Totally stupid question

[lesley_x]

Right I know how basic this is, and I do know how to take a front wheel off, I can do it no bother with my other bikes but this is the first time in 3 years I'm having to remove my road bikes front wheel. Yes, I have never had a puncture in 3 years of riding my road bike.

I cannot get it off. I loosen up the brakes and can't get it past the tyre (they're 25c tyres). Am I going to have to let the tyre down every time I want my front wheel off or am I missing something totally stupid and basic?

I feel like an idiot posting this. Haha.

 

[TheDoctor]

There should be a quick release lever on the brakes. Or on the brake lever if you have Campag.

 

[lesley_x]

That's what I'm so confused about, I've released the quick release on the brakes and there's still no way that tyre is coming out. It only gives another couple of mm room, not nearly enough.

 

[PatrickPending]

probably best let some air out of your tyre. The quick release on the brakes should be pointing up - it might just be the case that they don't release enough for your tyre.

 

[PatrickPending]

just in case - there's some info here on the quick release mechanism on Shimano brakes, on Campag its in the levers, but I'll leave that to someone else.....

http://www.fezzari.com/support/rb_brakes

 

[jarlrmai]

You brakes are not set up correctly by the sound of things.

Release the cable with the allen key and redo it

 

[Spinney]

A photo might help...

 

[ohnovino]

You brakes are not set up correctly by the sound of things.

Release the cable with the allen key and redo it

+1

I made the mistake once of tightening the brake cable with the brake release in the open position, which then made it impossible to get the wheel out without undoing the cable.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

When I ran 25c on my bikes I could not get the wheel on or off with the tyre inflated, they ran OK when on the bike though

 

[siadwell]

I have to undo the allen bolt that holds the cable in place to get the 25mm-tyred wheels off my Specialized Secteur. A mechanic told me the brakes were designed to be used with 23mm or narrower tyres.

 

[boydj]

You might get away with screwing the brake adjuster in all the way after undoing the q/r. Otherwise, as above I find it easier to release the cable than let the air out of the tyres.

 

[PpPete]

Depends on how good your pump is!

Having Campag style levers with Shimano style breaks is the nuts though. You get twice as much release if you need it.

 

[Hip Priest]

+1

I made the mistake once of tightening the brake cable with the brake release in the open position, which then made it impossible to get the wheel out without undoing the cable.

On my old bike, releasing the QR on the brake caliper would make the pads move closer to the rim!