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Locking Skewers

Old 04-06-12, 08:04 PM
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Locking Skewers

Another thread introduced me to this seemingly new anti-theft gadget. I'd love to be able to lock my wheels this way when I'm commuting or running errands; however, when it's time to lock the front forks into a rack so my wife and I can take the bikes somewhere for a day trip, I like to be able to get the wheels on and off pretty quickly.

Is swapping the locking skewers out with the regular "quick-release" skewers a bigger deal than I imagine it would be?
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Old 04-06-12, 08:05 PM
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It's not a big deal, but yes, wheel changes are not as quick and convenient. You always sacrifice something for security. Usually it's weight, sometimes it's convenience.
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Old 04-07-12, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Papa Tom
Is swapping the locking skewers out with the regular "quick-release" skewers a bigger deal than I imagine it would be?
No.
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Old 04-07-12, 04:19 PM
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I use these. https://www.pitlock.com/ IMO there is no better system in place. I have both front and rear brakes locked with the wheels and front fork head bolt. The seat post lock didn't work on my Surly (wasn't compatable) so I bought the Surly Constrictor clamp and had the bolt that it came with machined with a safty pin in the center along with the seat bolt (both 8 mm I think). I don't think you can go too far with security bolts. Some people with take anything they can unbolt/unscrew.
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Old 04-07-12, 07:31 PM
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Hmmm... thanks for the responses so far. My question, for now, is not so much which locking skewers are best, but whether the switchover to plain old quick-release skewers is going to be a nuisance when I want to convert my commuter bike back into a leisure bike on the weekends.
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Old 04-07-12, 08:12 PM
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Just take the front wheel and lock it with the rear wheel and seatstays.
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Old 04-07-12, 11:16 PM
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I suppose it depends on what you mean by a nuisance. It's about as much trouble as taking off a wheel that is bolted on. I.e., it should take less than a minute once you've done it once or twice.

But you don't have to swap out the skewers at all if you're just putting the bike into a rack.
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Old 04-07-12, 11:37 PM
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I just use non-QR skewers (Delta axle-rods, I think)...they essentially have the same deterrent effect ( under most circumstances) as locking skewers, but you don't need a special key to get the wheel off, just an Allen wrench, which is always in my wedgie bag.
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Old 04-08-12, 06:57 AM
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>>>>But you don't have to swap out the skewers at all if you're just putting the bike into a rack.<<<<

Actually, I worded my concern incorrectly. When my wife and I travel to ride, we're often in and out of the car all day long, putting wheels down in different places, then driving somewhere else to experience a different trail, route, etc. For this, I would want to put the quick releases back on the bikes.
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Old 04-08-12, 07:14 AM
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I like these Velo Orange skewers. They require a special, hollow
Allen wrench to remove them, but the allen wrench is handy because it fits so many other parts on the bike also. It's a little less convenient than quick release, but in some places a quick release anything is like donating to the pawn shop.

Marc
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Old 04-08-12, 07:35 AM
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i don't know about other locking skewers, but i use pit lock brand. with the key and a 14 mm wrench you can remove the front skewer and reinstall the qr skewer. should take less than a minute with the proper tools.
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Old 04-08-12, 09:14 AM
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Don't the locking skewers assemble together just like a QR? I don't know how these work, but if they don't have a c-clip at the ends to add that extra security??, I don't think it will be a big deal.
However, if you find yourself swapping a lot, I can see this getting annoying real quick. I have a CX bike and had two sets of wheelsets, one for trails and one for road/commuting. As easy as it sounds, it started to become annoying. If you have fenders.. even worse..

Maybe you should get the security locks and a new bike rack...one that doesn't require the removal of the front wheel.
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Old 06-04-12, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by irwin7638
I like these Velo Orange skewers. They require a special, hollow
Allen wrench to remove them, but the allen wrench is handy because it fits so many other parts on the bike also. It's a little less convenient than quick release, but in some places a quick release anything is like donating to the pawn shop.

Marc
Velo Orange skewers are a terrible idea. I bought some, and Channel locks or vise grips remove very easily. In fact, since they actually put a serrated surface on the ends, I wouldn't be surprised if a very strong grip with rag would loosen it! Hard to believe anyone could have actually installed a set of these and not immediately realized this.
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Old 06-04-12, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Papa Tom
Hmmm... thanks for the responses so far. My question, for now, is not so much which locking skewers are best, but whether the switchover to plain old quick-release skewers is going to be a nuisance when I want to convert my commuter bike back into a leisure bike on the weekends.
You can swap the skewers while the bike is standing up, not a big deal at all.
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Old 06-04-12, 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by larcal
Velo Orange skewers are a terrible idea. I bought some, and Channel locks or vise grips remove very easily. In fact, since they actually put a serrated surface on the ends, I wouldn't be surprised if a very strong grip with rag would loosen it! Hard to believe anyone could have actually installed a set of these and not immediately realized this.
Seems to me that they would still offer more of a deterrent than quick release or standard skewers. A few seconds of hassle for a potential thief could make all the difference.
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Old 06-04-12, 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by tar wheels
Seems to me that they would still offer more of a deterrent than quick release or standard skewers. A few seconds of hassle for a potential thief could make all the difference.
Except that for an extra 20 bucks you can do far better, tho not perfect, so why quibble? Any locking skewer system has the downside of now you have to allways have the key with you to change a flat, load into a small car etc., so the security advantage has to be great enough to outweigh that hassle, which imo, this doesn't have, since pliers are so common. The serrations are really the last straw. They just scream to a thief, twist me! I felt deceived and ripped off.

Last edited by larcal; 06-04-12 at 06:26 PM.
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Old 06-04-12, 07:13 PM
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>>>>The serrations are really the last straw. They just scream to a thief, twist me! I felt deceived and ripped off.<<<

I guess I didn't familiarize myself with these enough before starting this thread. From everything I read, it seemed the skewers themselves were pretty much proven to work. I suppose, now, there are some weaknesses to consider?
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Old 06-04-12, 07:20 PM
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Here is some reading for you before you decide what to buy.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread81918.html
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Old 06-04-12, 10:50 PM
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I have quick releases with levers that lock. No tools necessary. They look and are just like QR's, but they lock when the bike is upright.
Simply flip the bike upside-down and they unlock and you can flip the QR levers open and pull out the skewers like a regular QR.
Then just insert your regular QR's.
Zefal locking skewers. https://www.zefal.com/en/locks/81-lock-n-roll.html

PS - they are exposed cams, so don't use with horizontal drop outs, if you got 'em on the rear wheel. Only use for vertical drop outs.
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Old 06-05-12, 05:10 AM
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They all can be undone, just like anything else can be possibly broken given enough time, determination and the right tools. The idea is not to prevent the theft entirely, because it's not possible, but to make it a little more time consuming and more involving, so the thief may think twice. I have skewers with regular hex bolts. They take significantly longer to undo that regular quick release skewers and you need to have a tool on you. That lowers the chances of theft of opportunity, but won't stop a prepared and determined thief.

Many security bolts can be undone with flat screwdrivers with enough skill.

Originally Posted by lungimsam
I have quick releases with levers that lock. No tools necessary. They look and are just like QR's, but they lock when the bike is upright.
Simply flip the bike upside-down and they unlock and you can flip the QR levers open and pull out the skewers like a regular QR.
Then just insert your regular QR's.
Zefal locking skewers. https://www.zefal.com/en/locks/81-lock-n-roll.html
That is very interesting.
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Old 06-06-12, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by AdamDZ

That is very interesting.
Works great for me. Just flip the bike onto the saddle and handlebars, flip open the levers, take out the wheel.
Just like a regular QR, but opens an closes upside down.
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Old 06-06-12, 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by lungimsam
I have quick releases with levers that lock. No tools necessary. They look and are just like QR's, but they lock when the bike is upright.
Simply flip the bike upside-down and they unlock and you can flip the QR levers open and pull out the skewers like a regular QR.
Then just insert your regular QR's.
Zefal locking skewers. https://www.zefal.com/en/locks/81-lock-n-roll.html

PS - they are exposed cams, so don't use with horizontal drop outs, if you got 'em on the rear wheel. Only use for vertical drop outs.
I have a pair of these, and they work...kind of. I like how elegant and simple the mechanism is, but they don't work to well as quick releases. Not only does the locking mechanism require that the lever be horizontal (which just looks wrong), but they require a lot more work than I would like to actually use.

Granted, this really comes down to a few extra minutes every flat tire, and they make no real different while actually riding, but it's just bad enough to bug me. Maybe the theft protection is enough to make it worth it.
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Old 06-06-12, 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by lungimsam
I have quick releases with levers that lock. No tools necessary. They look and are just like QR's, but they lock when the bike is upright.
Simply flip the bike upside-down and they unlock and you can flip the QR levers open and pull out the skewers like a regular QR.
Then just insert your regular QR's.
Zefal locking skewers. https://www.zefal.com/en/locks/81-lock-n-roll.html

PS - they are exposed cams, so don't use with horizontal drop outs, if you got 'em on the rear wheel. Only use for vertical drop outs.
Pretty sure I read somewhere those can be opened by holding a magnet up to them.
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Old 06-06-12, 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jsdavis
Pretty sure I read somewhere those can be opened by holding a magnet up to them.
That wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm too lazy at the moment to check, since getting them back on is a bit of a hassle, but it would make sense considering how they work. It's just a little steel pin that drops into place.

Either way though, a thief is just as likely to know the magnet trick as they are the flat screwdriver trick. It's just about building in a few minutes of extra time.
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Old 06-11-12, 09:59 AM
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At the bottom of the list I would put any lock which is intuitively obvious as to how to defeat it, requires no skill/practice, and very simple tools. So the Zefal QR is a step above that but I would put it below the Pins and Picks as magnets are so ubiquitous. The lfgss.com thread Ratdog mentioned is excellent. The state of the quandry at the moment is that both pinhead and pitlock have come out with changes in the last few months but have their lips sealed tight as to how well they protect against previous well known security issues nor will they even admit to or address such issues so someone has to test them and post the results. Sure wish someone would. I can't afford to buy and try. Sure, it's an imperfect world, but one would like to be able to at least lessen the odds of tshtf somewhat intelligently. Presently it appears Pinhead has a slightly better attitude, approach, and openness with their new security washer. Whether that translates into a more secure product I don't know. I guess the thieves have the upper hand here, as if you are a thief that requires this knowledge you simply have to read a little, then go out and find newer systems to play with. Without a conscience, it's probably loads of fun, and costs nothing.
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