How many beginners don't understand how a QR works?

[Globalti]

Yesterday I was waiting for my buddy and got chatting with a bloke who told me he was new to cycling and had bought his bike second-hand. I picked the bike up to check out his pedals and straight away felt something loose in the headset. Checked that and found it true and tight then realised that his front wheel was about to fall out! He had it in the wrong way, with the QR on the right and the QR itself was open - it was only the lawyer lips that were preventing disaster. A quick explanation of how to cam the QR lever and he was on his way.

That was not the first time I'd seen beginners with their QRs loose or tightened up by twisting them with the lever in the open position.

 

[zimzum42]

 

[Venod]

I have my front QR on the left so it is same as the rear but it it does not make any difference which side it is on the important bit as you pointed out to him is tightening it correctly.

 

[zimzum42]

I have my front QR on the left so it is same as the rear but it it does not make any difference which side it is on the important bit as you pointed out to him is tightening it correctly.

It does matter with some hubs and for the tread of your tyre. Plus it looks wrong, like not having tyre labels and valve lined up properly, etc.

 

[martint235]

It does matter with some hubs and for the tread of your tyre. Plus it looks wrong, like not having tyre labels and valve lined up properly, etc.

Tart!!! It doesn't matter. If your tyres are directional it matters which way the tyre rolls not which side the QR is. And as for having tyre labels next to the valve, what's the point in that? My tyres are so dirty you can't see the label.......

 

[Venod]

It does matter with some hubs and for the tread of your tyre. Plus it looks wrong, like not having tyre labels and valve lined up properly, etc.

If the tyres the wrong way for the QR take out the QR and put it in the other way, ( if you like your QR on a certain side) what hubs does it matter on ?

 

[zimzum42]

If the tyre is on the wrong way then you have to take the tyre off and put it on the right way, not spin the wheel round so the QR is on the wrong side!

I bought one pair of hubs once and there was something about their direction in the manual, think it was Dura Ace track hubs...

In short though, the QR never goes on the right, it's just the way it is, it's the rules!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

5 on the left, one on the right, which I've only just noticed and couldn't care less. I've always been able to find it.

One thing that took me a while to get used to was getting the cones adjusted for after the QR is under tension.

 

[ianrauk]

In short though, the QR never goes on the right, it's just the way it is, it's the rules!

On my disc bar roadie... QR on left on rear... QR on right on front.. due to the discs.

 

[zimzum42]

On my disc bar roadie... QR on left on rear... QR on right on front.. due to the discs.

Then that's the correct side for that bike.

As for its designers thinking they're bigger than the rules, that's a different story!

When one has an option, the QR goes on the left, That's the rule dammit!

 

[Crackle]

Mtn bike with a strait thru axle, right. No choice. Also don't care. Don't bother lining tyre logos up with valves either. Anarchic me or apathetic, I get them mixed up but couldn't be arsed to check which is which.

 

[zimzum42]

In case anyone is getting worried, am taking the pee a little. I am super OCD, so there are rules. But really, it doesn't matter, unless you have directional tread on the tyres!

Now, if you really want OCD, watch @ianrauk clean his bike!

 

[martint235]

In case anyone is getting worried, am taking the pee a little. I am super OCD, so there are rules. But really, it doesn't matter, unless you have directional tread on the tyres!

Now, if you really want OCD, watch @ianrauk clean his bike!

Hang on a minute, don't you ride a fixie with no QR???

 

[Tim Hall]

Tart!!! It doesn't matter. If your tyres are directional it matters which way the tyre rolls not which side the QR is. And as for having tyre labels next to the valve, what's the point in that? My tyres are so dirty you can't see the label.......

Label lined up with valve is so you your team of willing TECs can locate the thing that caused the puncture when the tyre is off.

 

[martint235]

Label lined up with valve is so you your team of willing TECs can locate the thing that caused the puncture when the tyre is off.

I do have it lined up, you just need to scrub the tyre to find it.

And last time I had a visitation on a FNRttC, the TECs stood there sucking their teeth going "Nope, definitely wouldn't use gas on that" although one of them had very helpfully provided a tyre boot.