Last week my wheel popped half out of the quick release while riding, resulting in a broken spoke. The bike is home from the mechanic, and when I wanted to install the wheel again it did not fit in the quick release. The chain stay seems too wide, as you can see in the picture. However, if I push the chain stay together I can get it to fit. Does anyone know, what could have happened? And is it safe to ride?
by Kalutic
2 Comments
Measure the distance between the dropouts, where the dropouts clamp onto the axle lock nuts, with the wheel removed from the frame. If that’s a standard mtb/hybrid bike, it should be just a little bit more than 135mm, 130mm for most road bikes, and 126mm for much older bikes. It looks quite wide. Judging by the disc brake, it’s probably 135mm.
The bike shop should have a frame alignment tool, and I’m surprised they didn’t check that for you. If they don’t, look up “how to check bicycle frame alignment string method.” I think there’s a simple guide on Sheldon Brown’s website.
The frame looks to be aluminum. If the frame is twisted out of alignment, it’s done. Kaput. Scrap metal.
Yes if your frame is aluminium then forcing the wheel to fit will very likely make it crack. If its steel then it is fixable.