Things You'll Need:
- Wrenches or ratchets
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Step 1
Shift your bike out to the smallest gear on the rear, which is the most difficult gear when you're riding. This act slackens the chain, making it easier to remove the wheel.
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Step 2
Check the brake equipment of your bike to determine which method of release to use. Bicycles can have one of several types of brakes, each requiring a different release procedure. Once you release the brake following one of the following methods, proceed to either Section 2 or 3, depending on how your wheel hub is mounted to the frame.
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Step 3
Squeeze the brake arms inwards with one hand if your bicycle is equipped with cantilever or V-brakes. Using your other hand, simply pop the brake cable catch from its slot to release brakes.
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Step 4
Find the release lever on the caliper if your bicycle is equipped with side-pull brakes. Side-pull brakes are most often found on road bikes. Rotate the lever upwards to open up the brakes just enough to clear the tire.
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Step 5
Do nothing if your bike is equipped with disc brakes. The brake disc slides easily out of the caliper. Never compress disc brakes with the disc removed; you will blow out the caliper seals, necessitating a rebuild.
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Step 1
Check your bicycle wheel's hub to see if you have a nut on either side or a lever on one side. If you have the lever, your bike is equipped with a quick release and you should proceed with this section. If your bicycle's wheel has the nuts, go to Section 3.
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Step 2
Pull the lever outwards to release the wheel. Rotate it half a turn to loosen the wheel hub from the frame. Unlike a front bicycle wheel, you don't need to loosen the rear wheel additionally by rotating the quick release.
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Step 3
Stand on the side of the bike and hold the seat or the top tube of the bike with one hand. Lift the rear of your bicycle and hold the wheel down. It will drop out and catch on the chain.
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Step 4
Lift the frame higher and hold the rear wheel. With the chain properly slackened, you should be able to simply pull the wheel clear of the chain.
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Step 1
Check for the two nuts on either side of the hub. Have wrenches or a ratchet of the right size. The size varies depending on the model of bicycle.
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Step 2
Place the wrenches on each of the nuts. You need 2 wrenches for most wheels as you must loosen the nuts together. Go ahead and rotate them counterclockwise to loosen the hub.
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Step 3
Avoid over-loosening the hub. As with a quick release-equipped bike, you don't need to turn out the rear wheel of a bicycle terribly far to release it from the frame. With the nuts loose, follow Steps 3 and 4 of Section 2 to finish removing the rear wheel of your bicycle.
