Hi;

I've been getting the impression, recently, that quick-release skewers are not thought to be great at keeping a wheel centered w/ horizontal dropouts, which is certainly matching some experiences I'm having. Is that considered true for roadbikes w/ forward-facing dropouts, or just mtn or track/racing bikes w/ high torque and rear-facing dropouts? I've seen 'chain tensioners' for sale for bikes w/ rear-facing dropouts. Are they just not needed for forward-facing dropouts (and hence the problem I'm having keeping a front-facing dropout rear wheel centers is due to some other problem), or is there some other trick/shortcut/whatever to tighten a q-r skewer into front-facing horiz dropouts?

Thanks for any insight you can pound into my head...

Oil your QR mechanism and clamp that baby tight.

I'm assuming you're talking single speed, right? QR with a single speed is totally doable. You need to make sure that your axle is not protruding past the edges of the dropouts. In other words, when you have the wheel in place, there should be extra space in the dropout. The skewer needs to be really tight, and that space is necessary, as the QR compresses the whole system.

Chain tensioners are for running single speed with vertical dropouts, when you can't adjust chain tension with the wheel position in the dropouts.

I think he means the type that sits on the track ends that pulls the hub axle back to tighten the chain.

Quick releases may not be ideal for those who do a lot of skid-stopping. But I've seen QR's used with chain tugs and I see no reason that wouldn't hold up.
I'm actually thinking of converting one of my nutted ss hubs to a QR.

Maybe that's it, maybe I just haven't been able to get it tight enough. I am talking about a geared bike. I threw out that one tensioner that clamps into a track-end as just one thing I have picked up on trying to find a solution. Obviously that's not a solution here.

Get some nice Campy QRs and clamp those babies down TIGHT. You'll have no slippage.

The issue is with external cam QRs (became standard about when horizontal dropouts started disappearing), generally not an issue with internal cam QRs in horizontal dropouts.

Shimano or Campy "internal cam" quick release skewers can be clamped plenty tight enough to hold a rear wheel in horizontal dropouts. The problems come when using boutique light weight "external cam" type which can't apply nearly the clamping force, particularly if they have Ti shafts.

Use any Campy or Shimano skewer and you are fine.

No offense but what do you think the millions of riders did when horizontal dropouts were almost the exclusive choice? Ditto on using a good quality Q/R and making sure the axle end does not extend to or beyond the dropout outer edge.