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Home | Product Reviews | Skewer | Bontrager QR | ||||
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Submitted by
joel
a Racer
from phoenixville, pa
Date Reviewed: 3/13/2008 5:29:47 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years |
| Price Paid: | $10 |
| Purchased At: | bikeline |
| Strengths: | they work and work well |
| Weaknesses: | um.......maybe weight |
| Similar Products Tried: | various other types |
| Bike Setup: | who cares |
| Bottom Line: | I normally do not feel the need to review skewers, however after reading the reviews on these I think it is necessary. I have used these skewers on every bike I own because: 1) they are cheap 2) they work 3) they last I ride very hard and race some 20+ mTB races per year and put more than 3000 MTB miles per year on my bike. I have never had these come loose, bend, break, or strip. maybe I have been lucky or maybe folks who have problems are doing something wrong, I don't know. I will not buy another skewer until these FINALLY give in, and then I will buy some more bontrager ones because they work and work well. I say try them. if you don't like them you are only out $10-$15 and if you dont then your still only out $10-$15. |
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Submitted by
Roman
from Tallinn, Estonia
Date Reviewed: 9/16/2006 2:05:25 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $10 |
| Purchased At: | eBike |
| Strengths: | Its almost all metal, no plastic weak parts.. and looks strong |
| Weaknesses: | It has unlocked itself... and i tightened it pretty good |
| Similar Products Tried: | Quando, Brave Machine |
| Bike Setup: | Schwinn Mesa GSD with my setup |
| Bottom Line: | I will throw away Bontrager skewer, after ill buy a new reliable one ! |
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Submitted by
Matt Fulks
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma City, OK
Date Reviewed: 10/27/2003 12:09:17 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Purchased At: | Al's Bicycles |
| Strengths: | Looks okay |
| Weaknesses: | Weak! They break, hard to get tightened right. |
| Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek 8000 |
| Bottom Line: | These skewers came stock on my 2002 Trek 8000. I had just taken a shuttle out to the beginning of the Womble trail in Arkansas with a group or four other guys. I went to put my front wheel on and SNAP! The stupid skewer broke right there out in the middle of nowhere! These things have always been hard to get adjusted right. Fortunately, somebody was nice enough to go back to camp and get an old skewer out of their tool box. I took my back one off to look at it and it is bent! WTF?!? I'm getting some Salsa skewers ASAP! |
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Submitted by
ANdy Ash
a Cross Country Rider
from OP, KS, USA
Date Reviewed: 10/25/2003 2:20:13 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Purchased At: | C O B |
| Strengths: | I guess a strength is that they were free - Came on Bike |
| Weaknesses: | Weight - S curve design is difficult to fullt close against dropout |
| Similar Products Tried: | Performance Q-Stix, Shi-mama XT, XTR |
| Bike Setup: | Yeti Fro - Lots of Upgrades , YA YA YA . . . |
| Bottom Line: | These skewers suck, the rear skewer was either bent when I got it, or bent while riding in the first few weeks. The rear wheel begin rubbing the inside of the chain stay and eventually led to or contributed to my having to warranty the entire frame after the wheel carved a nice notch inside my chainstay. Replace them. I contacted Bontrager to find out where they sold skewers (originally thinking they would be fine as long as I got new Straight! ones) and their crap response was that they sold them through retailers - well duh, moron! No help from those Chumps. |
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Submitted by
Captain Phun
a Cross Country Rider
from Superfund, NJ
Date Reviewed: 7/3/2003 10:26:42 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | any |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | Came on Bike |
| Strengths: | Not a one. |
| Weaknesses: | Rear quick release snapped. Had to carry bike home for 2 miles. Thanks (not thanks actually) to the roadies who rode past and didn't ask if I needed a tool or anything. Roadies are cheesey. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano, specialized. |
| Bike Setup: | Yeti FRO, blah blah blah...light stuff on it. |
| Bottom Line: | Take these off your bike NOW! they will break and fail and cause you to carry your bike. What is up keith? These are pure junk. Hang your head. |
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Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York)
Date Reviewed: 1/19/2003 6:34:23 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Earth |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Purchased At: | Stock on my 2002 TREK 8000 |
| Strengths: | I like the big lever even if it does add a little weight. I possibly couldn't care less about scarring skewers--because they're just skewers people!--but they've held up pretty well. |
| Weaknesses: | Cascading Bontrager component breakage (and whatever hasn't broken hasn't performed well). I've never seen anything like this before. I've decided that the Bontrager rims, bars, and stem are reliable and good, but as for the rest, I'm replacing whatever doesn't bust before my warranty runs out in April. I love TREK bikes, but next time I'm going with a frameset and building the rest myself so long as they stick with this Bontrager stuff. I'm really disappointed because Bontrager is a very reputable guy in the cycling biz--love the saddles, love the rims, and anything else that doesn't have moving parts, but anything mechanical seems to be made of cheese. |
| Similar Products Tried: | I've always stuck with whatever stock skewers came on my bikes and never had a problem other than wanting them to be lighter in weight. This is the first time I'm actually concerned about 'skewer performance'--which sounds funny even to mention. |
| Bike Setup: | Beater bike: TREK 1995 cro-moly frame which came with a Shimano STX drive chain I never felt needed replacing. Never had a problem with this bike or any of it's components; I give it abuse, and it gives me love and reliability. My fly ride: 2002 TREK 8000 which I bought in April and have since learned the names of the warranty people at TREK by heart. The frame is AMAZING! and any parts that didn't have the Bontrager name on them have worked out well--which is funny because those were the parts I was going to change initial, but didn't. |
| Bottom Line: | I just came on here to check if I should really replace my skewers after so many bad experiences with Bontrager parts in the first 1000 miles--cross-country. I was going to buy new skewers for the new bike, then put the Bontragers on my beater like I did with the crank that busted an arm after being used for commuting on paved roads, but after reading these reviews I know better. Thanks all. |
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Submitted by
Chuck
a Weekend Warrior
from Trappe, PA.
