. You can probably still find wing nuts from some specialty retailers if you really want some.

Senrab62 

Wing nuts are cool looking. Look better than they function though.

Independence Co,. Ltd , Bikedomeworks, Bicycle
These guys make a modern version. They have (or had in the past) some listed on fleabay as well.

Lazyass

VO used to sell them. I don't know why they couldn't be used with chain tugs.

https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2011/04/nuts.html

Senrab62 

Link to fleabay BDW wing nuts I previously mentioned:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F232716877791

Those VO wing nuts look great awesome. I would love to use a set on a modern lugged frame build.


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Mikefule

One of the advantages of ordinary hex nuts is the reduced risk of opportunistic/nuisance theft. Not all potential thieves carry a spanner/wrench.

One of the disadvantages of wing nuts is that, because they are visibly different, they might attract the attention of the sort of idiot who loosens something or steals it just because he can.

JohnDThompson 

Probably the main reason you don't seem wingnuts on track hubs is that most velodrome do not allow wingnuts or quick releases in competition. If you really want a tool-free means to remove your wheels, install hollow axles and use quick releases, N.B. not the currently fashionable external-cam design, but the old-school enclosed cam design still available from Shimano and elsewhere. Neither wingnuts nor external cam quick releases can reliably secure a rear wheel in a horizontal track dropout. External cam quick releases are fine on road bikes with vertical dropouts where the wheel can't slip from pedaling forces.

tashi

I used the stock wing-nuts on my Jeunet city bike, set up SS, and never had any slippage. Stamped dropouts and all, never a slip. I kept the steel-rimmed wheels mostly because of the wingnuts. For a vintagy bike, particularly with some other very french design flourishes, they're a nice addition.

On road bikes with horizontal dropouts, I regularly pull the wheel out pulling away from a stop or cranking a small gear up a steep hill if I don't use enclosed cam QR's. Leads me to believe that the wing nuts get tight enough, at least for city bike use.


YMMV.

Ferrouscious 

This has been my experience as well. I have never had any wheel slippage issues with alloy wingnuts on stamped steel dropouts. Unlike you, I use a derailleur gear bike. It's not geared terribly low. YMMV.