Veratomic quick-lock skewers?

Anybody have experience with these? Do they work? Do they hold up to theft attempts?

http://www.veratomic.com/

The first reviewer on mtbr seemed to have problems, while the others all seem satisfied.

http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Skewer/product_122458.shtml

Thanks.

 

Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Anybody have experience with these? Do they work? Do they hold up to theft attempts?
>
> http://www.veratomic.com/
>
> The first reviewer on mtbr seemed to have problems, while the others all seem satisfied.
>
> http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Skewer/product_122458.shtml
>
Forgive me for being cynical, but don't a lot of those reviews sound like they were written by an
advertising firm? I think it was "Similar products tried: None like this!" that clinched it for me.

For a while I was using Kool Stop's Quik Lox:

http://koolstop.com/brakes/accessories.html#quiklox

But I had two of the inserts break when I applied a little too much force. That sounds like the same
kind of problem the first mtbr reviewer had with the veratomic and leads me to believe that they are
under-engineered.

Have you looked at Pitlock? I'm very happy with it. I am alarmed, though, that their
English-language site (www.pitlock.com) wasn't working when I tried it a second ago. You can get the
general idea from the German site: www.pitlock.de.

 

On 19 Jun 2003 10:04:06 -0700, [email protected] (Gary Young) wrote:

>Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:<[email protected]>...
>> Anybody have experience with these? Do they work? Do they hold up to theft attempts?
>>
>> http://www.veratomic.com/
>>
>> The first reviewer on mtbr seemed to have problems, while the others all seem satisfied.
>>
>> http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Skewer/product_122458.shtml
>>
>Forgive me for being cynical, but don't a lot of those reviews sound like they were written by an
>advertising firm? I think it was "Similar products tried: None like this!" that clinched it for me.
>

I'd agree. It put me on edge, seven glowing raves and one critical review. I'm hoping to hear from
more people who have actually used them.

>For a while I was using Kool Stop's Quik Lox:
>
>http://koolstop.com/brakes/accessories.html#quiklox
>
>But I had two of the inserts break when I applied a little too much force. That sounds like the
>same kind of problem the first mtbr reviewer had with the veratomic and leads me to believe that
>they are under-engineered.
>
>Have you looked at Pitlock? I'm very happy with it. I am alarmed, though, that their
>English-language site (www.pitlock.com) wasn't working when I tried it a second ago. You can get
>the general idea from the German site: www.pitlock.de.

Thanks for the referral; hadn't heard of them.They look like a good design. I'll look into them. Any
idea where to get them in the US?

 

If absolute locked-down wheels aren't necessary, but quick releases are too vulnerable, bolt-on
wheels may work for you.

Nashbar sells bolt-on skewers. Or you can replace the axle with a solid piece and track nuts.

I am wary of locking skewers that require a special tool. Losing the key would be too easy for me.

"Dan Daniel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 19 Jun 2003 10:04:06 -0700, [email protected] (Gary Young) wrote:
>
> >Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> >> Anybody have experience with these? Do they work? Do they hold up to theft attempts?
> >>
> >> http://www.veratomic.com/

 

"Jeff" <[email protected]> brightened my day with his incisive wit when in
news:[email protected] he conjectured that:

>
> I am wary of locking skewers that require a special tool. Losing the key would be too easy for me.
>

Ditto. And it's not as if you can take the "spare key" into a locksmith for a cheap and
cheerful copy.

--
Walter Mitty.

 

Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> On 19 Jun 2003 10:04:06 -0700, [email protected] (Gary Young) wrote:
>
> >Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:<[email protected]>...
> >> Anybody have experience with these? Do they work? Do they hold up to theft attempts?
> >>
> >> http://www.veratomic.com/
> >>
> >> The first reviewer on mtbr seemed to have problems, while the others all seem satisfied.
> >>
> >> http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Skewer/product_122458.shtml
> >>
> >Forgive me for being cynical, but don't a lot of those reviews sound like they were written by
> >an advertising firm? I think it was "Similar products tried: None like this!" that clinched it
> >for me.
> >
>
> I'd agree. It put me on edge, seven glowing raves and one critical review. I'm hoping to hear from
> more people who have actually used them.
>
> >For a while I was using Kool Stop's Quik Lox:
> >
> >http://koolstop.com/brakes/accessories.html#quiklox
> >
> >But I had two of the inserts break when I applied a little too much force. That sounds like the
> >same kind of problem the first mtbr reviewer had with the veratomic and leads me to believe that
> >they are under-engineered.
> >
> >Have you looked at Pitlock? I'm very happy with it. I am alarmed, though, that their
> >English-language site (www.pitlock.com) wasn't working when I tried it a second ago. You can get
> >the general idea from the German site: www.pitlock.de.
>
>
> Thanks for the referral; hadn't heard of them.They look like a good design. I'll look into them.
> Any idea where to get them in the US?

Well, www.bikepartsusa.com used to carry them, but I just checked and no dice. I'm beginning to
think Kryptonite drove them out of the US market. I hope they haven't gone out of business entirely.
Some NYC bike shops probably still have them on their shelves. If you're interested in that route,
I'd call Toga bikes in Manhattan: www.togabikes.com.

 

On Fri, 20 Jun 2003 04:42:06 GMT, "Jeff" <[email protected]> wrote:

>If absolute locked-down wheels aren't necessary, but quick releases are too vulnerable, bolt-on
>wheels may work for you.
>

This is for a town/commuter bike in San Francisco. Pretty high rate of theft, and unlocked wheels
and seatposts do disappear.

>Nashbar sells bolt-on skewers. Or you can replace the axle with a solid piece and track nuts.
>

I have bolt-on skewers on one bike (from a local shop, not Nashbar, but probably all from the same
factory). And a cable on the seat.

I still use a cable around the front wheel. I don't trust the bolt-ons to stop someone who is
seriously cruising for bikes and parts. Well, I don't trust much of anything in the final analysis,
but a u-lock and cables have kept things from being stolen over the years. A mid-level bike with no
high-end name parts also helps.

>I am wary of locking skewers that require a special tool. Losing the key would be too easy for me.
>

Yep. Looks as if Kryptonite only provides one key with their skewers, which means immediately buying
a back-up. The Veratonic people provide three keys with a set.

For this bike set-up, I am always carrying a couple of locks, so I always have keys with me. I am
hoping to be able to stop carrying the cable lock. It would be nice to use only the u-lock, and have
more places to lock up without having to use the rear wheel inside the triangle. I don't know if
locking skewers would be enough to make me stop using the cable; just exploring the idea and the
different makers.

 

On 20 Jun 2003 07:40:24 -0700, [email protected] (Gary Young) wrote:

>Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:<[email protected]>...

>> >
>> >
>> >Have you looked at Pitlock? I'm very happy with it. I am alarmed, though, that their
>> >English-language site (www.pitlock.com) wasn't working when I tried it a second ago. You can get
>> >the general idea from the German site: www.pitlock.de.
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the referral; hadn't heard of them.They look like a good design. I'll look into them.
>> Any idea where to get them in the US?
>
>Well, www.bikepartsusa.com used to carry them, but I just checked and no dice. I'm beginning to
>think Kryptonite drove them out of the US market. I hope they haven't gone out of business
>entirely. Some NYC bike shops probably still have them on their shelves. If you're interested in
>that route, I'd call Toga bikes in Manhattan: www.togabikes.com.

The German web site appears to have a store. I sent them an email (in English) asking if they will
ship here. I'll let you know if I hear anything. And I'll cal around to a couple of local shops that
would know about them.

 

On Fri, 20 Jun 2003 08:22:53 -0700, Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 20 Jun 2003 07:40:24 -0700, [email protected] (Gary Young) wrote:
>>Dan Daniel <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >Have you looked at Pitlock? I'm very happy with it. I am alarmed, though, that their
>>> >English-language site (www.pitlock.com) wasn't working when I tried it a second ago. You can
>>> >get the general idea from the German site: www.pitlock.de.

These guys are interesting. Not just locking quick releases, but also a locking aheadset & locking
cantilever bolts.

Jasper