Date Reviewed: 8/21/2002 6:00:00 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | Price...it came stock. |
| Weaknesses: | Went to tighten the rear Bontrager QR and it snapped!!! Could have been alot worse...only a 2 mile walk home! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Dimension as a replacement |
| Bike Setup: | Trek 6700 stock w/ Serfas Drifter road tires. |
| Bottom Line: | Do yourself a favor...If you have these on your bike now, replace them now. A small price to pay for what could be a long walk home. |
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Submitted by
Remy Wetherup
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississauga
Date Reviewed: 6/25/2002 12:02:47 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Weaknesses: | Poor quality. Don't lock on the frame very well |
| Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 98 with Hayes hydraulic brakes, Thompson seatpost & stem, Easton Monkey Lite riser bar, Chris King hub, Selle Italia XO, Yeti grips, Conti tires |
| Bottom Line: | Very disappointed with these skewers. Twice they have unlocked themselves while riding. Crashed both times because of them. I've ordered a set of Salsa. Shame on Trek for putting these on my bike |
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Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Dayton, Oregon
Date Reviewed: 6/14/2002 1:39:45 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Baker Ck |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Purchased At: | Came with wheels |
| Strengths: | ????? |
| Weaknesses: | Short throw Ugly after one or 2 rides (soft aluminum) They break, leaving you 10 miles from civilization (in the snow) |
| Similar Products Tried: | Control Tech (great) Shimano XT (work just fine) |
| Bike Setup: | SC Superlight |
| Bottom Line: | These skewers had a very short throw, so you have to turn the knob a bunch of times to tighten. Not a big deal, Shimano XT are about the same. The metal is very soft, so athough they look nice new, the metal is very soft, causing them to scar easily. Again, not a big deal. The real problem occurred when I was out for a rare snow ride. I felt the rear wheel clanking. I was thrilled to see that the threads had stripped from the nut. I guess this metal is soft too. I never overtighted the skewers, and kept them properly lubed. That day I discovered that you cannot ride without a rear skewer. Fortunately, I was able to steal a nut from another part of my bike and limp home. I can't believe that Keith would put his name on this. |
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Submitted by
matt
a Racer
from zion
Date Reviewed: 5/7/2002 4:17:23 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | any downhill or singletrack |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Purchased At: | zion schwinn |
| Strengths: | still lookin for one??? |
| Weaknesses: | These are the worst skewers on the market. I rode them for about 1 yr. No problems then all of a sudden i had problems with the wheel staying in line with the frame. found out that the skewer was stripped and made the wheel shift in the frame. |
| Similar Products Tried: | --- |
| Bike Setup: | xt er thing |
| Bottom Line: | If your looking for anything on your bike why waste time wondering if you should spend more. Just do it and it'll save your arse in the long run. Basically BUY SALSA!!! |
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Submitted by
Perry
a Weekend Warrior
from San Leandro, CA
Date Reviewed: 3/23/2002 1:29:54 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Still Looking |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | Palo Alto Bicycles |
| Strengths: | Looks nice and clean... compared to the Shimano skewer I got to replace my broken Bontrager skewers! |
| Weaknesses: | Broke the rear skewer in under 150 miles (2 weeks of ownership) |
| Similar Products Tried: | Normal Shimano QR skewers |
| Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek 6700, stock |
| Bottom Line: | Well, seeing as how my Trek is my first "real" MTB, skewers would be one of the things I thought I could take for granted. Unfortunately, 'tis not so, and the skewer snapped while I was tightening the wheel back on. I didn't even use that much force! Less than the amount recommended in the manual, even. Fortunately, the skewer didn't snap while riding. My friend is recommending me Salsa skewers, we'll see how those go. I will be wary of these pieces in the future, I suggest those with Bontrager skewers also keep this in mind. 3 value chilis because the price is right (comes stock...) 2 overall chilis because the unit looks decent, but performs like crap. |
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Hawaii
Date Reviewed: 11/22/2001 12:42:30 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $20 |
| Strengths: | lightweight |
| Weaknesses: | n/a |
| Similar Products Tried: | stock skewers (heavy muthers, at 190g) |
| Bike Setup: | Trek 4300 |
| Bottom Line: | All I'll say is that these skewers are rather lightweight for steel; 98g combined for the pair. |
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Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from brick
Date Reviewed: 9/23/2001 7:39:41 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Purchased At: | djs |
