Recommend some good, strong skewers....?

Pokerface
Pokerface Posts: 7,960
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
Can anyone recommend some good, strong quick release road skewers? I'm a heavy rider (90KG) and seem to bend my front skewer regularly - and if it's not bent, it squeaks and makes noise all the time!

Have tried various different types from Mavic to KCNC and even bargain basement stuff. I also regularly grease the skewer (as this usually helps noise).

Anyone recommend something strong, stiff (hopefully nice looking), durable and quiet?


Thanks!
«1

Comments

  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Hope

    I have been!


    Just got some SS Zipp skewers for my Zipp wheels - but still need some strong SS skewers for my Mavics. Haven't tried the Zipp ones yet - if they are good enough - I'll get another pair.


    Do Hope make SS or just Ti skewers?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Steel.

    My MTB ones are great.

    The Zipp ones seem fine on my bike...
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    NapoleonD wrote:
    The Zipp ones seem fine on my bike...

    You have the Ti or SS ones?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Have you tried just using shimano ones, they're pretty much the only enclosed cam design and the only ones that actually work reliably.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    ride_whenever wrote:
    Have you tried just using shimano ones, they're pretty much the only enclosed cam design and the only ones that actually work reliably.

    Any particular model? I had Dura Ace wheels a few years back and the skewers were nice. What about lower-end models?
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I can't quite get my head around how a front skewer would get bent through normal use.

    Can anyone explain?
    More problems but still living....
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    amaferanga wrote:
    I can't quite get my head around how a front skewer would get bent through normal use.

    Can anyone explain?

    I do a lot of out of the saddle climbing and sprinting - which puts excess weight/pressure on the front wheel. This causes extra stress to be put on the skewer (which supports the weight of the rider in part), thus causing it to bend.


    I think that's how the story goes.... :)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Pokerface wrote:
    NapoleonD wrote:
    The Zipp ones seem fine on my bike...

    You have the Ti or SS ones?

    Dunno, the ones that came with my wheels...

    +1 on the shimano, my dura ace ones were a pleasure to use...
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    amaferanga wrote:
    I can't quite get my head around how a front skewer would get bent through normal use.

    Can anyone explain?

    +1

    I don't umderstand this either. The skewer shouldnt take any weight as it is the hub that sits on the fork cut-out. The skewer just clamps the fork together using friction to stop the hub falling out if you lift the bike, go over bumps etc. To prove it, try thjis.

    Take the skewer completely oiut of the wheel. Your wheel will still sit in the fork OK - you can even sit on the bike if you're a bit mad (as the wheel could twist and cause damage). If this wasn't the case, when you took the skewer out the wheel would fall through to hit on the top of the fork.

    PS... used KCNC Ti skewers on my MTB and they have lasted well over a year - a lot more stress on the wheels than road bikes.
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Shimano every time
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Pokerface wrote:
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:

    Quite possible, I'm heavier than you and have never ever had an issue.

    They don't need to be mega tight...
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    Pokerface wrote:
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:

    Sounds doubtful as you only load a skewer in tension when you close it.

    I'd be inclined to get your setup checked out as it sounds like something's not quite right. 90kg is not particularly heavy imho so you shouldn't be bending skewers.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Escargot wrote:
    Pokerface wrote:
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:

    Sounds doubtful as you only load a skewer in tension when you close it.

    I'd be inclined to get your setup checked out as it sounds like something's not quite right. 90kg is not particularly heavy imho so you shouldn't be bending skewers.

    Set-up of what exactly?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Pokerface wrote:
    ride_whenever wrote:
    Have you tried just using shimano ones, they're pretty much the only enclosed cam design and the only ones that actually work reliably.

    Any particular model? I had Dura Ace wheels a few years back and the skewers were nice. What about lower-end models?

    not really, they're all much of a muchness, they do get lighter as you pay more though.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    Pokerface wrote:
    Escargot wrote:
    Pokerface wrote:
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:

    Sounds doubtful as you only load a skewer in tension when you close it.

    I'd be inclined to get your setup checked out as it sounds like something's not quite right. 90kg is not particularly heavy imho so you shouldn't be bending skewers.

    Set-up of what exactly?

    I'm questioning the same myself as the whole assembly is so simple.

    There maybe something wrong with the fork/hub interface which is not enabling the skewer to tension axially. Maybe one of the ends is not square i.e. bent outwards.

    As above the fork rests on the hub so there shouldn't be a way of bending a skewer with you putting a greater amount of your bodyweight above the forks.

    Either way is it a problem for you that the skewers are bent ? Sounds silly but as long as it clamps your forks effectively then it shouldn't really be a problem.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Escargot wrote:
    Pokerface wrote:
    Escargot wrote:
    Pokerface wrote:
    Maybe they get bent from overtightening!? :shock:

    Sounds doubtful as you only load a skewer in tension when you close it.

    I'd be inclined to get your setup checked out as it sounds like something's not quite right. 90kg is not particularly heavy imho so you shouldn't be bending skewers.

    Set-up of what exactly?

    I'm questioning the same myself as the whole assembly is so simple.

    There maybe something wrong with the fork/hub interface which is not enabling the skewer to tension axially. Maybe one of the ends is not square i.e. bent outwards.

    As above the fork rests on the hub so there shouldn't be a way of bending a skewer with you putting a greater amount of your bodyweight above the forks.

    Either way is it a problem for you that the skewers are bent ? Sounds silly but as long as it clamps your forks effectively then it shouldn't really be a problem.

    It's the frickin' noise that bothers me!
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    Noise ?
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Noise :?: :?:

    There should be no noise.
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Yes - the noise!!

    Creaking noise. I am familiar with all the ways to normally solve this problem. Depending on which skewers I use - the noise comes and goes.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Can you post a picy?

    Only thing I can think is the fork isn't engaging on the hub properly but going around it.
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    How bizarre :?

    Look forward to seeing some pics if thats possible.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    cjw wrote:
    Can you post a picy?

    Only thing I can think is the fork isn't engaging on the hub properly but going around it.

    I have this problem with 2 different bikes and 2 different sets of wheels. The common element - is the skewers!
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    Can't imagine why you would get any creaking unless you weren't putting enough tension through the fork ends to clamp it all together.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Escargot wrote:
    Can't imagine why you would get any creaking unless you weren't putting enough tension through the fork ends to clamp it all together.

    Oh - there's definitely enough tension!

    Will be tightening up the hubs tonight and greasing the spoke nipples and greasing the skewers again. Plus trying out a new set. If that doesn't work - something is certainly wrong.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    wheel09.jpg

    You can see from this on Park Tools how it should sit. Note that the hub sits in the fork...

    Is this how yours looks?
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    cjw wrote:
    wheel09.jpg

    You can see from this on Park Tools how it should sit. Note that the hub sits in the fork...

    Is this how yours looks?

    Of course!
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Just checking :lol: Still confused on the noise and bending them then...
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    ride_whenever wrote:
    Have you tried just using shimano ones, they're pretty much the only enclosed cam design and the only ones that actually work reliably.

    Only enclosed cam design? Yes.

    Only ones that actually work reliably? Er... no.
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    ride_whenever wrote:
    Have you tried just using shimano ones, they're pretty much the only enclosed cam design and the only ones that actually work reliably.

    Only enclosed cam design? Yes.

    Only ones that actually work reliably? Er... no.

Categories