Changing wheels with bolts to quick release...

mattrixdesign2

Hi

I have just ordered this bike for my Sons birthday...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... Id_165602#
(less £15 off)

I checked one out in Halfords, and for the money its a great quality little MTB... and at the moment I do not have the cash for an Isla bike :oops:

I am collecting it next Monday and will check over to see if it has been built right.

Any how, my only gripe, is the bolts on the wheels, they are not quick release, I plan to do some small off road rides with my lad, and don't fancy faffing with bolts fixing a puncture.

What do I need in order to convert to QR, it is just a new spindle (thought the hub) and then the QR levers? Will the width of the small wheel be an issue?

Is it safer to stick with the bolts - I doubt he would mess with the QRs too much - should I just cary the right size spanner with me?

nicklouse

new axles and Qrs.

it may be it depends on what width it is. but i feel they will be 100 and 135

it is up to you.

The Rookie

I assume 'bolts' means 'nuts'?

If so as Nick says you have to replace each axle with one of the same dimensions (diameter and thread) and the right length for the frame/forks but hollow for QR and get a pair of QR's as well.

Personally I'd say for an extra 20 seconds added to the 5 minutes or so it takes to change a puncture it's just not worth it.

Simon

02gf74

^^^^ what he said.

IMO any bike with solid axles held on by nuts is s**t so isn't worth spending money on it,

..... but if you want to convert, you will need hollow axle and quick release; the axle should have the cones since from my epxerience, you cannot guarantee the cones from the old axle will fit the new one plus you also need to be sure the cones were designed for use with same sized bearings.

If it is 26 inch wheel, you'd vbe better off buying a new front wheel with QR off ebay for the same price you'd be likley to buy the axle/Q/R and cones.

cooldad

02GF74 wrote:

^^^^ what he said.

IMO any bike with solid axles held on by nuts is s**t so isn't worth spending money on it,..... but if you want to convert, you will need hollow axle and quick release; the axle should have the cones since from my epxerience, you cannot guarantee the cones from the old axle will fit the new one plus you also need to be sure the cones were designed for use with same sized bearings.

If it is 26 inch wheel, you'd vbe better off buying a new front wheel with QR off ebay for the same price you'd be likley to buy the axle/Q/R and cones.

If you'd followed the link you would have been able to answer some of your questions and wouldn't come across a so much of a d1ck.

IMHO.

02gf74

I did follow the link - don't have time to read the full spec - but let's face it, £ 160 for a mountian bikie isn't going to be top quality. My coments stand about throwing good money after bad.

The Rookie

02GF74 wrote:

the axle should have the cones since from my epxerience, you cannot guarantee the cones from the old axle will fit the new one plus you also need to be sure the cones were designed for use with same sized bearings.

It is easier to make sure the thread on the new axle matches that of the old (so re-using old cones) than trying to make sure the new cones will take the same size bearing on the same pitch diameter as the old!

I can fully understand not spending much on a kids bike when often they outgrow it in a year to 18 months, so no need to be abusive, it's more to me whether its worth teh hassle for an extra 20seconds per puncture when even with QR;'s you'll be stopped for 5 mins at least!

Simon

buckmulligan

Yeah, just ignore 02GF74, he is being a complete d!ck.

But if it was me, I wouldn't change the axles because firstly you'll need to find one's compatible with the existing wheels (which may not be easy for a kid's bike) and secondly, changing them over will require either a trip to the LBS or the purchase of several specialist tools such as cone wrenches.

I'd be tempted to just invest the money in some good quality, puncture-protection tyres and make sure they're well inflated before each ride and then the chances of getting a puncture will be massively reduced.

cooldad

02GF74 wrote:

I did follow the link - don't have time to read the full spec - but let's face it, £ 160 for a mountian bikie isn't going to be top quality. My coments stand about throwing good money after bad.

It's a kids bike, looks pretty good actually, proper frame and componenets. XTR on kids bikes are a bit wasted.
You obviously don't have kids.

Anonymous

02GF74 wrote:

I did follow the link - don't have time to read the full spec - but let's face it, £ 160 for a mountian bikie isn't going to be top quality. My coments stand about throwing good money after bad.

It's a CHILD'S bike, you utter clumpet.

cooldad

+1 clumpet potato head

njee20

If you'd followed the link you would have been able to answer some of your questions and wouldn't come across a so much of a d1ck.

IMHO

+1

Seems reasonable to me - not so much about the time involved, more the convenience of not having to carry a spanner on every ride.

Axles and QRs needn't be expensive, and you'll probably get away with one cone spanner (if at all - you could always ask Halfords to nip the cones up (if you trust them) I'd say worth it.

cooldad

Except in my experience, when they are younger you rarely get too far from the car anyway. 20mile epics will have you carrying bike and child for the last 19 or so.

mattrixdesign2

02GF74 wrote:

I did follow the link - don't have time to read the full spec - but let's face it, £ 160 for a mountian bikie isn't going to be top quality. My coments stand about throwing good money after bad.

its a kids bike! :roll:

and overall the quality is quite good, just it did not have quick release - and I could not find another kids bike of that quality for a similar price.

