Should i file off my tabs???

natrix
natrix Posts: 1,111
edited July 2010 in Workshop
Should I file off the safety tabs on my forks so that my quick release wheels drop out easier or would this be dangerous and foolhardy?? I guess the pros do it by watching wheel changes on the TdF but how many C+ readers do it???
~~~~~~Sustrans - Join the Movement~~~~~~
«1

Comments

  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    just leave them. peace of mind.
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    why do you need to ??
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    I have so that i don't have to muck about with my quick releases when taking the front out. As long as you do the Q/R up properly it's going nowhere.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • Eurostar
    Eurostar Posts: 1,806
    What's a safety tab? :?:
    <hr>
    <h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Eurostar: it's the little tabs/bumps that you get on the dropouts of forks now, preventing you from removing the front wheel unless you unscrew the Q/R axle.

    I've done filed them away. Why have quick release wheels if opening the lever is only the first step to getting the wheel out?

    For sure, crashing because you forgot to tighten up the Q/R is going to hurt but not having the tabs makes you check from time to time!

    Oddly they're on the forks for the front wheel but many bikes have vertical dropouts for the rear wheel and you don't get them there. Given they are meant to stop a muppet from injuring himself, surely they are need on the back too in case the said fool does an endo, causing the rear wheel to fall out?
  • PhilA
    PhilA Posts: 26
    Why file them away? If you're a pro and need a lightening-quick wheel change then I'd understand, but it only takes me an extra 4 seconds to unwind the QR over the tabs, which provide peace of mind for the rest of the time I'm on the bike...

    ...unless, of course, you're thinking of the weight saving! :wink:
  • Phil Russell
    Phil Russell Posts: 1,736
    The tabs are there largely for insurance purposes ... yours and the company selling the bike forks (more so in USA I expect) so that they cannot be accused of selling an unsafe product. If you remove them, safety is your responsibility ... (Warning: this Superman Outfit does not enable the wearer to fly. Do not jump off high buildings).
    Not all forks have them ... and some commuter type bikes use a safety tab that slots over the axle with a spiggot that then locates in a hole in the dropout.
    Personally I have no problem with them. It only takes a couple of seconds to release the QR an extra couple of turns.. as mentioned above...

    Cheers, Phil
  • AndyGates
    AndyGates Posts: 8,467
    They're not known as "lawyer lips" for nothing. The only purpose they serve is to make legal vampires and corporate risk-phobics sleep more easily in their beds.

    Which reminds me, I need to file 'em off my race forks. I just hate faffing the QR under pressure. If I wanted nearly-QR, I'd have brought along a bloody spanner.
    Wanted: Penny farthing. Please PM me!
    Advice for kilted riders: top-tubes are cold.
  • natrix
    natrix Posts: 1,111
    Ha ha, I'll be getting my file out tonight!!!!!!!! 8)
    ~~~~~~Sustrans - Join the Movement~~~~~~
  • PhilA
    PhilA Posts: 26
    AndyGates wrote:
    Which reminds me, I need to file 'em off my race forks. I just hate faffing the QR under pressure.quote]

    .. I know what you're saying Andy. However, my view is that when I'm racing, if the reason I've stopped requires me to take off my front wheel, such as a puncture, a few seconds 'aint gonna make too much difference! My race is over and the pressure is off!
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    PhilA wrote:
    .. I know what you're saying Andy. However, my view is that when I'm racing, if the reason I've stopped requires me to take off my front wheel, such as a puncture, a few seconds 'aint gonna make too much difference! My race is over and the pressure is off!

    If a team mate is struggling and you're going well when you puncture he may well decide to give up his wheel for you though. In which case lawyer lips can make all the difference.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Garybee wrote:
    PhilA wrote:
    .. I know what you're saying Andy. However, my view is that when I'm racing, if the reason I've stopped requires me to take off my front wheel, such as a puncture, a few seconds 'aint gonna make too much difference! My race is over and the pressure is off!

    If a team mate is struggling and you're going well when you puncture he may well decide to give up his wheel for you though. In which case lawyer lips can make all the difference.

    Wasn't there a thread recently which indicated that , theoretically anyway, you can be "done" by a commissaire for removing these tabs on the basis that you are "modifiying" a component?
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    LangerDan wrote:
    Wasn't there a thread recently which indicated that , theoretically anyway, you can be "done" by a commissaire for removing these tabs on the basis that you are "modifiying" a component?

    Haven't seen the thread, not been on here for a while, but yes you're quite right. Modifying anything in a way which could affect safety is not allowed. However, i'm not at the kind of level where anyone would take issue with it.

    In the pro peleton plenty of these regs are ignored, if you look at the close-up shots of pro's bikes from the tour there are a couple of things which are blatantly against the rules. Chopped down saddle noses on TT bikes is another one.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd really not bother unless I was doing Road Races or something where a quick wheel change could make all the difference.
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    you must have all seen the Jeremy Beadle clips of people popping a wheely and the front wheel falling out ! i suppose it'll only ever happen the once to you ?, i know i'm leaving mine intact !!
