Felt Bicycle - How to Use the Quick-Releases

10
How to use the quick-releases
As the use of quick-releases is not always common knowledge, they have been the
cause of accidents. Please learn their correct usage and handling.
Quick-release retention mechanisms essentially consist of two operative ele-
ments:
1. The hand lever on one side of the hub which creates a clamping force via a cam
when you close it.
2. The tightening nut on the other side of the hub with which the initial tension on
the threaded rod is set.
Make sure the levers of both quick-releases are always on the side oppo-
site to the chain. This will help you to avoid mounting the front wheel the
wrong way round. By contrast, with disc brakes, the front quick-release
has to be mounted with the lever to the right.
How to fasten components securely
Open the quick-release (a). The word “Open“, printed on the lever, should become
visible now. Move the lever back, as if to close it. Now you should be able to read
”Close“ on the outside of the lever. From the start of the closing movement up to
about the first half of its travel the lever should move very easily, i.e. without clamp-
ing the wheel (b).
Over the second half of its travel the force you need to move it should increase
considerably. Towards the end of its travel the lever should be very hard to move.
Use the ball of your thumb to push it in all the way while your fingers pull on an
immovable part, such as the fork or a rear stay (c), but not on a rotor or spoke.
In its end position, the lever should be parallel to the bike, i.e. it should not stick
out to the side. The lever should lie close to the frame so that it cannot be opened
accidentally.
To check whether the lever is securely locked try to turn it while it is closed. Apply
pressure to the end of the hand lever (d).
If you can turn the lever around, the wheel is not securely fastened. Open the lever
again and screw the tightening nut clockwise by half a turn to increase the initial
tension.
Close the lever again and check it again for tightness. If the lever can no longer be
turned, it is properly fastened.
Finally lift the bike a few centimetres so that the wheel no longer touches the
ground and hit the tire from above. If it is properly fastened, the wheel will remain
firmly fixed in the drop-outs of the frame. If your seat post is equipped with a quick-
release retention mechanism, check whether the saddle is firmly fixed by trying to
twist it relative to the frame.
Quick-releases that have not been closed properly can cause parts to
come loose, creating an imminent risk of accident!
a b c d