Changing Rear Wheel - How do those pros do it so fast?
07-22-10, 05:42 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 1,001
Bikes: Trek 1.1
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
2 Posts
Changing Rear Wheel - How do those pros do it so fast?
Sure there must be other threads on this but a quick search did not find one. Was watching the Tour de France and am puzzled as to how those mechanics are able to swop rear wheels so fast. Yesterday I had to change a tube on my rear wheel and it seems I always feel like I am in need of three hands: One to hold the bike, one to pull the tension pulley back and one to guide the tire into the axle slots. Suppose if I did it more often it would become easier. For one thing I am always a little confused as to where to position the cogset on the chain. It usually takes several tries and then when I am just about at my wit's end it will suddenly plop into place. I know the chain should be on the small chain wheel and the small cog.
07-22-10, 06:07 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,442
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Mostly it's practice... You flip the quick-release on the brakes, make sure the chain is on the smallest (highest) cog, and then flip the QR for the axle and give the wheel a whack with the heel of your palm.
It should pop right out.
When replacing, hold the DR extended with your thumb while you position the chain on that same cog, then a quick lift and it should slide into the dropouts. Don't forget to close the QR on the brakes....
It should pop right out.
When replacing, hold the DR extended with your thumb while you position the chain on that same cog, then a quick lift and it should slide into the dropouts. Don't forget to close the QR on the brakes....
07-22-10, 07:57 PM
#5
Underwhelming
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Mississippi
Posts: 1,263
Bikes: Lynskey R330 Ti, Dean El Vado Ti, Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Suppose if I did it more often it would become easier. For one thing I am always a little confused as to where to position the cogset on the chain. It usually takes several tries and then when I am just about at my wit's end it will suddenly plop into place. I know the chain should be on the small chain wheel and the small cog.
07-22-10, 08:00 PM
#6
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,470 Times
in
1,435 Posts
How fast do they do it? I could probably do it that fast.
Long ago, I worked at a bike shop that dealt in a lot of high end bikes and stuff. One thing that helped was standardizing on certain models of components. In 1983, the standard was Campy Super Record and Nuovo Record. I think we were at 126mm spacing at that point. We also used Regina freewheels on the race bikes. This way, the wheel goes in really easily, and any race wheel fits any race bike. Everything was debugged on all bikes.
I have a bike whose rear wheel is hard to get in and out because I've messed with the dimensions a lot. But it doesn't matter to me. I'm not in a rush when I'm removing or replacing my rear wheel.
Long ago, I worked at a bike shop that dealt in a lot of high end bikes and stuff. One thing that helped was standardizing on certain models of components. In 1983, the standard was Campy Super Record and Nuovo Record. I think we were at 126mm spacing at that point. We also used Regina freewheels on the race bikes. This way, the wheel goes in really easily, and any race wheel fits any race bike. Everything was debugged on all bikes.
I have a bike whose rear wheel is hard to get in and out because I've messed with the dimensions a lot. But it doesn't matter to me. I'm not in a rush when I'm removing or replacing my rear wheel.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-22-10, 08:24 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 1,001
Bikes: Trek 1.1
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
2 Posts
Mostly it's practice... You flip the quick-release on the brakes, make sure the chain is on the smallest (highest) cog, and then flip the QR for the axle and give the wheel a whack with the heel of your palm.
It should pop right out.
When replacing, hold the DR extended with your thumb while you position the chain on that same cog, then a quick lift and it should slide into the dropouts. Don't forget to close the QR on the brakes....
It should pop right out.
When replacing, hold the DR extended with your thumb while you position the chain on that same cog, then a quick lift and it should slide into the dropouts. Don't forget to close the QR on the brakes....
07-22-10, 08:27 PM
#9
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,470 Times
in
1,435 Posts
I haven't been watching the Tour this year, but I'm pretty sure I can do it faster than that. Are you sure?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-22-10, 08:42 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cooper City, Fl
Posts: 765
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 R5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-22-10, 08:49 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
One thing is that they really do have 3 hands. Usually the rider is holding the bike up and steady so the mechanic doesn't have to balance the bike while removing and reinstalling the wheel.
07-22-10, 09:51 PM
#13
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,940
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 974 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
352 Posts
Last edited by rm -rf; 07-22-10 at 10:01 PM.
07-23-10, 08:54 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Rae Dawn Chong in American Flyers shows how (youtube)
07-23-10, 02:57 PM
#16
Banned
Team Mechanics have a pair of dropouts just like the team's bikes use ,
so bearing preload is already adjusted on the hubs of all the spare wheels,
and the QR lever pre-adjusted too.
so bearing preload is already adjusted on the hubs of all the spare wheels,
and the QR lever pre-adjusted too.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lambo2124
Bicycle Mechanics
3
12-21-12 10:57 PM
