Quick release skewers on a singlespeed bike

Ghost Rider

Does anyone know of a good reason why I shouldn't replace the solid axles on my singlespeed with quick release skewers?

The bike's frame is a steel Dawes one from the 1980s so the dropouts are of the nearly-horizontal kind you see on many fixie/singlespeed conversions. I guess my concern is that such a dropout might allow the wheel to slide. Then again, if the skewer is tight enough, that shouldn't happen, right?

niceonetom

Ghost Rider wrote: »

my concern is that such a dropout might allow the wheel to slide.

got it in one.

quick release skewers don't apply anywhere near the clamping force of a nut. you could use a quickrelease - but i really wouldn't.

Morgan

If you use a decent quality quick-release it would be just fine. The Shimano style ones with an internal cam provide plenty of clamping force.

Lumen

I'd risk it on a singlespeed, not on a fixie.

Ghost Rider

Lumen, you're probably right - there's more to lose if it's a fixed wheel. And part of my rationale for switching to QR was to start using the fixed side of my flip-flop hub. (Gaylord that I am, I've only been using the freewheel side for the past year.)

That said, Morgan, if you think the Shimano QRs really are powerful enough (and Sheldon Brown agrees with you), then maybe I'll give it a whirl on the freewheel side for a few weeks and see how I get on.

Cheers for the responses, folks.

Lumen wrote: »

I'd risk it on a singlespeed, not on a fixie.

Gavin

Used a shimano qr on singlespeed for around a year, no problem once it's cranked on hard