Quick Release Skewer
 

My fiancée is just getting started into cycling. She has a bike that she bought at Wal Mart which the wheels are held on by nuts, instead of quick release skewers. Can those nuts be replaced with quick releases so that if she has a flat, she can easily patch/replace the tire? Thanks.

Not easily... bolt-on hubs use longer axles with external screw threads, while quick-release hubs use shorter axles which are hollow so that a quick-release skewer can fit through them. It *is* possible to replace the axle of a bolt-on hub with a quick-release axle... however overhauling a hub is a fairly involved job if you've never done it before (hafta learn to adjust cup-and-cone bearings).

Plus, Walmart bikes are more or less meant to be throw-away bikes, and the hubs aren't really designed for servicing. They may use non-standard sized axles (I've seen some which had very thin axles), which means that you would be able to easily replace the axle with a QR axle.

Probably not worth all the annoyance... if you're worried about flats, the best bet is to bring along a small wrench. Some multi-tools have a small box wrench which fits a standard size axle nut (I believe it's 10 mm but don't quote me on that). For example this one for $15 is pretty similar to the one I have: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

Thanks for that info. I didn't know about those bikes since I have always dealt with skewers. I am in the process of building her a Giant OCR Elite, but until I finish that, she will be riding the bike she currently has.

Yep, upgrading to hollow axles/QR is not cost effective. It may be worth upgrading to oversized "track nuts" which have a built-in washer.
A box wrench (uk ring spanner) is more secure to use than an open ended/cresent wrench. A workshop version has a longer handle and better leverage.

My LBS did the conversion on my wife's 25 year old Schwinn Traveller.

Bob

Gee, I've done this conversion several times. However, all but one of the bikes was a LBS brand name bike. There are some annoying issues, but it can be done.

probably better to carry a box wrench since the bike won't be a light weight anyhow.

ed rader