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

[Pat "5mph"]

I've taken to putting the wheel in the bike as best I can, tightening the wheel, and putting the bike on the ground then loosening and re-tightening the axle in the dropper.

Yes, that's what I do too.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Yes, that's what I do too.

Glad I'm not the only one.

Of course that doesn't work so well with horizontal dropouts: on Saturday I asked someone else to come and hold the tyre in place so I could be sure it would fit, which illustrates the issue the OP is talking about: I'm not sure how I'd put a wheel in a horizontal dropout alone, especially without a frame stand.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm not sure how I'd put a wheel in a horizontal dropout alone, especially without a frame.

I've done it many times, but I'm not sure exactly what I do.

Same procedure as for vertical dropouts (set shifter for top gear, line the small sprocket with the top run of chain, pull derailleur back and guide rim between brake calipers) then shove it all the way back till it meets the stop on the derailleur side, now centre the tyre between chainstays and tighten QR.

Something like that. It only takes seconds.

Granted it would be tricky if your bike did not have a frame.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Granted it would be tricky if your bike did not have a frame.

It would indeed. Corrected now...

 

[Alex321]

I've had most of these problems in our workshop with the bike in a nice solid stand. I've taken to putting the wheel in the bike as best I can, tightening the wheel, and putting the bike on the ground then loosening and re-tightening the axle in the dropper. Then I lift the bike again and test the wheel. Motorised stands are useful because I can push the bike down with the stand and loosen/tighten to be sure.

That only works with QR wheels.

With thru-axles, there is no dropout as such, and it is either in place (the axle will go in) or it isn't, there is no "nearly".