Are titanium quick release axles safe/worth it?
#26
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,924
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,586 Times
in
1,098 Posts
Phew! Yes, I have seen an earlier external cam model but I refuse to use any external cam QR skewers regardless of material.
I suspect john m flores may be using external cam versions because a 90 degree closure is insufficiently tight.
I suspect john m flores may be using external cam versions because a 90 degree closure is insufficiently tight.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,115
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,123 Times
in
1,885 Posts
Phew! Yes, I have seen an earlier external cam model but I refuse to use any external cam QR skewers regardless of material.
I suspect john m flores may be using external cam versions because a 90 degree closure is insufficiently tight.
I suspect john m flores may be using external cam versions because a 90 degree closure is insufficiently tight.
#28
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,924
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,586 Times
in
1,098 Posts
#29
Steel is real
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Not far from Paris
Posts: 2,096
Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam(to be built),1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)
Liked 1,041 Times
in
694 Posts
I bought a pair of tittanium Zipp quick releases for my 404 wheels, they have been outstanding
#30
it's a DRAWBAR, not an "axle".
you'll be fine.
the tensions placed on a QR skewer are minimal, at the worst.( a Crash)
overtightening QRs is an invitation to a Damaged Hub...the Axle COMPRESSES when the QR is tightened onto the dropouts.
this is a tested and proven fact.
the Weight of rider/bike/bouncing is carried by the Axle contacting the dropouts, and the friction between the locknut and dropout face, not the skewer.
also tested and proven.
you'll be fine.
the tensions placed on a QR skewer are minimal, at the worst.( a Crash)
overtightening QRs is an invitation to a Damaged Hub...the Axle COMPRESSES when the QR is tightened onto the dropouts.
this is a tested and proven fact.
the Weight of rider/bike/bouncing is carried by the Axle contacting the dropouts, and the friction between the locknut and dropout face, not the skewer.
also tested and proven.
#31
I have steel QR skewers on all my bikes except for the KHS which has HED titanium skewers. And to echo @john m flores, I do have to crank down on the Ti skewers significantly harder than the Shimano steel skewers, to stop the hub from slipping in the dropout.
I also have Ti skewers on my son's road bike, but that one has vertical dropouts and no issue with slipping so there has been no issue with the Ti skewers in that application.
I also have Ti skewers on my son's road bike, but that one has vertical dropouts and no issue with slipping so there has been no issue with the Ti skewers in that application.
Likes For icemilkcoffee:
Likes For dsbrantjr:
#33
The point of ultralight gear is not that it works as well as anything else. The point is that it can work acceptable well while being ultra light.
Ti external cam are not a good skewer for shock forks or horizontal dropouts or people with weak hands or people who aren't very mechanical. But with the right bike they are safe and work well enough while shedding weight for a lot less money than going from an Ultegra to Dura Ace rear derailleur.
Ti external cam are not a good skewer for shock forks or horizontal dropouts or people with weak hands or people who aren't very mechanical. But with the right bike they are safe and work well enough while shedding weight for a lot less money than going from an Ultegra to Dura Ace rear derailleur.
Likes For Kontact:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,115
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,123 Times
in
1,885 Posts
the point of ultralight gear is not that it works as well as anything else. The point is that it can work acceptable well while being ultra light.
Ti external cam are not a good skewer for shock forks or horizontal dropouts or people with weak hands or people who aren't very mechanical. But with the right bike they are safe and work well enough while shedding weight for a lot less money than going from an ultegra to dura ace rear derailleur.
Ti external cam are not a good skewer for shock forks or horizontal dropouts or people with weak hands or people who aren't very mechanical. But with the right bike they are safe and work well enough while shedding weight for a lot less money than going from an ultegra to dura ace rear derailleur.
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: USA - Southwest PA
Posts: 3,368
Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV
Liked 2,176 Times
in
1,213 Posts
Well, if I understand correctly, according to maddog34 above (in post #12), the weight is supported by the hub axle itself, not by the QR skewer shaft. The shaft diameter is not a dimension that I have ever thought to measure; I better go replace the batteries for my calipers. Which version of the Enve QR skewers did you measure?
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/320x240/img_6013_daf9a029915dec5ea95f0d147da93aec500382df.jpeg)
the shaft diameter is significant to me - I prefer 5mm or 4.5 mm … 4.25 mm or so is about the lowest I will accept
sorta / kinda a double whammy if they drop from a quality 5mm steel skewer shaft to a 4mm titanium shaft
I like the DT RWS skewer design - bummed the skewer diameter is around 4.25 mm (for both steel and Ti versions) - but still use them
the 5mm Control Tech and T Gear Ti bolt on skewers appear to provide a more secure connection than most other (if not all other ?) aftermarket / boutique / whatever lightweight Ti skewers … I’ve used them with suspension forks without issue - had issue with many aftermarket lightweight skewers … also used Control Tech bolt on Ti skewers with horizontal dropouts - but with steel skewer nut on the end (to better ‘bite’ into the dropout)
Last edited by t2p; 06-29-24 at 11:49 AM.
#36
don’t know what wheels you’re using, but in mine (Campag Zondas), the weight sits on the ends of the Al axle that extends a couple of mm into the dropout. I know this because when I sit the bike down on the wheel, it sits square in the dropouts. It’s not sitting on the QR skewer, and the QR is not tightened up. Friction is not in play here. Friction between the face of the axle and the inner face of the dropout when the QR is locked stops the axle from moving about and the wheel from dropping out, but “friction” certainly isn’t weight-bearing.
Likes For grumpus: