The Right Way to Close a Quick Release
The wheel-holding mechanism is closing in on 100 years of age, and we still aren’t operating it as intended.
The wheel-holding mechanism is closing in on 100 years of age, and we still aren’t operating it as intended. – By Brian Fiske
- Option One: Open the lever, then push it toward closed. You should start feeling resistance at the halfway-closed point, where the QR lever is sticking straight out from the bike. From here, use your palm to see if you can push it completely closed.
- Option Two: Open the lever fully. Hold the nut still, and spin the lever around and around to tighten the nut. Continue until the lever stops spinning. Now, back the nut off one full turn, and try to close the lever.
- Note: With either option, the final push to closed should take a good bit of force. “Get these T-I-G-H-T!” Calvin says, adding that overtightening the part is rarely a problem.
Use the QR nut to fine-tune the position. Is the QR so hard to move that you can’t get to the “closed” position? Open it up and loosen the nut opposite the lever by one turn and try again. Lever close easily? Tighten the nut. You want it to be both tight and fully closed.
Know the best placement. “Don’t close a QR directly over a tube or fork leg,” Calvin advises. “That makes it difficult to open next time.” His recommendations: Have the rear lever land between the seatstay and chainstay; have the front lever just in front of the fork. If you’re using a QR with disc brakes, be warned: Disc rotors get hot.
Stay clean and straight. Give the QR an occasional wipe-down for cleaning, with a drop of light lubricant at the cam (where the lever turns) to keep things moving easily. Beyond that, check for rust (a sign of wear); now and then, spin the skewer in the hub when the wheel is out of the bike. If it wobbles, it’s bent. Bent skewers are weaker. Time for a replacement.
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