| Strengths: | they worked until the front one broke |
| Weaknesses: | the front skewer snapped when i went to tighten it today so i stuck an old school shimano on there |
| Similar Products Tried: | shimano, trans-x |
| Bike Setup: | 2000 Klein Mantra, riser bars, Old school ritchey clipless, onza aggro front, panaracer smoke rear, stock other than that |
| Bottom Line: | if they came on your bike then swap em out or wait until they broke hopefull not while riding, i got lucky |
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Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: 8/27/2001 9:54:55 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | LBS |
| Strengths: | looks good....i thought that it clamped hard but reading to other peoples reports,mmmmmm....easier to use than my Shimano QR I had on my old bike |
| Weaknesses: | broke within a month of riding. The bolt sheared of the end where the QR is located |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano |
| Bike Setup: | Trek 6700, XTR V brakes and levers (rock-on), Shimano 535 clipless, everyting else stock |
| Bottom Line: | Not sure yet if they are good or not...of course it broke after only riding on them for a month...hopefully just a poorly manufactured skewer and not the norm |
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Submitted by
"bloody"
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, WA
Date Reviewed: 6/28/2001 12:15:58 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Bridal |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Purchased At: | Stock on bike |
| Strengths: | Good looks. Takes a hell of a lot to ding the anodizing. Doesn't matter which side you put the QR on since it's gonna fold straight up - not to one side or the other like some other QRs. Beefy. |
| Weaknesses: | Rotates after the QR is totally tightened. Can be scary, but I've never had a problem. I just know they're not supposed to do that, so it makes me a bit nervous... |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano, Salsa |
| Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 mostly stock except for: Manitou X-Vert Super (this fork kicks!), Bontrager Crow Bar Riser, Ritchey Pro Logic clipless etc... |
| Bottom Line: | I read some of the other reviews, and I have to say, I've had nothing but good luck with these things. They came stock on my bike, so it's not like I went out and spent tons of $$ on them, but I would be comfortable purchasing them for another bike when I get one. The only disconcerting thing is that when they're clamped on, they still tend to rotate. I finally scratched them after almost two years of riding when I rammed into a lava rock a few weeks ago - I was doing about 20mph or so and the rock came out-a nowhere... really! Anyway, the skewer still works like it did before - great! I've had great luck with all of the bontrager products that I've tried and I'd recommend these to anyone - especially for the going rate on them. Five stars for the value, four on the overall due to the rotation when clamped. |
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Submitted by
John Tomedi
a Racer
from Dallas,Pa
Date Reviewed: 11/1/2000 4:49:07 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Bottom Line: | This was stock equipment on my Klein Mantra Race and worked fine for about a year but my front has popped loose on several occasions and my rear wheel came off and the skewer bent while riding over some baby heads all in the past 2 months. I will be replacing them with Kore's which I have had on my spare bike for the past 5 years with no problems. |
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Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville,TN,USA
Date Reviewed: 9/21/2000 9:44:33 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | lock4 |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | Friend |
| Strengths: | OK quality, good sized steel shafts |
| Weaknesses: | Will not clamp SUPER tight |
| Similar Products Tried: | Mavic, salsa, shimano |
| Bike Setup: | 99 Jamis Dragon |
| Bottom Line: | I had these on a pair of bontrager races that i purchased and i must say that I diddn't have any big problems with them even though I rode them only a couple of times. They are light and hold a wheel on a frame/fork well. The only problem is that you just think there could be a little more tightness squeezed out of them when compared to the clamping force of a shimano QR. No biggie for normal riding. I reccomend these to anyone who can find a good deal on them, though don't spend more than 20 or so dollars as there are better QRs out there for the price. Those who need VERY VERY tight wheels should be using a 20mm through axle/PSYLO/Marzocchi CR clamp anyways. |
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Submitted by
Tod
a Racer
from Wheaton, IL
Date Reviewed: 7/4/2000 3:34:48 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Anything where i used to live in CA! |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | They look cool |
| Weaknesses: | They don't clamp tight enough |
| Similar Products Tried: | Stock Shimano QRs |
| Bike Setup: | 99 Fisher X-caliber, still mostly stock |
| Bottom Line: | I do a lot of moderate trials/trick riding on my 99 Fisher X-Caliber. The bike has performed extremely well considering some of the horrible things I've asked it to do, with the exception of the rear Bontrager QR skewer. They just don't clamp tight enough. The problem is this: If I need to turn around quickly what I do I slow to 5 mph or so and then lock the front brake and swing the back of the bike 180 degrees around on the front wheel. My momementum will put me in about a 45 degree wheelie, facing the opposite direction. At this point I have the rear brake locked to prevent rolling backwards. I've had the rear wheel come off the bike 3 TIMES doing this maneuver on the X-Caliber with this QR.... SCARY AS HELL! Fortunately nothing was damaged (less the paint). I put on a stock Shimano XTR QR which clamps tighter than a bulls a$$ in fly season and haven't had any problems since. I wouldn't rule out that QR was defective, although it certainly looks ok. |
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Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: 4/13/2000 2:46:28 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | elfin forrest |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | low price |
| Weaknesses: | they break |
| Similar Products Tried: | none |
| Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Comp |
| Bottom Line: | These came stock on my bike. The front skewer has not been a problem. However, the rear has been an absolute hassle. I have never been able to prevent the side oppostite the cassette from sliding out of the dropout when applying large pedal forces - i.e. climbing steep hills. All I can do is tighten the lever. In doing so the skewer sees a lot of tensile stress and subsequently has broken twice - although I think fatique plays a significant roll too. Both times at the transition from the unthreaed to the threaded section of the rod. This time I will try a new brand. |
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Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from NE Ohio
Date Reviewed: 3/28/2000 10:33:39 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Anything with dirt |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | + Haven't come loose + Look cool |
| Weaknesses: | Nothing. |
| Similar Products Tried: | ALL OF 'EM!! |
| Bike Setup: | Fisher Kaitai with Bonty Superstock wheels. |
| Bottom Line: | Great skewers, they add to the look of your bike and they are functional. |
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Submitted by
Ryan Lockwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Bucks County, PA USA
Date Reviewed: 3/22/2000 8:26:13 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Mauch Chunk Ridge |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Front and rear specific, lightweight, good looks, made by Keith. |
| Weaknesses: | NONE! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Acera and various other cheap pieces |
| Bike Setup: | Came stock on my Bonty Races |
| Bottom Line: | Great product, no problemos, Keith rules |
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Submitted by
Momar Khadaffi
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tripoli, Libya
Date Reviewed: 7/20/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Light enough, strong enough |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano, Salsa, Ringle |
| Bike Setup: | Klein Adroit Race, all stock |
| Bottom Line: | Mine work fine. I've got rear dropouts too. If anything, rear dropouts should be more secure (Wheel pulled toward frame). DON'T FORGET TO CLAMP. Extra stars for Keith because the springs don't fly away when you remove the skewer. |
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Submitted by
ben florie
a Cross-Country Rider
from reisterstown, maryland
Date Reviewed: 7/9/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | beefy, light, secure, easy to open and close |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | crappy shimano |
| Bike Setup: | bontrager comp2 wheelset |
| Bottom Line: | if your skewers loosen, you might try to tighten them (common sense). i know 3 people who use them, as do i, and have heard nothing of them loosening. you should consider it a hint when the lever rotates freely. and you're not supposed to post more than once! |
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Submitted by
William Evans
a racer
from Fredericksburg, VA USA
Date Reviewed: 3/3/1999 |
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| Bottom Line: | At first glance, the Bontrager squewer looked nice and beefy. This cane on My Klein racing bike. Ahter a few rides I noticed the QR closed position rotating around. This bothered me. Did I bump it alot? No scratches on it or the frame to prove that. Then it happened. During a race the rear wheel came out of the drop-out during a log hop. I was not going fast at that time. The breaks held the wheel to the bike but bent them quite a bit. The plastic base piece and pivot did not hold to the frame. Keep in mind that the Klein has a rear drop-out. I am identifying whether the frame was to blame or the combination of the frame/QR. At any rate, I could not tighten the Qr enough to fell confident about my bike. All of the racers that past me could not believe it. |
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