Got a P2 not too long ago, and the horizontal dropout on the rear wheel is making things more challenging for me when taking the rear wheel off and putting it back on. Probably something I just need to get used to, as it’s just a different technique than the normal vertical dropouts. But worth asking is anybody has any tips on making the process easier… One thing my LBS did suggest which helps is to have both front/rear gears in the smallest cog.
I find I have to grab the chain and pull it in the direction of the rear of the bike with one hand, then pulll the wheel off with the other. The tricky thing is doing it without letting the bike hit the ground.
Graham
Cervelo website has a little video that explains and shows how its done. I dont feel like looking up the link, but I know its there.
Here is a video. And it is a P2C
Click the link then click “Changing you rear wheel” on the right under “recent videos”
http://www.all3sports.com/info_pages.php?pages_id=22&osCsid=0f92439503319e920407b7d2553382e7
Yeah that video is how I do it. Hadn’t thought of putting the chain on the smallest cogs so that’s helpful.
Only thing is the video shows the bike clamped into a stand. Without the stand, you have to somehow hold the bike up while using both hands to get the wheel out.
If I’m by my car I put my leg through the frame, my foot on the bumper, and hold the top tube up with my knee. Otherwise I put my arm through the frame and hold the top tube up with my shoulder.
Graham
I find it much harder if I try to do it from the side instead of being able to pull the chain/wheel straight back. So when out in the field w/ no stand, I bend over and rest the back of the saddle on the back of my head/neck to hold the rear end up… I’m sure it looks dorky as hell, but works for me and I can do it fast/smoothly enough I imagine a bystander would quickly go from amused to impressed.
X2. Use the seat to sit on your back. Frees up both hands, although I put it right behind my arm, not up on my neck. I am sure what we have described is not easy to visualize, but I promise it works…
The get your hands dirty method. Stand behind the bike. ‘Grab’ the rear wheel with your knees. Open the quick release lever. With your right hand grab the chain near the cassette, with your left hand push the bike forward. That will let you have the bike in your left hand and your wheel in your right had. Or, you can do as one poster said and rest the seat on your back/neck so the bike doesn’t hit the ground. Reverse the process to install the wheel.
The don’t get your hands dirty method. It’s tough to explain. You end up using one hand to hold and manipulate the rear derailler so that you ‘loosen’ the chain a bit and remove the rear wheel without ever touching the chain. Someone posted a ‘how-to’ for this method before.
With any of the methods it helps to have the chain in the smallest cogs so there is less tension on it.
Remove the wheel skewer. It makes it the wheel very easy to remove/install, and your hands will stay mostly clean.
I bought disposable latex gloves to use because I found it easier to hold the chain with one hand and pull the wheel on and off with the other. Only need to use one glove which I use for a few uses. At least this is the method I use at home on the road I just wipe my hands in the grass when I am done.
I actually did resort to removing the rear skewer last couple times; that combined with the chain being in the smaller cogs helps quite a bit. I’ll look at the linked video and check out these other tips as well. Thanks.