How do you get your rear wheel back in without 5 hands?

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Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
I could demonstrate it, but I'm not sure I can describe it. I'll have a go.

I do it with the bike right way up, mech in top gear. Step 1 is to be sure the cassette goes over the bottom run if the chain so it's inside the loop of the chain. Then try to mesh the little sprocket (or adjacent will do) with the chain run above the mech. Hand at the top of the wheel. Pull it all past the mech. Now drop everything while wiggling the rim between the brake calipers (rim brakes - remember to move the lever to open them). Should clunk into place (vertical dropout & QRs). Something like that.

More wiggling is needed for horizontal dropouts.
 
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Oh that's clever, never seen that before.
 

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Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
I used to have to assemble and disassemble my turbo each time I used it (it has its own space now) which involved dropping the rear wheel out of the bike before and putting it back in afterwards. All that practice meant I was pretty nifty at it and could do it perfectly every time. I never timed myself but I'm going to guess 15 sec.
 

grldtnr

Veteran
What is the problem I have no issues with taking wheels out and putting them back in, derailuiers do complicate things but I never been stymied by them.
Mind you, with modern tyres and puncture sealants it's rare to get a visit from the puncture fairies.

( Bound to have one soon,after that statement)
 

gcogger

Senior Member
On my bike (Sonder Camino Ti) it's literally impossible to get the back wheel in or out without deflating the tyre - there's simply not enough room even with the rear derailleur rotated all the way back. It might be OK with smaller tyres (I'm running 42 at the moment, but much the same problem with 38) or 650B wheels.
Next time I may try loosening the rear derailleur where it bolts to the mech hanger, so I can rotate it further back. Not sure if it will help.
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
On my bike (Sonder Camino Ti) it's literally impossible to get the back wheel in or out without deflating the tyre - there's simply not enough room even with the rear derailleur rotated all the way back. It might be OK with smaller tyres (I'm running 42 at the moment, but much the same problem with 38) or 650B wheels.
Next time I may try loosening the rear derailleur where it bolts to the mech hanger, so I can rotate it further back. Not sure if it will help.

I've got the same problem with my 653 TT bike but thats on 25's....................have to let the tyre down to get the wheel in or out and yep the brakes are for 700c tyres/wheels
 
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