Quick release tire lever
February 9th, 2007 by Tim GrahlTire levers are something you should take on every ride. But if you’re ever caught with a flat and either don’t have your levers or break them, you can get your tires off with your quick release lever.
A warning… you can damage your rim using this as scraping metal against metal is rarely a good thing, but it will get you out of a tight spot if you can’t get your tires off any other way.
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I thought I had thought of most ‘clever fixes’ but that one’s new!
great idea… I’m not really bothered about metal on metal you’re fine if you’re careful and have strongish rims.
Now that you’ve said it and have shown a picture, it seems pretty obvious. Not sure I would’ve thought of this on the trail though. A scratched rim is better than a 10 mile walk! Thanks for the tip.
Really a good one! I bet that you could convince some people to buy skewers that had plastic covered levers designed for that purpose.
Yeah a buddy of mine showed me this awhile back and I had the same “duh” moment.
Sam, I like your idea for the plastic covered levers… I also wonder if you could add the hook on the end to attach to the spokes like the real levers do.
I have a question. I have disk brakes on my bike it came assembled. Does it matter which side my quick release lever is on. I was told it shouldn’t be on the side where the disk brake is but it doesn’t close straight up on the other side.
@ Chris: Most people have their QR’s on the non-drive side, which is typically the same side as the disc. The rear should definitely be on the non-drive side, and most people do the front to match.
Most QR’s were designed before disc brakes existed and therefore are more natural on the non-drive side. Technically, it doesn’t matter, as long as there is a spot where the QR fully locks.