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XT or Salsa Skewers?

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XT or Salsa Skewers?

Old 08-01-09, 08:25 AM
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XT or Salsa Skewers?

I'm looking for input on a skewer choice. These both are good, but does anyone have tidbits of slight differences that would make a difference? Material, clamping leverage, ease of clamping, weight, price, strength? I've had them both on mtn bikes, but no knowledge here. Team weights are 220 and 400lbs.
Thanks.
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Old 08-01-09, 10:23 AM
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So long as you're referring to the Salsa skewers with steel axles, I don't believe there is much of a difference between the two from a functional / quality / strength / durability standpoint. They're both excellent skewers.

That said, I'm partial to the Salsa skewers because they come in black (as well as other colors), I find the lever to be a better and more ergonomical design, and they just look better to me.

For road use, the Ti skewers are fine but I've found Ti skewers in general need to be tightened with more clamping force than the steel skewers to get the same holding force.
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Old 08-01-09, 10:45 AM
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Assuming you're using vertical rear dropouts either will be fine.

If you've got horizontal dropouts, I'd definitely go with Shimano. They clamp a lot more tightly.
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Old 08-01-09, 03:26 PM
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A little Salsa goes a long way!
We have had them on our current twicer for 25,000+ miles. They work just fine.
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Old 08-02-09, 05:52 AM
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Recently while looking for 145mm skewers, I tried to find new XT's.

I needed one for the Bike-Pro travel case since I converted to the rear axle dropout holder style.

Catalog wise no one had 145 lengths except Salsas. (QBP, Hawley, J&B, etc)

For our trip I used the Salsa from the rear wheel.

Prior to leaving I saw a new set of XT's (145mm) on Ebay. I held off. Upon returning from Tahoe, I noticed another set on EBay and got the front and rear 145mm for $25. Tossed them in the Bike-Pro case for next time.

FWIW, I've used several brands over the years on my single MTB bikes. I would agree that the XT's hold tightest. Most brands use a plastic washer to let the handle pivot easier, where as Shimano uses steel on steel. The plastic yields limiting how tight the wheel is. Then again we have Salsa QR's on the road tandem, and CODA/TransX(?) on the MTB tandem, neither give us trouble.

Salsa QR's do look nice and you have color options.

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Old 08-02-09, 07:37 AM
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Thanks for the input.
I have the vertical drops, so that's fine.
I've had a near 'problem' on my mtn bike once when I assumed all was ok and the QR came loose. Thankfully, the lawyer tabs did their job. Actually, it was with a Salsa, but it was my fault for not noticing it during the ride. So I went to those skewers w/o the QR that you need a hex wrench to tighten. (ever see those available for a tandem?) So I have serious self interest based on a real situation on keeping things tight. I have a pair of OEM steel skewers on the tandem now, and I saw another set of those skewers on Ebay, so I thought they might be worth it.

So thanks for the info guys!
INDY bob.
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Old 08-02-09, 08:28 AM
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I prefer the internal cam of the Shimano. IIRC Sheldon Brown also preferred the Shimano.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/skewers.html
I'm also considering filing off the lawyers tabs. That way I'll put the wheel in the fork and clamp the axle down immediately without fiddling with the axle nut first. Less chance to get distracted and forget to tighten it. I'm not recommending this for anyone else, and I wouldn't do this with a disc brake.
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Old 08-02-09, 08:57 AM
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FWIW, for me anyway, it's disturbing to see how many road and off road riders improperly latch a QR.

Many times I see the lever/arm sticking out at 45° waiting for one wrong bump.

Even after some simple instruction, many still don't get it.

Oddly this is one thing I often look for on other bikes in a paceline, and am more careful when they are in front of us. Off road, oh well, run them over...

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Old 08-04-09, 10:56 AM
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In my experience, Salsa QRs are easier to get snug if you spray the curved plastic "washer/bearing" surface every so often with WD40. It really made a difference on our Co-Motion PeriScope seat post QRs.
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Old 08-13-09, 07:59 AM
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While we're on the topic of 145 mm skewers, does anyone know of a 145mm skewer that will work in a trainer? My buddy has a virtual reality trainer that we use on winter evenings to see who can do the best time on a 6 km velodrome course. We wanted to see what we could do using our tandem last winter, but the lack of a suitable skewer stopped us from doing so. We have the Salsa one, but need one with a decent-size round piece sticking out clear past the QR lever. The XT skewer is different, but also doesn't look like it would work. Any other suggestions? It's a Tacx trainer, and the skewers that they make specifically for it are about 5mm too short.
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Old 08-15-09, 01:45 PM
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There is no choice for me- XT every time. I have always used XT on the Tandem and now do on the solos. Never tried anything else as I know the XT's are good.
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