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Old 11-14-07 | 08:53 PM
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Youngin
ub3r n00b
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,368
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From: Minnesota

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone, Trek 6000SS, Zebrakanko FG

Quick-Release or Nutted?

Track hubs generally come with solid axles and track nuts. This is because most velodromes have rules requiring this type of wheel attachment.
As a result, it is widely believed that quick-release axles are not suitable for fixed-gear use. This is false!

It is my belief that the velodrome rule dates back to long before the invention of the quick-release, when the choices were standard nuts or wing nuts. The protruding "wings" of wing nuts might constitute a hazard in a crash, and I believe that's why the rule was instituted. Since quick-release skewers don't have any sharp projections, that becomes a non-issue in practice.

If you are going to use a quick release with a fixed gear, you should make sure to use a good quality enclosed-cam skewer.
- Sheldon Brown
More here (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html)
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