[CR] The mid-70's front-wheel QR bike?

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:17:33 -0800
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: [CR] The mid-70's front-wheel QR bike?


Does anyone have any insight into this crazy 1970's idea of how to build a low-end bike? Around about 1974, Raleigh went to QR hubs front and rear, even on the lowly $125 grand prix model. Meanwhile, several japanese brands started to arrive at our shores with a quick release hub ... only on the front! Please, pray-tell, how does this help the buyer? You still have to carry an adjustable wrench in case you get a flat, and now thieves can steal your front wheel or your whole bike and so you need to lock the front wheel every time!

Worse that no QRs at all, imho !!

What were the bike designers thinking? If you worked in a shop back then, what would you say to the customer to justify the bike ??

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA