Fixed Gear Rear wheel question

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

Dear W.,

Quick-release rear axles seem to hold just fine in the Tour de France
against forces greater than most of us manage.

As usual, Sheldon Brown has something sensible to say:

Solid-Axle vs Quick Release

Conventional wisdom is that you need a solid (nutted or "bolt-on"😉
axle hub for fixed-gear or singlespeed use, and that a quick-release
will not hold the wheel solidly enogh in a horizontal fork end. This
is not true, however.

Since most newer bikes have vertical dropouts, people have gotten used
to wimpy aluminum skewers, and often don't adjust them as tightly as
they might. If you use a good quality (I think Shimano is the best)
skewer, tightened securely, it will hold just fine.

A quick release is a considerable timesaver in switching a flip-flop
wheel around, and having a QR means that you don't need to carry a big
wrench to be able to replace a damaged inner tube.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html\

Sheldon has a good deal more to say about single speed and fixed gear
bicycles, so you ought to browse his site.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

what hub is it and how are you going to convert it to fixed?

in addition to what carl said, i would think the campy skewer you
probably have will have about as much holding force as a shimano skewer.

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

what hub is it and how are you going to convert it to fixed?

in addition to what carl said, i would think the campy skewer you
probably have will have about as much holding force as a shimano skewer
(i don't think that quality closed-cam skewers vary much in this
regard, but it makes sense to stay away from any open-cam skewer for
this). good luck

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

what hub is it and how are you going to convert it to fixed?

in addition to what carl said, i would think the campy skewer you
probably have will have about as much holding force as a shimano skewer
(i don't think that quality closed-cam skewers vary much in this
regard, but it makes sense to stay away from any open-cam skewer for
this). good luck

On 26 Aug 2006 23:44:43 -0700, "Nate Knutson" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

what hub is it and how are you going to convert it to fixed?

in addition to what carl said, i would think the campy skewer you
probably have will have about as much holding force as a shimano skewer
(i don't think that quality closed-cam skewers vary much in this
regard, but it makes sense to stay away from any open-cam skewer for
this). good luck

Dear Nate,

Sorry, but I can't resist it . . .

Just the place for a Skewer! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Skewer! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true.

Cheers,

Chuck Dodgson

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

Use the QR..you ride a normal bike with horizontal dropouts and the
wheel doesn't move around....

wasabiboys said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

I've converted my fixed gear wheel to a quick release, and have thousands
of miles on it. No problems. If you think about it, there is no
difference in the forces acting on a fixed gear hub and a derailleur hub
sitting in a bike with horizontal dropouts. Millions of such bikes work
fine, with no nonsense about wheels moving in the dropouts.

Obviously, you need to keep the Q/R tight, and use a good brand like
Shimano or Campy. This is not the place for a stupid-light quick release.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a
_`\(,_ | conclusion. -- George Bernard Shaw
(_)/ (_) |

Thanks for the input on the wheel. Yes I do have a good quality Shimano
skewer on there and the limited has horizontal dropouts..

David L. Johnson said:

wasabiboys said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

I've converted my fixed gear wheel to a quick release, and have thousands
of miles on it. No problems. If you think about it, there is no
difference in the forces acting on a fixed gear hub and a derailleur hub
sitting in a bike with horizontal dropouts. Millions of such bikes work
fine, with no nonsense about wheels moving in the dropouts.

Obviously, you need to keep the Q/R tight, and use a good brand like
Shimano or Campy. This is not the place for a stupid-light quick release.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a
_`\(,_ | conclusion. -- George Bernard Shaw
(_)/ (_) |

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard
hub. However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can
quick release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick
release is a no no.

[censored]. It's a no-no at the velodrome because the rules forbid QR
wheels, but many thousands of fixed gear bikes use QR hubs. Just clamp
it down tight.

Quoted message said:

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

Use the wheel. It will be fine.

Quoted message said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard hub.
However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can quick
release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick release is a
no no.

Converting it to a solid axle I have done to other wheels so not that
hard.

any ideas would really help

As others have said, a quick release will work just fine.

Quoted message said:

From my own experience, I'd recommend using a 'tug-nut', too. It makes

chain adjustment (IMPORTANT on a fixie) very easy.

Lewis.

******

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the input on the wheel. Yes I do have a good quality Shimano
skewer on there and the limited has horizontal dropouts..

See Sheldon on fixed in general, specifically on chainline, and here's
another good reference:

http://www.businesscycles.com/tr-refspec.htm#chainline

--D-y

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] wrote (or maybe somebody else did as the the quote
string was screwed up):

Quoted message said:

From my own experience, I'd recommend using a 'tug-nut', too. It makes
chain adjustment (IMPORTANT on a fixie) very easy.

