Tire changing/Wheel removal

[Pedal Wench]

I always tell my customers to practice at home instead of learning this, like you say, 30 miles from home, in the rain.

I find it much easier to remove the rear tire if I have the bike upside down. It's a bad habit that I always do it this way, but it's easier than laying the bike down with the crank on the ground. Less balancing and I can use one hand on the rear derailleur and the other to lift the wheel out.

[Catrin]

I always tell my customers to practice at home instead of learning this, like you say, 30 miles from home, in the rain.

I find it much easier to remove the rear tire if I have the bike upside down. It's a bad habit that I always do it this way, but it's easier than laying the bike down with the crank on the ground. Less balancing and I can use one hand on the rear derailleur and the other to lift the wheel out.

I had it upside down, and did as you suggest here - one hand on RD and other trying to lift the wheel out but it wouldn't budge. I also think there might be some grit in the rear brake from my ride last weekend so I do need to get that wheel off so I can investigate better.

Would it help to put my foot on the saddle or can I harm the rails that way? Selle Italia saddle if it matters - I do not know what the rails are made of.

[lph]

Hmmm. as long as you don't stomp on the saddle, I'm pretty sure the rails will take your weight just fine. But I'm surprised you're needing that much force. Unless there's corrosion or rust or something in between a short yank should loosen most wheels (well, most wheels you just lift out, it's just the chain and derailleur gizmos that add sideways drag). I know you said you've loosened the QR, but it sounds to me like it's keeping the wheel snug. Just check once more, that you're absolutely sure it's open and loose, the same way as on the front wheel. Loosen/open the brakes (you'll see the brake pads moving away from the rim to give it clearance). Let air out of the tire and squeeze the tire with your fingers (you should see that the rim and tire will then easily be able to pass the brake pads).

Have the chain on the smallest cog, and try pulling the derailleur back and forth with your hand (a bit greasy), see if you can actually pull the chain off the cog. The drag from the chain wrapped around the cog should be the only thing keeping the wheel a little "stuck". Give the wheel a little wiggle back and forth while you're doing this, and you should feel that it just sits loosely in the dropouts and can be lifted out once you maneuver the chain off the last cog.

The problem with removing rear wheels is sort of that are a lot of small sticking points that need a little wiggling almost at the same time, but there shouldn't be any real force involved.

Pardon the sermon

[Catrin]

I have fenders on my bike, I had thought about trying to do this without turning the bike upside down so I could hit the wheel to help it come out as my LBS suggested...but forgot about the fender...

Once the beer gets out of my system I am going to try it later this evening. Not that I had too much beer or anything

[Veronica]

What seems to be the place it's getting hung up? The brakes or the hub?

Veronica

[Catrin]

What seems to be the place it's getting hung up? The brakes or the hub?

Veronica

The hub, LBS told me this isn't unusual and it can be difficult to remove... They suggested hitting the wheel, but of course the fender makes that rather difficult. I also had to really work with the rear brake tension to be able to loosen the rear brake (caliper).

[Catrin]

Woot! I DID it I got the rear wheel off, took it out completely and put it back in

I know this is a very small thing, but it feels pretty good to me considering I couldn't do it yesterday. I just want to be comfortable enough with all of this in case I should have to do it someday on the side of a country road.