Decent 2nd hand ones on Ebay were going for £120+.

mattrixdesign2

Thanks all!

I will leave it, it was just a thought, happy to tinker with it, but as you said perhaps not worth the hassel. I will just remember to include the right spanners.

As his legs have got stronger he has expressed an interest on going on rides with me, nothing epic, but looking forward to going further/higher/faster.

I am happy with the bike, and so is my lad, so roll on early July for his big day.

cooldad

And Happy Birthday to him.

Anonymous

mattrixdesign2 wrote:

Thanks all!

I will leave it, it was just a thought, happy to tinker with it, but as you said perhaps not worth the hassel. I will just remember to include the right spanners.

As his legs have got stronger he has expressed an interest on going on rides with me, nothing epic, but looking forward to going further/higher/faster.

I am happy with the bike, and so is my lad, so roll on early July for his big day.

Good for you.
Some of the best times me and my father ever had together were when out mountain biking together. I still miss riding with him.

02gf74

mattrixdesign2 wrote:

02GF74 wrote:

I did follow the link - don't have time to read the full spec - but let's face it, £ 160 for a mountian bikie isn't going to be top quality. My coments stand about throwing good money after bad.

its a kids bike! :roll:

and overall the quality is quite good, just it did not have quick release - and I could not find another kids bike of that quality for a similar price.

Decent 2nd hand ones on Ebay were going for £120+.

So what if it is a childs bike? Bikes for children are made as cheaply as possible, for a good reason, the children will grow out of them soon enough. Cheap usually equates to shit no matter who it is made for.

Unless you need to take the front wheel off for sorage or fitting to a car, a spanner to undo the nut is the best solution.

The Rookie

Confucious he say, "man in hole should learn to STOP BLOODY DIGGING FURTHER!"

Simon

02gf74

The Beginner wrote:

Confucious he say, "man in hole should learn to STOP BLOODY DIGGING FURTHER!"

Simon

why is that?

I don't understand what is wrong with you people. do the sodding sums; I will help you. Take half decnet (not top notch Shimano) such as these:

LX front shifter £ 14
SLX rear shifter £ 40
LX Cassette £ 20
SLX chainset £ 88


Do the addtiions and you will see that is almost as much as the full bike in the OP cost - so where is the money for the wheels, frame and the rest???

Wann decent kids bike, then look here

Anonymous

02GF74 Why does any of that matter? A new axle will be a couple of quid, and a skewer about 3-4 quid.
What the hell is wrong with you?

cooldad

Shall we just leave it at clumpet and move on?

UncleMonty

mattrixdesign2, your little boy will love this bike !

Both my kids have one of these (7 & 8 years), the forks are a little clunky as you'd expect but the gears & brakes as good, they can do 5 or 6 miles easy now - the gears really help here, all routes have to go via a sweet shop though or i get a mutiny on my hands.

bennett_346

02GF74 wrote:

The Beginner wrote:

Confucious he say, "man in hole should learn to STOP BLOODY DIGGING FURTHER!"

Simon

why is that?

I don't understand what is wrong with you people. do the sodding sums; I will help you. Take half decnet (not top notch Shimano) such as these:

LX front shifter £ 14
SLX rear shifter £ 40
LX Cassette £ 20
SLX chainset £ 88


Do the addtiions and you will see that is almost as much as the full bike in the OP cost - so where is the money for the wheels, frame and the rest???

Wann decent kids bike, then look here

What a tosspot.

Bikes for children are made as cheaply as possible, for a good reason, the children will grow out of them soon enough.

£859 for that bike, which you've just said he will grow out of very soon?

What makes that any better than the one the OP linked us to? Unless his child is amazing and does big jumps etc he's hardly likely to be let down by the wheels or the fact the shifters aren't top range you twat

matt@theforce

I too was thinking about converting my son's bike from Nut/Bolt to quick release however I opted for putting some slime into his inner tubes and have left it at that.

We have done a few rides, he is only 6 but manages 8-9miles along the Trans Pennine Trails and hasn't got a puncture (yet)

nicklouse

I think a better idea that weight the bike down with slim is get some endless tubes for the emergency.

bennett_346

How much longer does a nut really take to undo than a QR cam? Just carry the approriate tool.

Anonymous

nicklouse wrote:

I think a better idea that weight the bike down with slim is get some endless tubes for the emergency.

What on hell's green earth, is an endless tube?

bennett_346

yeehaamcgee wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

I think a better idea that weight the bike down with slim is get some endless tubes for the emergency.

What on hell's green earth, is an endless tube?

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sidewinder-s ... prod11126/

Anonymous

I don't get it. How does that work?

bennett_346

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I don't get it. How does that work?

Beats me.