Just more [censored] to get in the way when you have to take the wheel out to
fix a flat. Tug nuts are only used on rear-facing "dropouts" which IMHO
have no business on a bike being used on the road. Getting the wheel
out is just too much of a PITA with these. Forward opening dropouts
were designed for a practical reason- to make it simple to get the wheel
out. On a velodrome you almost never get a puncture, so rear-facing
dropouts are fine there. The use of these on bikes ridden on city
streets is part of the fad.

Tim McNamara said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] wrote (or maybe somebody else did as the the quote
string was screwed up):

Quoted message said:

From my own experience, I'd recommend using a 'tug-nut', too. It makes
chain adjustment (IMPORTANT on a fixie) very easy.

Just more [censored] to get in the way when you have to take the wheel out to
fix a flat. Tug nuts are only used on rear-facing "dropouts" which IMHO
have no business on a bike being used on the road. Getting the wheel
out is just too much of a PITA with these. Forward opening dropouts
were designed for a practical reason- to make it simple to get the wheel
out. On a velodrome you almost never get a puncture, so rear-facing
dropouts are fine there. The use of these on bikes ridden on city
streets is part of the fad.

Have you by any chance ever changed a flat on a bike with track ends?
This is silly. It is in fact easier to change a flat with such a bike
than with one having old-fashioned horizontal dropouts. You just loosen
the wheel, push it forward a bit, roll the chain off the sprocket and hook
it over the dropout, and pull the wheel out.

I do agree that tug nuts are a waste of time, both unneeded and a
hinderance to changing a flat.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a
_`\(,_ | conclusion. -- George Bernard Shaw
(_)/ (_) |

David L. Johnson said:

wasabiboys said:

Hi, I am starting to build up a Bianchi Limited into a Fixie. I am
using a custom Nashbar wheel with a Campy Hub, non track standard
hub. However, it is a quick release and not solid axle.
I have one major question. will there be any problems with a quick
release and not solid axle. Will there be chain dropping and can
quick release wheel loosened up. Someone told me fixie and quick
release is a no no.

I've converted my fixed gear wheel to a quick release, and have
thousands of miles on it. No problems. If you think about it, there
is no difference in the forces acting on a fixed gear hub and a
derailleur hub sitting in a bike with horizontal dropouts.

If they're in the same gear, that is. As I've learned from here before,
small rear cogs and small front cogs increase chain tension. If the gearing
is tall with large cogs, front and rear, it'll be better than the derailleur
setup.

--
Phil Lee, Squid

In article <[email hidden]>,

David L. Johnson said:

Tim McNamara said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] wrote (or maybe somebody else did as the the
quote
string was screwed up):

Quoted message said:

From my own experience, I'd recommend using a 'tug-nut', too. It
makes chain adjustment (IMPORTANT on a fixie) very easy.

Just more [censored] to get in the way when you have to take the wheel
out to fix a flat. Tug nuts are only used on rear-facing
"dropouts" which IMHO have no business on a bike being used on the
road. Getting the wheel out is just too much of a PITA with these.
Forward opening dropouts were designed for a practical reason- to
make it simple to get the wheel out. On a velodrome you almost
never get a puncture, so rear-facing dropouts are fine there. The
use of these on bikes ridden on city streets is part of the fad.

Have you by any chance ever changed a flat on a bike with track ends?
This is silly. It is in fact easier to change a flat with such a
bike than with one having old-fashioned horizontal dropouts. You
just loosen the wheel, push it forward a bit, roll the chain off the
sprocket and hook it over the dropout, and pull the wheel out.

Oh, yeah, having ridden my track bike as a commuter for several years.
I'm familiar with the drill. When I built a replacement frame, I used
front facing dropouts as they eliminate three of the four steps you
cite. Makes getting the wheel out much simpler and reduces contact with
the oily chain significantly. If you put a chain hangers on the
chainstay you don't have to touch the chain at all, as long as you can
keep the bike upright while the wheel is out (no derailleur to retain
the chain).

I'm really baffled by the bike company (Klein, I think) that uses
rear-opening dropouts on their derailleur bikes. Jeez.

Quoted message said:

I do agree that tug nuts are a waste of time, both unneeded and a
hinderance to changing a flat.

I don't get the deal with tug nuts. It's easy to center a rim and get
the chain tension right. Unless the dropouts or the frame are out of
alignment. If you use track nuts with captive washers, a wonderful
invention for this application, it's even easier.