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6. HOW THINGS WORK
It’s important to your performance, enjoyment and safety to
understand how things work on your bicycle. Even if you're an
experienced bicyclist, don't assume that the way things work on your
new bike is the same as how they work on older bikes. Be sure to
read - and to understand - this section of the Manual. If you have
even the slightest doubt as to whether you understand something,
talk to your dealer.
6.1. Wheel Quick Release
WARNING:
Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel quick release
can allow the wheel to wobble or disengage from the bicycle, causing
damage to the bicycle, and serious injury or death to the rider.
Therefore, it is essential that you:
1) Ask your dealer to help you make sure you know how to install
and remove your wheel safely.
2) Understand and apply the correct technique for clamping your
wheel in place with a quick release.
3) Each time, before you ride the bike, check that the wheel is
securely clamped.
Invented in the 1930s to allow quick, easy wheel removal without the
need for tools, the bicycle wheel quick release has become standard
equipment on most recreational, sports and competition bicycles.
While it looks like a long bolt with a lever on one end and a nut on
the other, the wheel quick release uses a cam action to clamp the
bike's wheel in place (see fig. 11). Because of its adjustable nature, it
is critical that you understand how it works and how to use it
properly.
CAUTION:
The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the
wheel securely. Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever
like a wing nut with the other hand until everything is as tight as you
can get it will not clamp the wheel safely in the dropouts.
6.1.1. Adjusting the quick release mechanism
The wheel hub is clamped in place by the force of the quick release
cam pushing against one dropout and pulling the tension adjusting
nut, by way of the skewer, against the other dropout. The amount of
clamping force is controlled by the tension adjusting nut. Turning the
tension adjusting nut clockwise while keeping the cam lever from
rotating increases clamping force; turning it counterclockwise while
keeping the cam lever from rotating reduces clamping force. Less
than half a turn of the tension adjusting nut can make the difference
between safe clamping force and unsafe clamping force.
