Quick releases and where they should be!

[forwater]

Before you read further, I should caution that I'm an absolute newb in the field of bicycles. I had one once when I was seven years old, rode it for a week, and then never touched it again. This post may include face-palm inducing questions, but I promise that I'm not doing it on purpose! With that warning in mind, here we go!:

I'm just starting out as a cyclist, and as I'm still infected with that rosey-eyed enthusiasm of a newb, I've decided that I should learn everything possible about my bike. While educating myself, I was learning about all the things I should carry with me on rides away from home- a spare inner tube, tire levers, etc- and in the process of assembling my kit, I ended up watching a video about a 'five minute pre-ride check'.

In the video, the man offering the advice tells me to check the 'quick releases' on my bike. I was going through it with him, and then I realised that the back tire of my bike doesn't have a quick release! (I don't remember if his does either, but the fact that mine doesn't struck me as odd.) The front tire and the seat both do, but the back tire does not. Is this normal/common? And if it is, is it more advisable to have a regular bolt on the back tire, or is it possible to change it to a quick release as well?

What do I do if I get a flat on the back tire while I'm on the road? I would have to carry a wrench with me just to get that tire off. I have a multi-tool, but none of the little gadgets fit that bolt on the back. I also seriously doubt that I could get the bolt back to proper tightness with just that little tool and my hands if I tried to.

Any advice?

 

[iLB]

Hi Forwater,

It's essentially personal choice as to whether you use quick release skewers or standard bolt ended ones, although I would expect a new bike to come with the same system on both wheels. On the rear wheel you will need a 15mm spanner (or an adjustable spanner) to undo the bolts and the wheel out for repairs. Depending on whether you have a MTB or road bike/ hybrid will affect the length of the axle, so make sure you choose the right category if you are going to buy a new set to make both wheels QR. Plenty to choose form here on wiggle , but it's not too much hassle to carry an adjustable spanner with you for the time being- fingers crossed you won't be puncturing all that often!

 

[mickle]

It's quite common to find 'track nuts' rather than QRs on bikes at a certain price point. It's cheaper so it keeps the price of the bike down. It is certainly possible to change to a QR axle but, bike shop labour prices being what they are these days, it might be not very much more to buy a complete QR equipped rear wheel. I suggest you leave it as is, just make sure you know how to and have the tools (spanner) to undo the nuts.

 

[forwater]

Thanks for the help!

 

[mickle]

It was nothing.