Fixie in a trainer - quick release a bad idea?
#1
Thread Starter
Broke
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11
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From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 4.0, Fuji Feather CX, Specialized Allez '11, Allez '93 townie, Kona Honzo
Fixie in a trainer - quick release a bad idea?
I just got an Ascent magnetic trainer for the winter, one that wants me to use its quick release skewer. Anything special about skewers paired with trainers besides that they fit in the holds? My rear axle with track nuts seems to fit perfectly in it...I was on it for an hour this morning and it seemed to hold up.
I've also heard about how easily quick-releases can go loose from the chain tension on track bikes, which really just sounds like a terrible situation.
I've also heard about how easily quick-releases can go loose from the chain tension on track bikes, which really just sounds like a terrible situation.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
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From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
if you don't mind squishing the edges of the nuts a little...
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#5
#7
I just got an Ascent magnetic trainer for the winter, one that wants me to use its quick release skewer. Anything special about skewers paired with trainers besides that they fit in the holds? My rear axle with track nuts seems to fit perfectly in it...I was on it for an hour this morning and it seemed to hold up.
I've also heard about how easily quick-releases can go loose from the chain tension on track bikes, which really just sounds like a terrible situation.
I've also heard about how easily quick-releases can go loose from the chain tension on track bikes, which really just sounds like a terrible situation.
#8
Veteran Racer


Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,862
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
IDK about the quick release supplied with your trainer, but mine came with an old fashioned closed cam type, that clamps the wheel very securely and it won't slip under a hard load. These were used in the old days on road bikes with horizontal dropouts where a wheel slipping out would be even more disastrous because it would fall out of the frame, so they are just as secure as track nuts.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
the supplied skewer is always the cheap enclosed type with steel ends, because the open type will just slide right out from the trainer's vices. the aluminum and plastic ends on good skewers will get marred or broken quite easily.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#15
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Broke
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11
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From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 4.0, Fuji Feather CX, Specialized Allez '11, Allez '93 townie, Kona Honzo
That's probably what it is actually. It reminded me of what came in my Peugeot before realizing how easily wheels get stolen. So they're strong enough to withstand all the tension / ****ty roadage my rear wheel will withstand? Can I whip my bike back and forth on my trainer with it?
#16
Thread Starter
Broke
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11
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From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 4.0, Fuji Feather CX, Specialized Allez '11, Allez '93 townie, Kona Honzo
I think i'm legit the only fixie rider who can't skid (I can lift my rear wheel up in motion, but that just looks silly and isn't effective) so maybe I should.
#17
Some quick release cams on the trainers may jump loose and release the wheel. It happened to a guy I know. He was out of the saddle sprinting on the trainer and the trainer's cam came loose and released the wheel. Nothing catastrophic, but he put a hole in his disc as he fell over.
EDIT:
This would have happened if he used a quick release rear wheel, too.
This is why some trainers come with a screw system to bind the wheel, like this:
EDIT:
This would have happened if he used a quick release rear wheel, too.
This is why some trainers come with a screw system to bind the wheel, like this:
#18
GONE~
Joined: Apr 2010
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#19
Veteran Racer


Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,862
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
Solve all your problems. Get one of these >>> https://www.lemondfitness.com/product...odnxm4pg#tab-2
#20
Thread Starter
Broke
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 4.0, Fuji Feather CX, Specialized Allez '11, Allez '93 townie, Kona Honzo
I can't even afford my own trainer, I'm borrowing it from my mother. but god, that thing looks beautiful. Looks too complicated to mount and unmount though (because chances are I'll leave my bike on it until the next morning when I'm rushing off to work)
#21
Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 31
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From: Ontario/ SD
Back then I was trying to get on a trainer with my solid axle hubs but soon gave up because I didn't want to risk ruining my track nuts so I invested in some rollers. However, I did come across some of these https://bike.com/tacx-track-wheel-ada...rs-and-rollers ... not sure if those would work with a different manufacturer.
#24
If you are all that worried about hex nuts not fitting the cups of the trainer, how about taking a set and having the very end rounded over to fit the cup. Or, it can not be that hard to have a set machined.
I do not know if you can get extra long hex nuts that fit the axle threading or not, but those could be turned down so you can keep the same flat width for the wrench. And you could round them over using a drill and a angle grinder with a sanding disk.
My 1-ups trainer even though it cams into the rear axle to close it, has adjustable cups for the width of the wheel axle.
Tom
I do not know if you can get extra long hex nuts that fit the axle threading or not, but those could be turned down so you can keep the same flat width for the wrench. And you could round them over using a drill and a angle grinder with a sanding disk.
My 1-ups trainer even though it cams into the rear axle to close it, has adjustable cups for the width of the wheel axle.
Tom
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