Wheel Removal:

Simple step-by-step instructions for removing your wheels.

Welcome friends to the "Wheel Removal" section of Get-Into-Cycling.com. In this page, we will show you how to remove your front and rear wheels from your bicycle in simple, step-by-step instructions.

While simple by nature, wheel removal can also be quite frustrating to those who are not familiar with the modern bike wheel, especially the rear. But we at Get-Into-Cycling.com are here to help you, help yourself. Just like the old saying: "Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime....." Dig in!

- First thing you need to do for removing the rear wheel is to make sure that the rear chain is shifted down to the smallest cog. (You don't have to do this, but it makes replacing the wheel much easier, because the chain is furthest away from the wheel on the small cog, allowing easier access in and out)

- Next, make sure that the quick release on your brakes are open for road bikes. For mountain bikes make sure that you undo the cable noodle for v-brakes or the center straddle cable for cantilever brakes, prior to removing the wheel. This allows the brakes to spread open, facilitating easier wheel removal.

- Now grasp your rear wheel with the right hand and undo the rear quick release lever using your left hand. Opening the quick release lever is done by pulling the lever away from the bike.** If your bike is equipped with safety tabs (also known as "lawyer tabs"), unscrew the quick release from either the lever or knob side.

**If your bike is equipped with a nutted wheelset, use the appropriate sized wrench for removing your wheels.

- Your wheels should now come off easily. Make sure you hold your wheel securely so that it doesn't just fall off and possibly get damaged. If your chain gets caught on the cogs, grasp the rear derailleur with your right hand and twist it towards the back of the bike. This will pull the chain down and allow the wheel to come off easier.

- Your rear wheel is now off and accessible for repair.

- Replacing the rear wheel is just the complete opposite of wheel removal (obviously). The only thing is making sure that you get your chain inserted back into the appropriate cog (which should be the smallest one, because that's where we had it when we took the wheel off, right?).

- Pull your rear derailleur back, line up your chain with the cog and insert the spindle of the rear hub back into the frame dropouts (see "Drivetrain", "Frameset" and "Wheelset" section of Tech Tips if you are not familiar with these parts). Make sure that the hub spindle is seated properly in the frame.

- Tighten the quick release lever by twisting the lever clockwise while grasping the knob on the opposite side.** Tighten just enough until the lever and knob are snug on to the frame. Do not overtighten or you will not be able to close the lever. Additionally, if you overtighten and attempt to close the lever, you may snap the quick release lever spindle rod in half. Once snug, you can now close the lever by pushing it towards the bike.

**For nutted wheels, tighten nuts using appropriate sized wrench. Do not overtighten or you may damage the threading on the hub spindle, possibly strip the nut sides or damage the frame dropouts.

- Close the quick release lever on the brakes (For mountain bikes: reattach the cable noodle for v-brakes or the center straddle cable for cantilever brakes.). Spin the rear wheel to make sure that it is centered on the frame (You can visually check by looking at the gaps between the wheel and chainstay of the bikes frame, on both sides. If they appear about equal while the wheel is spinning, you're good.).

- Rear wheel is now attached.

- First, open the quick release on your brakes for road bikes. For mountain bikes make sure that you undo the cable noodle for v-brakes or the center straddle cable for cantilever brakes, prior to removing the wheel. This allows the brakes to spread open, facilitating easier wheel removal. (See previous photo)

- Now grasp your front wheel with the left hand and undo the rear quick release lever using your right hand. Opening the quick release lever is done by pulling the lever away from the bike.** If your bike is equipped with safety tabs (also known as "lawyer tabs" see photo below), unscrew the quick release from either the lever or knob side.

**If your bike is equipped with a nutted wheelset, use the appropriate sized wrench for removing your wheels.

- Your front wheel is now off and accessible for repair.

- Replacing the front wheel (just like the rear wheel) is just the complete opposite of wheel removal.

- Reinsert the hub spindles into the fork droupouts. Make sure that the hub is seated properly.

- Tighten the quick release lever by twisting the lever clockwise while grasping the knob on the opposite side.** Tighten just enough until the lever and knob are snug on to the fork. Do not overtighten or you will not be able to close the lever. Additionally, if you overtighten and attempt to close the lever, you may snap the quick release lever spindle rod in half. Once snug, uou can now close the lever by pushing it towards the bike.

**For nutted wheels, tighten nuts using appropriate sized wrench. Do not overtighten or you may damage the threading on the hub spindle, possibly strip the nut sides or damage the frame dropouts.

- Close the quick release lever on the brakes (For mountain bikes: reattach the cable noodle for v-brakes or the center straddle cable for cantilever brakes.). Spin the front wheel to make sure that it is centered on the fork (You can visually check by looking at the gaps between the wheel and fork arms, on both sides. If they appear about equal while the wheel is spinning, you're good.).

- Front wheel is now attached.

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