Who invented the quick release?

The simple flip of a lever that secures a wheel or component in seconds represents a genuine turning point in mechanical design, particularly in the world of cycling. This seemingly small innovation eliminated the need for tools in many common roadside repairs and adjustments, drastically speeding up a process that was once tedious and slow. To find the inventor, however, one must navigate between different mechanical applications, as the term "quick release" applies to at least two distinct, important inventions stemming from different eras and needs. ^[6][7]

# Cycling Origin

For the cycling world, the innovation is nearly inseparable from the name Tullio Campagnolo. An Italian professional cyclist and later an engineering visionary, Campagnolo is credited with patenting the quick release mechanism specifically for bicycle wheels. ^[1][4] His motivation was rooted in the demands of professional racing, where even a minute lost changing a tire or wheel could mean the difference between victory and defeat. ^[1][4]

Campagnolo's design centered on a skewer that runs through the hollow axle of the wheel. By flipping an external lever, a cam mechanism applies immediate, significant clamping force, securing the wheel firmly into the frame dropouts. ^[2][4] This invention, designed to facilitate extremely rapid wheel changes during races, became a staple of bicycle technology for decades. ^[1][4] While Campagnolo is celebrated for this and many other contributions to bicycle mechanics, the quick release skewer specifically addressed the immediate, high-stakes problem of pit stops and mid-race adjustments. ^[1]

# Ratchet Mechanism

While Campagnolo solved the problem of wheel attachment, a separate, though similarly named, quick-release invention belongs to Peter M. Roberts. In what makes for a compelling story, Roberts reportedly conceived of his mechanism as a teenager. ^[7] His invention, patented in the United States as US Patent 3,208,318 in 1965, was a quick-release ratchet. ^[6]

This mechanism differs functionally from the bicycle skewer. While the skewer relies on tension generated by a cam or toggle to lock a bolt in place, Roberts’ design involved a ratchet system that allowed for quick engagement or disengagement of a fastener without needing to fully unscrew it. ^[6] It is important to distinguish between the two: Campagnolo’s invention was about securing a removable assembly (the wheel), whereas Roberts’ creation dealt with the rapid tightening and loosening of a fixed connection point using ratcheting action. ^[6][7] This divergence shows how a single evocative phrase, "quick release," can describe solutions to different mechanical challenges across industries. ^[2][6]

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# Skewer Mechanics

The quick release skewer, the type associated with Campagnolo, operates based on applied leverage that translates into immense gripping force. The core component is a long bolt inserted through the hub, connected to a lever mechanism on the other end. ^[2][8] When the lever is open, the bolt is relatively loose. Closing the lever engages a cam, which pulls the opposite nut tighter against the frame dropout, locking the wheel in place. ^[2]

The effectiveness of this system is entirely dependent on the correct amount of tension being applied. If the tension is too low, the wheel can shift under load, leading to potential frame or fork damage, or worse, wheel slippage during a ride. ^[5] Conversely, overtightening can cause premature wear on the axle, hub bearings, or even deform aluminum dropouts over time. ^[5] A crucial factor often overlooked when riders simply aim for speed is that the lever position itself is not a reliable indicator of clamping force; the feel of the resistance just before the lever snaps into place is the true measure of its effectiveness. ^[5] Learning to judge this clamping force by feel, rather than relying solely on the lever’s final orientation, is an essential skill that elevates a rider’s mechanical expertise beyond mere button-pushing. ^[5]

To illustrate the difference in required effort versus resulting force, a typical modern quick release skewer might require only a few pounds of force applied at the lever end to generate hundreds of pounds of clamping force holding the wheel on the bike. ^[2]

# Modern Shift

Despite its ubiquity for decades, the traditional quick release skewer is facing a significant technological shift in high-performance cycling. ^[3] The industry is steadily moving toward thru-axles as the standard, especially on mountain bikes and increasingly on road and gravel bikes. ^[3]

Thru-axles involve a much thicker, threaded rod that passes entirely through a dedicated hole in the hub and screws directly into the opposite side of the fork or frame. ^[3] This system offers two main advantages over the traditional skewer: improved stiffness and enhanced security. ^[3] The solid connection provided by a thru-axle resists rotational forces better, which is critical for disc brake performance and precise handling, and it eliminates the possibility of the wheel accidentally loosening due to improper skewer tensioning. ^[3] The move away from the skewer, therefore, is less a critique of Campagnolo’s original genius—which served its purpose excellently for generations—and more a concession to the higher demands placed on bicycle frames by modern components like powerful disc brakes and the need for absolute, consistent alignment. ^[3]

In reflecting on the history, it becomes clear that the invention of the quick release was not a singular event but rather a convergence around a mechanical concept. While Campagnolo provided the application that changed the sport of cycling forever, the underlying idea of tool-free adjustment manifested in different forms, like Roberts' ratchet, demonstrating that effective solutions often arise concurrently when a practical need is sufficiently strong across different mechanical fields. ^[4][6]