Couple (probably) simple questions
 

I'm a long distance rider, and never gave much thought to single speeds, but I am considering a track frame purchase. I have two newbie questions:

1-Why do single speed hubs all have axles with regular old nuts to hold them on? Why doesn't a quick release work for them?

2-Has anyone used a 'kick-shift' 2 speed hub? Are they reliable, and are they easy to use? I really wanted the SRAM 2 speed automatic, but I gather they don't make them any longer, and nobody else makes one (Is that true?).

I live in a pretty flat area (Florida), so 2 or 3 speeds would work for me. The frame has 120 spacing, and I find several options for IGH hubs to fit, but I'd rather have no shift cable if possible. I'm not ready to go for one speed, though. It does get very windy at times, and there are some hills here and there. Anyway, thanks in advance for any answers.

Singlespeed hubs are generally repurposed track hubs, and quick releases are illegal on track wheels. Don't know about kick shift hubs.

I've seen some bikes with quick release in front and standards nuts in the rear. I suppose the difference is minimal in non-competition. I suppose if there was a single speed race you might be better off with only standard nuts - could be wrong. Market is limited and quality of equipment is probably most important generally. Don't think I've seen quick release with a track frame.

A quick release would work. The answer is mostly tradition. FG riders like to think somehow they put out so much more torque on a FG hub that it would pull a QR hub out of alignment but that's just hooey unless you don't know how to use a skewer properly.

There is a chain tensioning technique that requires you to alternately tighten each side individually that wouldn't work with QRs but there are other ways to do it.

Why? Does it pose a safety issue?

Well, a good old fashioned, internal cam, Shimano or Campy steel QR will work, but most people today are going to try and use some weight weenie boutique external cam QR and that is not going to clamp tightly enough in horizontal dropouts to prevent the axle from slipping forward under load.

Until the late 60s or so, you could buy track hubs with quick releases and use them in competition. But UCI (the governing body for professional cycling) ruled that quick release hubs could not be used in UCI sanctioned track competitions, so quick release track hubs faded from the market. The concern was that in events where riders could be overlapping wheels, a following rider's wheel could catch and flip open the quick release of the rider in front, causing a crash. Before the rule change, Campagnolo's quick release track hubs had curved levers to minimize this concern (this was years before the CPSC in the United States started requiring curved levers on all quick releases).

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/1036-1.jpg

But there's no reason in principle why you can't use a quick release hub on your own bike, as long as you don't intend to use it in a UCI sanctioned competition. You would need to replace the solid axle with a hollow one of the proper length for your frame, and get a quick release skewer to match.

There is a really good reason to deal with nuts for single speed hubs. Unlike derailleur bikes, adjusting the wheel back and forth is necessary to adjust the chain tension. There is also the need to center the wheel side-to-side. (Remember, no near self-centering vertical dropout.) So, with a quick-release, you have to get both the chain tension and the centering right while the whole wheel is free to move. On a good day, easy. On a bad day, this can be very frustrating. But with nuts, you get close, tighten them then you can "walk" the hub in either direction by loosening one nut, pushing the front of the rim toward the appropriate chainstay, re-tighten and repeat on the other side. Sounds like a lot of work but you can do it completely brain-dead.

I see Scott mentioned this already. For the reason I just outlined, I will always have nutted fix gear hubs and would do the same on any single speed bike with horizontal dropouts or track ends. (Further plus: if you are riding and decided the chain should be just a tad tighter or looser, a quick, very accurate adjustment is easy. With a quick-release you are back to square one as soon as you release that lever.)

Ben

Yes.
Accidentally bumping a QR lever w/ an overlapping front wheel can open the QR with disastrous results, track nuts not so much. A QR lever, or any protrusion is a hazard on the track and not permitted.

Wheel changes don't take place on the roadside in track events, a QR has no function for velodrome use.

MY LD/FG set-up is QR front, track nuts rear.

-Bandera