  • notsoracy rich
    notsoracy rich Posts: 229
    I was going to file these lips off my forks, but was warned by my LBS that if there was an issue with the forks ,the manufacturers would not honour the warranty as the forks had been modified. So I left them on. :roll:
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    I've got a principia and the lips on those forks are just ridiculous - you've just about got to unscrew the nut off the QR to get the wheel off - on my Look they aren't so bad and seing as that has carbon drop outs I don't think I'd risk filing them off.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    For years we managed with out them - only some dumb-ass legal case in the US where someone didn't know how to use a QR amd took their front teeth out accounts for their presence. Interestingly, my Colnago fork doesn't have them. Dremel the little ba$tards off I say - they provide no perceptable benefit and add weight!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • mtb.boy
    mtb.boy Posts: 208
    I think they were mentioned in a recent 'FredCast' or 'Spokemen podcast' - They said something like - from 2008 all the pros will have to have them on their bikes or they will be breaking UCI rules?????


    Not sure if this is true or my memory making things up.
    The first rule of cycling is - Tell everyone how great cycling is.

    The second rule of cycling is - Tell everyone how great cycling is !!!!
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    It's not a new thing. The frame & forks I bought 9 years ago came with these tabs on, and I got agreement from the bike shop (and hence distributor) that my warranty wouldn't be void if I filed the tabs off (unless failure was due to me filing them) - was all set to reject it oherwise!

    It's only an issue with your wheel falling out when you do a wheely if you don't know how to use QRs properly. AFAIK all cases of front wheels coming out on road bikes have been down to incorrect use of the QR. They were designed to prevent manufacturers being sued by people who didn't use their QRs properly rather than as a benefit for those who do.

    I shoud point out that somebody I knew well spent several weeks in hospital when his front wheel came out - but he didn't use the QR properly. I also spent 2 nights in hospital after a front wheel ejection incident, but that was on an MTB with disc brakes, where the issue is totally different. I wouldn't ride an MTB with disc brakes without tabs on the fork now (and would really prefer a bolt through axle), but have no hesitation about riding any of my fleet of road bikes, none of which have them, and fully intend to remove them if my new forks come with them.
  • Oli R C
    Oli R C Posts: 1
    aracer wrote:

    It's only an issue with your wheel falling out when you do a wheely if you don't know how to use QRs properly. AFAIK all cases of front wheels coming out on road bikes have been down to incorrect use of the QR. They were designed to prevent manufacturers being sued by people who didn't use their QRs properly rather than as a benefit for those who do.

    I shoud point out that somebody I knew well spent several weeks in hospital when his front wheel came out - but he didn't use the QR properly. I also spent 2 nights in hospital after a front wheel ejection incident, but that was on an MTB with disc brakes, where the issue is totally different. I wouldn't ride an MTB with disc brakes without tabs on the fork now (and would really prefer a bolt through axle), but have no hesitation about riding any of my fleet of road bikes, none of which have them, and fully intend to remove them if my new forks come with them.

    As hinted at by ARACER It may be worth pointing out that under braking, the front wheel is pulled downwards (with disc brakes). This is not an issue with the back. And that quick release IS quicker and easier, than using tools.
  • natrix
    natrix Posts: 1,111
    Aha, so file them off my road bikes but keep them on the disc braked mtb...........
    ~~~~~~Sustrans - Join the Movement~~~~~~
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Yep, that's about it - see http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/ho ... k_release/
  • AndyGates
    AndyGates Posts: 8,467
    Monty Dog wrote:
    For years we managed with out them - only some dumb-ass legal case in the US where someone didn't know how to use a QR amd took their front teeth out accounts for their presence. Interestingly, my Colnago fork doesn't have them. Dremel the little ba$tards off I say - they provide no perceptable benefit and add weight!

    Word. Apart from the weight part, you big weenie!

    When I'm racing, I absolutely do not want to flip the QR, then spin it eight times, oh, or was it six - bugger, it's not come out yet - ah there we go, nine and *ping!* the end falls off.

    The Q is for Quick, after all.

    Someone should file the tabs off a bunch of lawyers. That'd learn 'em. :evil:
    Wanted: Penny farthing. Please PM me!
    Advice for kilted riders: top-tubes are cold.
  • Hibbs
    Hibbs Posts: 291
    Monty Dog wrote:
    For years we managed with out them - only some dumb-ass legal case in the US where someone didn't know how to use a QR amd took their front teeth out accounts for their presence. Interestingly, my Colnago fork doesn't have them. Dremel the little ba$tards off I say - they provide no perceptable benefit and add weight!

    +1million.

    Has anyone successfully filed them off carbon forks? Any tips?
  • pliptrot
    pliptrot Posts: 582
    Why would anyone spend serious cash on a bicycle without knowing how to use a QR (a basic skill without which it´s unlikely the dope on the bike will ever get much from said machine)? And if these tabs are there (on MTB forks) for some tangible safety benefit, then Rockshox et. al should get their fingers out and design something appropriate for disc brakes. Or are we dumbing down? Judging by some entries on this forum, some folk do seem to struggle with that most complex and sophisticated machine; the safety bicycle.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Don't let a lawyer see you.
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    mtb.boy wrote:
    I think they were mentioned in a recent 'FredCast' or 'Spokemen podcast' - They said something like - from 2008 all the pros will have to have them on their bikes or they will be breaking UCI rules?????


    Not sure if this is true or my memory making things up.
    Almost certainly complete bollox.

    Lawyer lips are a pain in the ar$e, totally un-nesscessary unless you are a brain dead overweight American w@nker with the memory of a particularly stupid goldfish with advanced dementia.

    File the b@stards off.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Why don't they mount the front disk caliper in front of the fork so on braking it pushes the axle up into the dropouts?
  • Nerrep
    Nerrep Posts: 112
    Simpler solution: some Clix skewers. Makes things much easier (though granted, not quite as easy as not having the knobbly bits at all).

Categories