This might be a dumb question but I’m a newbie and paranoid lol I had to replace my tires and I just want to know how you know for sure if your quick release is tight enough so my wheel doesn’t fly off when I’m riding my bike.
by drkshape
This might be a dumb question but I’m a newbie and paranoid lol I had to replace my tires and I just want to know how you know for sure if your quick release is tight enough so my wheel doesn’t fly off when I’m riding my bike.
by drkshape
18 Comments
Should be firmish, but you dont want it insanely tight. Tighten the nut on the other side until you cant close it, then loosen it off a turn or a turn and a half so that it closes but doesnt need all of your force
I would point it the other direction though (ie the lever faces backwards – not a biggie but what i was taught to avoid the really random occurence of something catching it as you ride)
Tight enough so you could get it open with some effort, if it’s too easy to open back up, give it another half rotation and try again. If it’s too tight you’ll struggle. I’d say a pressure 4 or 5 on a 1-10 scale is enough. Double check if the wheel is not wiggling and you’re good to go.
It’s really just by feel. I usally tighten it to a point where I cant close the lever and then just back off until it closes firmly.
When you are pushing down the lever and simultaneously threading the nut on the other side, when you start to feel a little resistance at the halfway point of the lever, then you are good fully push the lever down.
Here’s how I was taught: tension it by rotating the arm in the loose position; when you think you have it about right, close the cam arm into position. If it’s at the right tension, it will leave a distinct impression of the surface details and the outline of the cam arm on your palm.
I’m not sure it’s possible for a QR skewer to be too tight. Up to the point of the lever breaking off in your hand.
So just a little less than that.
As tight as physically possible.
It should close with a little resistance, but not so much that you feel like you are forcing it.
The lever is meant to be the right length to put the correct torque down without hurting your hand. Also with vertical dropouts it only needs to stop it from falling out, unlike horizontal that needs it to stop slipping.
0.6mm. Seriously.
For vertical dropouts and rim brakes you don’t have to worry at all. Just make sure there is some resistance at 60% of QR closed and the wheel is not loose in the dropout.
Tight, but should be able to open and close with 2 fingers.
It looks like that not on your quick release is contacting your frame. You should turn the lever so it’s not touching or get a different quick release
I go by feel. An old rule of thumb I use if it leaves a red mark on your hand (that disappears) then it’s probably the right amount.
My method is the lever should hit resistance at around the half way point when it is sticking straight out
Generally a good way to get a good level of tightness on the qr is to hold the lever open at a 90 degree angle to the frame or in line with the axle, tighten the nut finger tight, and then close the lever. A little more or less than that may be necessary.
Snug. With vertical dropouts it’s not going to fall out of the frame. With horizontal dropouts I’ve pulled the wheel over if it’s not tight enough.
On a different note, is the chain too long?