How safe is the quick release system?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
How safe is the quick release system?
I've been thinking about this lately. To me, it seems like a very crucial part of the bike only relies on a small steel rod. Clamp it too tight and you risk weakening it and having it break, clamp it too loose and the wheel may pop out or you'll end up chewing your dropouts (if they are full carbon) and end up with the same result. It's also prone to user error in many different ways (poor wheel alignment, clamping force, poor lever placement, accidental unclamping). It also needs a very tight tolerance with the wheel axle to make sure nothing moves / is misaligned.
I know they have been around forever so they can't be that bad, but to me the thru axle makes way more sense. If I could have rim brakes with thru axles, I would.
What's your take on the subject?
I know they have been around forever so they can't be that bad, but to me the thru axle makes way more sense. If I could have rim brakes with thru axles, I would.
What's your take on the subject?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,201
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1186 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
177 Posts
You're overthinking it. After you've done it once or twice it's not difficult to adjust for decent pressure. I've never heard of one snapping, it's a complete non issue.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Lots of things I'd worry about before something that's been in common use for over half a century.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,737
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 643 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times
in
551 Posts
I think you'd have to be pretty strong to clamp one hard enough to weaken or break it and a little common sense should tell you if it's tight enough to keep from coming loose on it's own.
Definitely not something I worry about.
Definitely not something I worry about.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhere in TX
Posts: 2,266
Bikes: BH, Cervelo, Cube, Canyon
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
You're underthinking it. Calculate the tension on the rod required to create enough friction on the clamp ends to not move under the strongest force it will experience, then give that a safety factor of two.
You shouldn't be too concerned about something if you haven't done the math on it. Laziness leads to ignorance which leads to unnecessary wringing of the hands.
You shouldn't be too concerned about something if you haven't done the math on it. Laziness leads to ignorance which leads to unnecessary wringing of the hands.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
Don't forget the "Lawyer Lip" that helps keep the QR axle in place.
#8
Senior Member
Keep in mind that fork ends and dropouts mostly contain the axle in the direction where the greatest forces are applied. For a front wheel the only direction that the QR does all of the retention (less lawyer lips) is downward. So when you do a wheelie, the QR only has to support the weight of the wheel plus any inertia from hitting a bump.
#9
Senior Member
Close the lever on the Q/R with just enough force to leave an indentation in your palm. I've seen 20-year veteran cyclists use the Q/R lever as a built-in wrench, not knowing that it's a cam that's supposed to be closed.
Anybody who is strong enough to break a 1/4" steel rod with their bare hands and a 2-inch lever, I DON'T want to shake their hands.
Anybody who is strong enough to break a 1/4" steel rod with their bare hands and a 2-inch lever, I DON'T want to shake their hands.
#10
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10969 Post(s)
Liked 7,495 Times
in
4,191 Posts
Even cheap external cams work just fine.
It isnt difficult to get a wheel centered. It isnt difficult to tension the cam.
I have 0 interest in thru axles for rim brakes. Completely unnecessary. As useful as tube valve covers. Why complicate that which works simply?
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Have quite a few more decades than that and have experienced frames cracking, stems breaking, forks snapping, broken axles, etc. But to date have never had a quick release fail - including the ones holding broken axles together for hundreds of miles.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
You've hit the nail on the head. They aren't "that bad". They aren't that good either.
Thru-axles are the future. They are more precise, more secure, and are often quicker to use than a quick release. When riding rough terrain, the added stiffness from a thru-axle over a quick-release is easily noticeable.
but to me the thru axle makes way more sense.
#16
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Couldn't find numbers, but last year Shimano issued a recall...Shimano. The "always reliable" "buy their QRs because they don't suck" company
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/sh...ng-fall-hazard
Presuming your equipment has them...ENVE forks don't for example.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/sh...ng-fall-hazard
Presuming your equipment has them...ENVE forks don't for example.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,204
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2012 Post(s)
Liked 409 Times
in
235 Posts
Probably because the incidence of QR failure causing a crash is extremely rare. I'd be more worried about my carbon rims asploding than my QR breaking.
I suppose if one was really concerned about this happening one could replace the axle and use bolt on nuts. Then you'd just have to carry a wrench on rides in case you have to replace a tube.
My 1980's steel also does not have it. I think this 'lawyer' lip might be a more recent addition to bicycle forks, like the last 30 years. I'm basing that statement from two bikes I own from the 1980's, neither of which have lawyer lips. I am always careful about making them extra tight.
I suppose if one was really concerned about this happening one could replace the axle and use bolt on nuts. Then you'd just have to carry a wrench on rides in case you have to replace a tube.
Presuming your equipment has them...ENVE forks don't for example.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,580 Times
in
7,337 Posts
Many years ago, during our club's century from New Hope, PA to Brooklyn, NY, a group of us stopped for water, etc., after about 27 miles. When we were about to head out, one group member picked up the front of his bike by the bars to take it out of a bike rack. When he did, the front wheel fell off. Dude had ridden 27 miles with the QR completely open.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,679
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 339 Post(s)
Liked 229 Times
in
139 Posts
Even as a 14 yr old with my first quick release equipped lbs bike, I managed to not have any problems. 44 yrs later, I'm still problem free with quick release wheels.
I wish I could make the same claim with clipless pedals.
I wish I could make the same claim with clipless pedals.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
What holds the wheel in position is the dropouts being pinched between locknuts and inner faces of the q/r.
Fit of q/r-to-axle doesn't do squat.
A good fit axle-to-DO makes alignment during install easier - assuming the DO is in the right position...
#22
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Called by the plaintiff, American cycling great and paid 'expert' witness John Howard testified 'quick releases vibrate loose all the time'. It was after this judged tort bicycles got secondary front wheel retention.
Oddly enough, Mr. Howard's book 'The Cyclist's Companion' makes no mention of this issue.
Oddly enough, Mr. Howard's book 'The Cyclist's Companion' makes no mention of this issue.
Last edited by tcs; 07-07-17 at 08:27 AM.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
That's what I meant although I was not very clear. That's why as was talking about the QR system as a whole, and that includes dropouts and locknuts. I have two set of wheels and one has locknuts that are loose in the dropouts while the other fit super tight. Result is some differences in alignment (not dish related). With a thru axle, there's only one possible position.
Last edited by ToiletSiphon; 07-07-17 at 10:47 AM.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
I had the aluminum handle break off of a cheap imported lever.
#25
Senior Member
I had a cheap aluminum quick release lever snap in two in my bare hand once. Made a shallow puncture wound on the side of my hand. Bled pretty good. I only use steel quick release levers now. Heavy riders (above 225 lb.) may find that a solid rear axle is better than a QR for safety reasons. Never had a problem with a QR on a front axle.