Skewer direction

01-07-2007, 07:04 AM

The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?

Malcolm

01-07-2007, 07:20 AM

Malcolm Smith wrote:
> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?

On the rear wheel it avoids any interference with the derailleur and
keeps your hand away from the chain/etc. Having both on the same side
makes it a little quicker for me when I undo both to put the bike in a
car trunk - and it's easier to remember so you don't end up with the
computer magnet on the wrong side.

01-07-2007, 07:29 AM

Malcolm Smith wrote:
> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>
> Malcolm
>
on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold the
axle more firmly.

01-07-2007, 03:05 PM

On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 08:29:33 -0800, jim beam
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Malcolm Smith wrote:
>> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
>> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>>
>> Malcolm
>>
>on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
>front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
>disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
>similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold the
>axle more firmly.

Both ends of qr skewers - even those with cut (as opposed to rolled)
threads - have serrations, and one of the essential qualities of a qr
skewer mechanism is that the clamping force is applied equally to both
sides.

01-07-2007, 04:28 PM

On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 08:29:33 -0800, jim beam wrote:

> Malcolm Smith wrote:
>> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
>> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>>
>> Malcolm
>>
> on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
> front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
> disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
> similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold the
> axle more firmly.

The skewer will not foul the derailleur. Put them wherever you want them.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored
_`\(,_ | by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." --Ralph Waldo
(_)/ (_) | Emerson

01-07-2007, 04:35 PM

"David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message
news

6SdnYdBwaTFAzzYUSdV9g@ptd.net...
> On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 08:29:33 -0800, jim beam wrote:
>
>> Malcolm Smith wrote:
>>> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so
>>> that
>>> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>>>
>>> Malcolm
>>>
>> on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
>> front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
>> disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
>> similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold
>> the
>> axle more firmly.
>
> The skewer will not foul the derailleur. Put them wherever you want
> them.

I don't agree. When removing and replacing the wheel, getting the chain
over the nut without touching the chain is easier than over the lever.

Phil H

01-07-2007, 04:44 PM

David L. Johnson wrote:
> On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 08:29:33 -0800, jim beam wrote:
>
>> Malcolm Smith wrote:
>>> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so
>>> that the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>>>
>>> Malcolm
>>>
>> on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
>> front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
>> disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
>> similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold
>> the axle more firmly.

> The skewer will not foul the derailleur. Put them wherever you want
> them.

If by "them" you mean the lever, why on earth would you put the rear one on
the drive side where the derailleur, cogs and chain are? I just removed my
rear wheel to fix a flat, and it would be plain stupid to reverse the
skewer.

The front doesn't matter, really, but most people seem to like both wheels
set up the same (for looks if nothing else).

Bill S.

01-07-2007, 04:52 PM

Malcolm Smith wrote:
> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?

No particular reason.

As recently as 30 years ago some bikes (Atala, Garlatti, Bottechia) came
from the factory the other way around. If you want to reverse them, go
right ahead.

Don't forget to lube the cam, shaft and threads.

--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-07-2007, 06:31 PM

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 17:35:05 -0800, "Phil Holman"
<piholmanc@yourservice> wrote:

>
>"David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message
>news

6SdnYdBwaTFAzzYUSdV9g@ptd.net...
>> On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 08:29:33 -0800, jim beam wrote:
>>
>>> Malcolm Smith wrote:
>>>> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so
>>>> that
>>>> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>>>>
>>>> Malcolm
>>>>
>>> on the rear, you don't want the lever to foul the derailleur. on the
>>> front, it's just aesthetics to follow the rear. unless it's mtb with
>>> disk brake, in which case, some people use the lever on the right for
>>> similar reasons and to have the adjusting nut serrations help hold
>>> the
>>> axle more firmly.
>>
>> The skewer will not foul the derailleur. Put them wherever you want
>> them.
>
>I don't agree. When removing and replacing the wheel, getting the chain
>over the nut without touching the chain is easier than over the lever.
>
>Phil H

Dear Phil & David,

Here's a bike that visitors are forced to use, with the quick-release
lever switched to the derailleur side (may God forgive me!)

QR open:

http://i12.tinypic.com/42uoy3d.jpg

QR closed:

http://i3.tinypic.com/2ywbqlk.jpg

Unless the lever is set level to close by flipping from the back to
the front, the cable and the derailleur obviously get in the way.

More cable just gets in the way elsewhere.

With the QR lever on the normal side, you can rotate the lever as you
please until you get it right, while your other hand can easily hold
the comparatively tiny nut on the other side and adjust the nut by
slight finger turning.

As an analogy, think of trying to work with two wrenches on an axle
secured with two nuts instead of a quick release.

You'd hold the derailleur-side wrench steady (instead of moving it
into the cable and derailleur) and turn the wrench on the bare side of
the frame.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

01-07-2007, 07:00 PM

In article <1168185869.787714.100980@51g2000cwl.googlegroups. com>,
"Malcolm Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?

The weight of the levers on the left counterbalances
the weight of the drive stuff on the right :-)

I've heard it suggested that the front brake lever
was moved to the left (typically weaker) hand, so
people would be less inclined to use the front brake
and flip 'emselves over the bar.

I'd rather actuate my front brake with my right hand,
so I can brake and signal a left turn at the same time.
One of these days I gotta get around to switching my
brake levers around.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca