Demand Thru Axles
Tulio should rise from the grave and haunt bike designers like a Dickens ghost past and present.
Maybe I wouldn’t take wheels falling out of bikes so seriously if it didn’t happen to me AND my friends; or if hadn’t warned the manufactures of the problem, and if they weren’t constantly being sued. Today, Specialized issued a recall for the ViAS because
The rear quick release isn’t getting an effective bite on the dropouts, and can slip out.
And, that’s certainly not a new issue, lawsuits abound on this topic — and it’s happened to me twice in a race. Not worse than hydro failing, but close.
QR’s are the albatross around the industry’s neck, dragging down innovation, and profits. Oddly, and culturally cyclists think you’re stupid if they fail. I’m sure owners of a ViAS are super enthusiasts who aren’t dumb, and belong to the much sought-after disposable-income, masters racers demographic.
Blame the UCI for the anachronistic rules, the design, or perhaps what happens when so much emphasis in placed on racing instead of riding?
That this is a flagship product from Specialized has to hurt. Their ego at the least.
Shortly after sharing this story, my friend Matt Haughey texted me video from his race last weekend. Start watching at 3:35.
And said,
I wish I had thru-axles now.
I do too. And, for you too. Demand it on your next bike, at the least. I know of at least 3 other incidents like what happened to Matt; including one that resulted in a concussion. Quick releases are a design that served their purpose, thanks Tulio! (inventor of the QR, a 100 years ago), and now it’s time for a much better solution, like the thru-axle.
