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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 under-
stand something, talk to a qualified specialist.
A. Wheel Quick Release
WARNING: Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel quick release can allow the wheel to wobble or disengage from the bicy-
cle, causing damage to the bicycle, and serious injury or death to the rider. Therefore, it is essential that you:
1. Make sure you know how to install and remove your wheels 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. 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.
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 ten-
sion 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 ten-
sion adjusting nut can make the difference between safe clamping force and unsafe clamping force.
NOTE:
Once the quick release is installed in the hub axle by the manufacturer or the dealer, it never needs to be removed
unless the hub itself requires servicing. If the hub requires servicing, consult a qualified specialist.
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