swap QR axle for bolt-on

[LightWeight]

How big of a job is it to swap out a QR axle for a bolt-on type. I got some new wheels for the commuter and would prefer the bolt-ons for a "little" more added security.

[Tex]

I would just buy a set of those locking QR skewers. Instead of a quick release, it has an allen key to loosen the wheels. I think they're like $20 or so. I've had them on my commuter bike for years. Cheap and easy.

[SickBoy]

Not hard. In fact, if you head down to your LBS, or more likely, One on One, they will be able to hook you up with (hopefully) used axles. It's really easy, you just pull the old axles out, take off the cones/nuts, and reassemble with the new axle and bolt on with some axle nuts. You have to make sure the threads are the same though, I can't remember how these are measured. For geared-type parts (mtb/comfort bikes) the threads are different than BMX.

I did this for an old Alivio rear hub when I worked at Tonka Cycle and there was an old hub that I cannibalized for the axle I needed and then I ran across the street to Kramer's to get the nuts I needed. Good opportunity to shoot everything full of grease too.

tex's idea works also, but I needed to do the bolt-on conversion because this was for my ss mtb with horizontal drops (and BMX chain tensioners). If all you're after is security, using the skewers with hex key type nuts is a lot easier to deal with if you have to change a flat.