I left work in Oakland to bike home after dark last night and it was only when I grabbed my bike this morning to head into work that I noticed someone had unlatched the quick releases on my wheels yesterday. It was dark so I didn't think to look last night, but I will from now on. So, public service announcement: check your quick releases before you ride -- there are malicious people out there.
This happened to me after leaving the south side a few weeks ago. Had dinner at OTB, then on my way home on Ellsworth, I noticed my disc brakes were not right and the front wheel felt wobbly. The quick release was undone. I (or cburch) crank that down normally, so I doubted that it came undone on its own.
There is a homeless dude in Oakland who does that.
He'll also undo the brakes of bikes at the GSPH - that is up the hill from fifth and he steals lights from bikes.
I've seen him in Sq Hill recently. I've never noticed him on the SS - there might be more than one malicious person, though.
The guy I'm thinking of usually messes with bikes he recognizes, but probably doesn't limit himself to that.
Wow! I'm not usually for throwing the book at people, but that guy needs to be arrested pronto. Someone could get seriously injured.
I doubt it is always malicious. It is easy for quick releases to get caught in the spokes of an adjacently parked bike. Especially somewhere like OTB.
Two times while at OTB I have had someone loosen the steering cables on my tall bike. I don't think anyone spokes are doing that.
Given how tight many people have there quick releases tightened, I doubt it's unintentional.
WTF? is this random passers by screwing with bicycles, or a malicious cyclist? (other than the homeless guy, who I'm going to assume has some issues out of his control clouding his judgement)
Is this an ongoing thing, or did this just start happening with the 4-foot rule?
thank goodness for "lawyer tabs" sheesh...
I had one tube stolen from under my seat one time at OTB. But, that was well before the 4 ft law. Most of these sound like they fit the "drunk or crazy person" category of hijinks. Especially on SS or in Oakland.
I've been hearing stories of this of and on over the last year or so. Most non-cyclist that I've spoken to still haven't even heard of the 4 ft law.
My kids did that to me once. Rode 25 miles and only discovered it when I got home, lifting the bike over the curb when the front wheel came off the fork.
^ username makes post
Putting your skewers on the right way (there are only two positions that are right, per skewer) every time helps you identify stuff like this.
My two solutions are to either not use qr skewers or if I must, to zip tie them shut. The zip ties won't help with well equiped malicious assholes, but it will pretty much put an end to drunken douchebags being "funny"
I seriously don't check out my skewers every time I ride cause why would they be loose? I never thought people would actually do that to someone else's bike. Anyway, I think I want to get rid of the quick releases.... It would eliminate the need to run a cable lock through the tires with the u lock.
would something like this solve the problem? http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/quick-release-skewer-112mm-oe--ec028384
I've been eyeing that skewer up every time I go into thick...
Didn't know thick has it. I might pick it up. Does anyone know if switching skewers makes any difference.
@mrm makes a difference for what? I have the velo orange locking skewers and no one has touched them anywhere, even at OTB.
I was thinking of ride quality. If I switched does it change anything in the wheel. I have never had a problem so far but It wont hurt to buy new skewers knowing that no one can mess with them or steal my wheels.
I use quick release replacements that take a regular allen key never had anyone mess with them. It's nice not having to worry about locking up my wheels.
The skewers have no effect on the operation of the wheels.
@mrmarv, it depends on the skewers that you use. If you replace the quick release with a locking skewer that is essentially a quick release with a key/allen-wrench, then it makes no difference.
If, on the other hand, you replace the quick release skewer with a traditional skewer, you will want to have your hubs adjusted.
For more info on skewer vs non-skewer hub adjustment, you can start here http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
