slebo3213

I've got an old steel bike with chrome horizontal drops, riding on dura ace hubs with dura ace QR skewers. I'd like to replace the QR with something more secure that I don't have to lock up every time I leave the bike. I'm pretty sure the skewer diameter is 5 mm and my rear drop is 130mm. My main concern is getting something that won't hold my wheel in place. Any suggestions?

rpenmanparker 

I have had trouble with light, external-cam skewers on horizontal dropouts. I am not a masher, but still, it was easy for me to pull the front of the rear wheel toward the NDS and have it rub on the NDS chain stay. Stay with internal cam skewers like Dura Ace, Ultegra, etc. They will give you the compression you need to keep your wheel in place. You also want a model that will bite into the dropout. I say this as someone fully addicted to bicycle weight reduction. If I still had a horizontal dropout frame, I would run heavy-duty skewers on it.

JonnyHK 

You can go with the many skewer options that require a tool (hex key) or there are some anti-theft ones that are a bit harder.

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...-opinions.html


Skewers : Hublox Security Skewers

VO Anti-theft Skewers

https://www.pinheadlocks.com/store/e...eel-locks.html

and there is another company that escapes my mind at the moment.

slebo3213

I hear you, but running cable through both wheels is a pain, and it attracts attention. There must be a more secure alternative that will also keep my wheel in place. Right?

slebo3213

Reading through the links now, but these will hold with horizontal drop outs?

JonnyHK 

They should hold as well as any QR. If your Dura Ace ones work fine then there is no reason why any of these wouldn't do the same job.

No personal experience with these though...

wphamilton

Doesn't anyone make locking skewers? A key-lock with a lever over the back of the dropout?

edit: this link that JohnyHK provided is a locking skewer
https://www.pinheadlocks.com/store/e...eel-locks.html
that looks like it would at least make it difficult to quickly remove a wheel.

rpenmanparker 

Sorry, but I don't understand how you expect to protect the rest of the bike without a good lock. Even then it is very iffy. The standard practice is to remove the front wheel and U-lock it together with the rear, the frame rear triangle and the fixture that will keep the bike from walking away. Or the same thing with a sturdy cable. I don't get what you mean by "attracts attention". The one thing you want folks to see is that your bike is well secured so they will go looking elsewhere. Attracting attention to that is exactly what you want.

slebo3213

I use a U lock through the frame and rear wheel. I want to avoid running a cable up to the front in addition to that U lock.

Just a difference of opinion. Any lock/cable is defeatable. My bike is vintage steel (merckx) and usually attracts attention from those that know what it is. A punk kid bike thief in my area will walk right past it and not think twice, going for something new or covered with carbon fiber. UNLESS it has a ton of cables running around it, which will make them take a second look since it must be expensive. Again, just a theory, no need to debate it.

I'm new to this forum, but a member of many others on many other topics. In my short time here I can say I have never seen so many threads derailed by off topic thoughts and opinions. I just want to talk about replacing my skewers.

rpenmanparker 

The lack of hold you are concerned about is usually attributed to a poor cam design in light-weight, quick-release skewers. Locking skewers are generally not quick release and hold by tightening a nut or similar. I got plenty of responses by Googling "locking bicycle skewers". Ben's Cyclery (well respected) has some Delta brand skewers that look interesting.