Conference noted::bicycle

    If your quick-release lever closes all the way without too much
    effort, it probably isn't tight enough.  Otherwise, I'd suspect
    a dropout alignment problem.  A misaligned dropout may encourage
    the wheel to shift to the left and contact the frame, especially
    under the stress of pedaling.  Most reputable bicycle shops can
    check the dropouts and correct alignment irregularities -- unless
    they involve major portions of the frame.
    
    Mac.

    
    
    Any thoughts on how a misaligned dropout could happen? That sounds
    like what's happening. Any way I could test this out myself?
    
    Melanie

Could you give a few more details.  Is this something that just started
happening on a supposedly tried and true bike?  Have you changed components
recently?  Has the bike been in any accidents recently?

While a bent dropout certainly won't help here, it seems it would have to
be VERY bent to be the only cause of the problem.  When the wheel is
sitting loose in the frame, and held properly centered between the chain
stays and the seat stays, or brake pads, the drop outs should be reasonably
straight relative to the gripping surface of the axle lock nuts and quick
release.   

A couple other things:

I recently upgraded the wheels on my work bike, went from pure junk to
Campy hubs.  The original rear was a five speed, so I ordered a five speed
hub.  Turned out the drop out spacing was wider than normal, so I had to
replace the five speed axle with a six speed axle and spacer washers
between the lock nut/cones.  Until I did this, the quick release fixed ends
would tighten up too soon, and when I closed the lever I was not getting
proper tightness on the rear wheel.  It was all I could do to compress the
dropouts enough by turning the quick release so as to tighten the threaded
shaft before swinging the lever to tighten the axle/quick release against
the dropouts.  If you've changed hubs, rear derailleur with hanging plate,
quick release skewers or had a gorilla do any frame work, I'd check that
over carefully. 

When you tighten the quick release lever, is it becoming tight due to
proper pressure on the frame and axle, or due to the lever hitting the
frame, or to the lever just swinging around to the limits of its travel?

When you tighten the lever, it helps to bring it up parallel to the seat or
chain stay, grab the chain stay and the lever, and squeeze! 

Good Luck,
Del

    
    
    Lets see.........
    
    It was in a crash 3 weeks after I bought it(2 years ago). Landed on its
    left side. It was fine after that. I never took the rear wheel off until
    last year, when this problem started. It was very hard to get off
    that first time. As far a closing the lever, I can close the front
    one with NO problem. The rear one is tight and seems to close ok,
    but when I apply pressure to the pedal the wheel pulls and hits
    the frame, on the left side. The bike is in excellent shape. The
    brakes and everything else seem to be in alignment.
    
    Thanks
    Melanie

    
    Lots of things can cause this problem.
    
    If the drops are out of whack from the crash, you'd know it, because
    when you take the wheel in and out of them, it would either be too
    easy or hard to R&R. There should be no more than 1mm of clearance
    on each side of the frame between the drop and the hub locknut.
    It's supposed to be a very close fit. If it's not, then take it
    to a shop that has a set of Campy H-tools (Bike Barn in Westboro has them)
    and have them align the drops.
    
    My guess is that the Stelvio (great bike BTW) has painted dropouts,
    and it's slipping because the new hubs contact the drops in a slightly
    different area than your old hubs. Quick releases do not have to
    be very tight to function correctly. If it takes more than a reasonable
    amount of effort then something's wrong. If it is the paint, then
    take a sanding block and carefully remove the paint on the contact
    surface of the dropout, which should be raised above the dropout
    body. Then smear a little chain oil on the fresh metal to keep it
    from rusting too much.
    
    If you still have problems let us know
    
    CdH
    

    
    
         One of the more obscure causes of this problem is having an
    axle that is so long that when the quick release is clamped down, 
    the axle extends out of the dropouts.  I once added new wheels to 
    an inexpensive bike of mine and had this problem.  Filing down the
    ends of the axle a small amount fixed the problem.
    
    Mark
    

    
    
    My bike still has all of its original everything...nothing new has
    been added. This weekend I'm going to try all the suggestions I've
    gotten and see if any help.
    
    Thanks for the help, :-)
    
    Melanie

    There is a chance the the quick release mechanism itself is faulty.
    Try exchanging the front and rear quick release skewers and levers
    to see if the problem moves to the front. (Don't ride the bike!!).

    re: .8 you cannot replace the front and rear quick release skewers
    because they are of different lengths.
    
    ed

    
    	Did anyone ever find out what Melanie's problem was, and whether
    	or not she got it fixed?
    

    
    re: -1   Ya, she didn't have the quick release tight enough.
    Seems the slipping occured mostly when she stood to climb.
    She was a cruncher (high gear - low cadence) so she was prone
    to such trouble.
    
    I've got her spinning more now though.  She doesn't have much
    choice on the back of our tandem.  At first I got a lot of
    smacks on my helmet, but she's really beginning to see the
    light.