dynaryder

It's not the company's fault you didn't use their product properly.

By 'manner' do you mean the manual? You're saying it doesn't matter what's in the manual? So when people don't follow the instructions for a product,it's the companies' fault?

Horsepucky. You don't follow the manual,it's your fault. Plain and simple.

acidfast7

Ha ... ha ... you really have no idea what "consumer protection" and/or "protect testing" is do you?

It increases the quality of life, but I guess that I can't expect you to understand that ...

FBinNY 

Not so plain and simple. Everybody has responsibility to make and use products safely. Consumers need to read manuals and use products correctly. That's true, but it doesn't absolve manufacturers from the responsibility to minimize the consequences of user error to he extent it's possible or practical.

By analogy, let's leave the highly charged bicycle world and look back to the American Airlines Crash on Long Island, which was attributed to rudder failure. Airbus and the FAA blamed pilot error for overuse of the rudder at speed, and that was deemed the proximate cause. But it resulted in an order to Airbus to modify controls and install a warning system to prevent similar mistakes.

Likewise on bikes. Users have to read the manual and exercise due care, but that doesn't free makers to introduce new and hidden hazards --- even if they would come into play ONLY in combination with user error.

Assigning fault in the cases so far will be tricky because of shared responsibility, but the recall was 100% justified and correct once the issue was known. Other makers using similar QRs would be well advised to follow suit ASAP. OTOH- if I had one of these skewers on my bike and a freebie wasn't available, I wouldn't pay for a replacement because it's a non-issue for me (or anyone who uses the QR properly).

BTW- issues like this often turn on the question of foreseeability, and let's not kid ourselves about it. Failure of buyers to read manuals is a highly foreseeability event.

dynaryder

Dude,you're supposed to follow the instructions. The only people who were having issues were the ones who were doing something wrong. How freaking basic is it to close your skewer when installing a wheel?

I'm done with you. I'll not respond to any more of your posts on this.

bmthom.gis

Im surprised so many of you are up in arms defending Trek. It isn't really even about user error vs design flaw...they are willing to be the first to step up and provide new QRs and give you a gift card. Product selection not withstanding, I applaud Trek for their initiative.

acidfast7

Your loss ... I'm living in a land where what you're describing isn't even possible.

TransitBiker

By everyday i meant garden variety, not "used every day". I use my bike most days. In a year of owning it the only flat i got was due to improper rim tape placement by the crap shop i got the bike from. I don't ride like a grannie either, so i dunno. If you're getting flats THAT often something's not right!

- Andy

wolfchild

I prefer solid nutted axles. There is nothing complicated or difficult about carrying and using a 15mm wrench to remove or install a wheel, its as simple as it gets. I average 340 days per year on a bike and I only get 1-2 flats per year. No need to remove wheels everyday.

wolfchild

Because majority of people don't have a clue how to use a 15mm wrench. Most people don't even know what a 15mm wrench is.

TransitBiker

I do love my socket wrench, i must admit....

Sadly the one with the lug bit on it has gone MIA. A great excuse to buy a new socket wrench set? Yes, i think so.

I have one socket wrench for the bolt that holds on the light/fender, and i had one for the wheels. I also had an attachment socket for the rack/fender allan bolts and another one for the seat/handlebar but those went MIA at the same time.

- Andy

Motolegs

Try living amongst goatheads. QR's are a boon here. Makes changing flats easier and quicker. And more on topic- the QR's on both Treks I own are heavily used. No problem. Course closing them properly is a must..

Bad things happen to ANY bike if you don't properly close a QR. Like, your wheel falling off.

tjspiel

You don't see them much on single speeds, big box bikes, or bikes with IGHs. But in the US at least they are common on hybrids and even comfort bikes with derailleurs. So I guess it depends on what you mean by "garden variety".

I had my first flat in over a year this week. It was a pinch flat and totally my fault. I had not ridden that bike in a couple of weeks and was in too much of a hurry to give the tires a squeeze to make sure the air pressure was sufficient. And just yesterday I finally got around to taking the studded tires off my winter bike.

Granted it wasn't a typical week but that's 3 wheel removals in the space of a few days.

Quick releases weren't designed for people who don't know how to use wrenches. They are convenience and speed feature that replaced the giant wing nuts that were common on racing bikes. People that can't use a wrench are unlikely to change a tire anyway.

There are many reasons why you may want nutted axles rather than quick releases but QRs do have their advantages. I've never had a flat at a convenient time. So the fastest, simplest, and easiest path to getting back on the road is what I want in those situations. Patching a tube is a simple process too, but I'd rather just use another tube and patch the bad one later.

In all honesty though, even just working in the garage, I prefer a quick release. If I don't need to dig out the wrench, all the better. Same with tire levers. I know how to use them, but I'd rather just use my hands if I can.

dynaryder

This. Plus easier for people who pull their front wheels off all the time for roof racks. Also MTBers who don't need an extra thing to carry when headed into the woods. And some folding bikes(Montague,Mezzo/Ori) that require removing or folding the front wheel.

Motolegs

I want to hear from Acidgut. Or have Rolaids. About how bad bikes he don't own are so bad.

TransitBiker

I could see quick releases being a benefit on bikes where changing a tire is super important, like a road bike or a cyclocross or mountain bike. I don't see a benefit on hybrids, town bikes, or utility bikes. BSO don't really count, because no one should buy them for them to have the opportunity to get a flat.

- Andy

trailerpark

Transit I feel like you're opinion is based off, this recall. Statistically, more people have had problems with bolting their wheels on. So when you compare the two, a QR wins out by sheer numbers. I think it's stupid to want to have to carry more stuff to do the same thing. It's like saying, you don't like innovations.

dynaryder

Depends on how important it is you get to your job on time. I was military,and a shift supervisor,so I had to be there. Also,quite a few places around DC where you don't want to spend more time than you have to fixing a flat. There's also dealing with the weather;how much time do you want to spend not pedaling in 30°,and how many tools do you want to pull out in the rain?

wolfchild

.

What problems ???...I never had a problem with nutted axles.

My 15mm wrench takes up less room then my spare tubes, tire levers and pump...

wolfchild

If that be true, then IGH bikes must be the worst choice for commuters because wheel removal/install on them is more complicated and time consuming.

tjspiel

There are lots of things that take up less room than a wrench that I gladly don't bother to bring along on my commutes.

IGHes have advantages that many find worth the extra hassle involved in getting the wheel off. It's still a hassle.

Nutted axles don't provide any particular advantage for me (though they might for other people) so they aren't worth the extra hassle (again for me).