![]() ![]() During races, quick release axles began bending and breaking. Tullio couldn’t anticipate the ever-increasing demands of downhill mountain bikers. Tullio went on to patent numerous cycling and non-cycling inventions and founded the cycling company Campagnolo. The quick release axle was patented in 1930 and became the standard for over 90 years. This invention allowed cyclists to remove and replace their wheels in seconds. This experience inspired Tullio to develop a quick release wheel locking mechanism. In order to change gears, you would remove the wheel and flip it around.) The misbehaving wingnut on Tullio’s bike cost him precious time which ended up costing him the race. (At that time, bicycles had a sprocket on either side of the rear wheel. ![]() He needed to remove the wingnut so he could remove his wheel to change gears. While racing through freezing weather in the Dolomites in November of 1927, Italian cyclist Tullio Campagnolo was slowed down by a stuck wingnut on his axle. Various lengths are available to fit different hub spacing. Most quick release axes measure 5 mm or 9 mm in diameter. The quick release axle stays in the hub when you remove the wheel. A cam mechanism tensions the axle and holds the wheel in place with friction. The wheel secures to the bike by slotting the skewer into the u-shaped dropouts, slightly tightening the acorn nut, and clamping the quick release lever closed. ![]() The dropouts on a quick release frame and fork have u-shaped slots. Two small springs sit on either side of the hub. The skewer is held in place by an acorn nut on one side and a quick release cam lever on the other. You don’t even need to remove the axle from the hub.Ī quick release axle system is composed of a thin metal skewer that runs through the hubs. They allow you to remove and replace the wheels quickly and without any tools. Quick release axles are the standard wheel attachment system used on most bikes. ![]()
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