Slow Service?
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- Posts: 2519
- Joined: 23 Jan 2011, 11:16am
Slow Service?
Morning all , Just tuned it to watch "La Course", starting at Brest.
Without even getting out of the neutralized section, with a scary exposed bridge crossing, at least two of the competitors had puncture issues. Stuff happens, but what I did notice was the length of time that it took to swap wheels?
In recent years "Lawyer's Lips", them cursed recessed elements of front fork construction did slow change times down, the need to slacken further the Quick Release Skewers being the issue, then came the disc brake bikes with through axles. So the thing has to be fully removed.
Today I saw that it was both ends that cause slower changes! Through axles at both ends?
On my disc braked machine I don't have to remove the rotors to change the wheels , them bikes is slow! MM
Without even getting out of the neutralized section, with a scary exposed bridge crossing, at least two of the competitors had puncture issues. Stuff happens, but what I did notice was the length of time that it took to swap wheels?
In recent years "Lawyer's Lips", them cursed recessed elements of front fork construction did slow change times down, the need to slacken further the Quick Release Skewers being the issue, then came the disc brake bikes with through axles. So the thing has to be fully removed.
Today I saw that it was both ends that cause slower changes! Through axles at both ends?
On my disc braked machine I don't have to remove the rotors to change the wheels , them bikes is slow! MM
Last edited by merseymouth on 26 Jun 2021, 10:44am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Slow Service?
This is the big myth of wheel changes during racing. It's not the time to physically change the wheel that counts, it's the time taken to get the replacement wheel to the rider. In the first 20 seconds the rider should have dismounted and removed the affected wheel.
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- Posts: 2519
- Joined: 23 Jan 2011, 11:16am
Re: Slow Service?
Hi Freeflow, The difference between flicking open a QR skewer and the time taken to unscrew these through axles is quite evident!
Rather comparable with the difference between the use of a knock on/off spinner on a Jaguar D type car and the lightening quick air-gun process in F1. Not imagined in the least. MM
Rather comparable with the difference between the use of a knock on/off spinner on a Jaguar D type car and the lightening quick air-gun process in F1. Not imagined in the least. MM
Re: Slow Service?
Please could someone explain this. Have the racers started using through axles? And is it mandatory?
Thanks
Jonathan
Thanks
Jonathan
Re: Slow Service?
Hi merseymouth, the point being that if it takes more than half a minute for the spare wheel to arrive the time it takes to remove a QR Vs bolt though is irrelevant.
Re: Slow Service?
Not mandatory but most teams now use disc brakes, which means through axles. A notable exception is Ineos, who are still on rim brakes. The disc brake/through axle thing is probably why most riders now change bikes rather than change wheels.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
Re: Slow Service?
I think that the bike mechanics use an electric "screwdriver" to undo through axle bolts so it's only a couple of seconds to remove the bolt. Whereas QR's could be done by the rider and wheel out ready for the new replacement.
You'll never know if you don't try it.
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- Posts: 175
- Joined: 12 Nov 2020, 9:24pm
Re: Slow Service?
QR thru-axles.
I have them on my road bike.They take no more time to undo than a standard QR.
Lining the replacement wheel up takes a few more seconds but nothing significant.
I have them on my road bike.They take no more time to undo than a standard QR.
Lining the replacement wheel up takes a few more seconds but nothing significant.
Re: Slow Service?
I haven't seen any of the wheel change footage but surely the Pro teams who are using TA wheels will use the lever/QR type?I had these on my mountain bikes for about 15 years and my last two road bikes also have them.The rider can just undo the QRTA ready for the Team mechanic just as easily as an old style QR!