I have no idea how to operate a quick release, and had tightened mine until I couldn't clamp it, then backed off until I could just flip the thing completely in and secure. I thought that was pretty secure, throw the handle parallel to the fork and you're good.

Then I notice this loud sound like a few parts moving loose away from each other and slapping back together. The sound of a bunch of stuff bouncing in your rear basket, or whatnot. It came from up front!

Eventually (after 3 or 4 miles of confusion) I started intentionally jerking the front wheel up and bouncing it, causing the sound to repeat, verifying that yes this is coming from up front.

Stop the bike.

Looking, looking... quick release has been flipped back open.

Wait, what? That's physically impossible. It takes more force to open it than it does to keep it shut.

Oddly enough, the bike took a pretty severe beating with an unfastened quick release and it's fine. How it popped open in the first place is a mystery to me.

Do you have disc brakes? A front disc brake puts forces on the wheel that try to throw it out the fork. Otherwise, you just didn't tighten it enough. If you have some of the bad exposed cam skewers, replace them with some good enclosed cam skewers: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...0_20000_400296

This is the bike, and the cam is an enclosed bulb with a lever plugged into the side, so I guess it's an enclosed cam. Not sure if it's steel or aluminum; steel would be better I'm sure, as aluminum is kind of a crap substance (it's not even metal). Still.

I'm not sure how I could have not tightened it enough, as I'm barely physically strong enough to lock it as it is, and I'm pretty sure if I give it another 1/4 turn on the acorn it won't lock at all.