New bike.... locking skewers and no key

[mawilbolou]

Hey guys....
a mate of mine got a bike recently.. went to replace the inner tubes
and found he had bought a bike with what seem to be locking skewers.
He didnt get a key with the bike, what could be done?

 

[simongrant]

Tell him to go to the lbs where he got it from and get them to sort it.

Simon

 

[GrumpyGregry]

unless he bought it down the pub, off eBay, or out of the Friday Ad in which case the original owner might like it back.

 

[simongrant]

unless he bought it down the pub, off eBay, or out of the Friday Ad in which case the original owner might like it back.

+1 that was my initial thought

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I seem to remember reading about some locking skewers that simply unlocked when held upside down (thus the wheels cannot easily be removed by thieves from a locked bike)... could it be that simple... or did I just dream of such an invention???

 

[Landslide]

^^^
Tis true, they were reviewed recently in the CTC mag I think.

 

[HJ]

I seem to remember reading about some locking skewers that simply unlocked when held upside down (thus the wheels cannot easily be removed by thieves from a locked bike)... could it be that simple... or did I just dream of such an invention???

No you weren't dreaming, you where thinking of the Zefal Lock N Roll Security Skewer...

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

No you weren't dreaming, you where thinking of the Zefal Lock N Roll Security Skewer...

Aaah, phew... not mad just yet then!!

Does anyone actually upend their bike though when fixing a puncture? I don't.. perhaps I should be...

 

[andy_wrx]

Does anyone actually upend their bike though when fixing a puncture? I don't.. perhaps I should be...

How else d'you get the wheel off ?

(preferably on soft surface like grass rather than tarmac, and having removed computer so you don't scratch it), turn bike upside down and rest on brake hoods & saddle, dead easy to remove wheels.
Dead easy to drop them back in again too.

I can't imagine the struggle you must have if you're trying to keep the bike upright even to change the front wheel, the back must be impossible ?

 

[4F]

Aaah, phew... not mad just yet then!!

Does anyone actually upend their bike though when fixing a puncture? I don't.. perhaps I should be...

I tend to when removing the rear

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

How else d'you get the wheel off ?

(preferably on soft surface like grass rather than tarmac, and having removed computer so you don't scratch it), turn bike upside down and rest on brake hoods & saddle, dead easy to remove wheels.
Dead easy to drop them back in again too.

I can't imagine the struggle you must have if you're trying to keep the bike upright even to change the front wheel, the back must be impossible ?

No real struggle - after loosening the QR it takes one hand on the frame/seatpost and a bit of a jiggle to remove the back wheel (bit trickier to get the cassette 'out' of the chain, but no real biggie) or one hand on the top tube and the other on the wheel to get the front out... my main problem is how to rest the bike without the wheel such that it doesn't get damaged... and the answer is 'very gently'.

 

[HJ]

Aaah, phew... not mad just yet then!!

Does anyone actually upend their bike though when fixing a puncture? I don't.. perhaps I should be...

Having recently learnt the up right method, I find it much easier and wish I had learnt it years ago. With the back wheel, the trick is to select the lowest gear first, undo the brakes, release the QRS, put your toes on the wheel rim and lift the bike up.

To put the rear wheel back on, line up the chain on the cassette, and drop the frame back onto the skewers but don't do them up yet, re-attach the brakes and apply them, this will centre the wheel, then tight the QRS...

It is quick and easy...

 

[tyred]

Having recently learnt the up right method, I find it much easier and wish I had learnt it years ago. With the back wheel, the trick is to select the lowest gear first, undo the brakes, release the QRS, put your toes on the wheel rim and lift the bike up.

And for those of us with horizontal dropouts?

 

[HJ]

And for those of us with horizontal dropouts?

No idea, never used them...

 

[mawilbolou]

Thanks for the replies guys!!!
The key was taped to the underside of the seat...
**Note to friend... Look at what you bought!!!**