In my grueling 3.5 miles to work up a busy city street where riding on the road means in no terms certain death. I cross over twenty intersections, ride through many broken booze bottles, up and down many curb ramps and over anybodies fair share of potholes in bad parking lots. Then many times of slamming on brakes because of people looking only one way while talking on cell phones because most people only have the capability of doing two things at ounce, and not to mention uneven sidewalks seem to never need fixing. It is aparent that a quick release axel is much to weak to stand up to this tourture. Plus a bent bolt on axel gets you home much easier then a broken quick release. During this winter if I ever get my rebuild done I will be riding a costerbrake brake hub because you need to skid at least one wheel in bad wheather. Back to the cell phone thing I might keep the coaster brake on all summer too. Going back and forth each way you have to ride on the oppisite side do to the only sidewalk, remember the certain death thing. There is a Park wrench made for rear hubs that is not to bad and I think it has a tire lever too.
That's it in the very cold St. Paul where after a drifting snowfall they don't shovel the sidewalks and even walking the 3.5 miles is a chore for a short fat old man. High of 19 today and 2 to 5 inches of snow tonight maybe I will take a while to finish the winter ride or get my stud idea going a little quicker.
Mike Larsen
St. Paul, MN
USA