Help Question for the cycle peeps

[DaGaffer]

Erm, I have a slight problem, I need to get the wheels off my bike and I can't get the fucking things off! Turns out it has locking wheel nuts (it looks like a five-sided allen key slot on one end and a knurled cone shape on the other), which, I'm reliably informed I should have a received a key for when I bought the bike, and I do remember a bag with various bits in, but I have no idea where it is. So, short of taking an angle grinder to them, any idea how I'll get the wheels off?

And anyone who says "find the bag", go fuck yourself.

 

[Edmond]

find the ba......oh right, i see

how about a piccy of said nut?

 

[TdC]

eep tbh without the key you're kind of fucked Gaff. it's kind of the point of any anti-theft device to be difficult if you mess about with it

 

[DaGaffer]

eep tbh without the key you're kind of fucked Gaff. it's kind of the point of any anti-theft device to be difficult if you mess about with it

Yeees, I was kind of expecting that...

 

[rynnor]

Ebay? I'm pretty sure you can get the keys cheaply on there if you can match it to your bike.

 

[TdC]

Great pics Gaff, jeez

tbh it *looks* like you will really need the key: to me it looks like the non-key side does not offer an interface for a tool, so the key side will loose enough of the skewer to allow fingers to do the rest (or words to that effect).

That Allen-Key silver thing is not your skewer or axle release Gaff, it's your derailleur bolt. Don't mess with that.

 

[DaGaffer]

Great pics Gaff, jeez

tbh it *looks* like you will really need the key: to me it looks like the non-key side does not offer an interface for a tool, so the key side will loose enough of the skewer to allow fingers to do the rest (or words to that effect).

That Allen-Key silver thing is not your skewer or axle release Gaff, it's your derailleur bolt. Don't mess with that.

Missus took the pictures while I was on the way to the bike shop. Yes I know its the dérailleur bolt, the axle bit is the black thing below it.

 

[Tom]

Find a similar-sized allen key, hammer it in so it's jammed, then undo it. Throw away the stupid locking spindle and replace with a quick release.

 

[wolfeeh]

did the bike shop offer any joy?

 

[DaGaffer]

did the bike shop offer any joy?

No, but I think I might have found the generic version of the skewers; its called a "Trans-X Security Skewer" and it seems to have the same pentagonal key as the Marin system. Tenner on Amazon so its worth a punt.

 

[Raven]

Get a dremel.

 

[wolfeeh]

or just get a screw remover from machinemart/the intertubes?

 

[Scouse]

I'd do what Tom says. Nobody is going to steal your wheels.

They'll steal the whole bike, yes, but they ain't going for your wheels unless they're *very* expensive.

 

[DaGaffer]

I'd do what Tom says. Nobody is going to steal your wheels.

They'll steal the whole bike, yes, but they ain't going for your wheels unless they're *very* expensive.

I have regular quick release skewers sat in a drawer; I've just never needed the old wheels off until now.

I'm a bit annoyed with myself, I'm sure I saw a guy stealing a bike this morning; but I wasn't sure enough to confront him and its irritating me.

 

[Scouse]

I'm a bit annoyed with myself, I'm sure I saw a guy stealing a bike this morning; but I wasn't sure enough to confront him and its irritating me.

Aye? What was he doing? Sawing through a chain or summat?

Don't beat yourself up either way m8.

 

[DaGaffer]

Aye? What was he doing? Sawing through a chain or summat?

Don't beat yourself up either way m8.

No, saw him from a distance and he looked like he was struggling with his bike lock, but then he sort of ripped it away from the bike, but then he really quickly jumped on the bike and rode off, wobbling, and it was only then that I thought "you're the wrong size, dressed the wrong way for that bike, and you've clearly not ridden it before". It was the mix of the that shifty Dublin skanger look and a pretty expensive looking bike (I think it was a Giant - looked like a fairly fancy frame), and he just looked...wrong. But you know how it is...not quite certain.

 

[wolfeeh]

He could have been pissed