Bicycle Mechanics - new bike that i know nothing about -- do i have a quick release

hi! someone just gave me a bike. her mom gave her the bike and she never wanted it so, needless to say, she couldn't really tell me anything about it. on the side of the bike it says "specialized cross roads cruz" so i guess that's the kind of bike it is. i'm trying to find a way to keep it in my studio apt and i want to take the front wheel off with the quick release so i can lock it to the back tire with a u-lock. the problem is, from what i can tell, there is no brake release. does this mean i just have to force the tire into and out of the front brakes? the brakes say "shimano 200cx", by the way. if you've got a second and an answer to this question, i'd really appreciate your input. thanks!!

i got my answer. here it is, fyi:

on the right side (i think its the right, it will NOT have extra cable) all you do is close the brake by hand and cable can come out.
not the same brakes i know but if you can see in this picture there is a slot on the edge of the brake that the cable can come out of. with the brake in the closed position (touching the rim) you will have enough cable slack to take it out http://images.myunite.net/set1/smile/emthup.gif

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/cantilevers/images/cantilevers-xt2-08.jpg
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/cantilevers/images/cantilevers-xt2-24.jpg




this was also helpful:

Check out point 2 on this link
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100

It shows the various quick release points for brakes, you will need to push the brake pads together in some instances to create enough cable slack to unhook the brake cable.

Good looking bike. And it seems to be in good shape, too. How about a whole-bike picture?

The type of brakes you have are called cantilevers and they are effective and work well. The method you discovered for opening them wider is correct.

you can also deflate the tire, and it should not require you to move the breaks at all, usually. When i replace tubes, i deflate them, take the tire out, replace the tube, put the tire back in, THEN pump it up. It saves a lot of hastle, when people are too careless, and put the brakes too close togeather, and then you can't get enough slack to get the cable out.

~Rushlink

Good looking bike. And it seems to be in good shape, too. How about a whole-bike picture?

Not his bike. Check out where the pictures are coming from, hotlinked off Sheldons site

It is indeed a beautiful bike though