By Rick Schultz
This product is for bike fitters, and also for those who have one or more disc brake bikes that they want to use on a standard trainer.
As a bike fitter, I need to have all the correct tools handy to make changes during a fitting. The latest issue for fitters is having the correct thru axle adapter to attach a bike with disc brakes to a trainer. Many trainers use the older style chrome quick release for rim brake bikes, but what do you do when a client brings in a bike with disc brakes?
Up until now, I needed a collection of thru axle adapters, such as kinetic traxles. This collection included 10mm, 12mm, course thread, medium thread, fine thread, wide for MTB, narrow for road. All in all I had to have a minimum of six, and then I had to figure out which one to use for each bike. Since more and more clients are showing up for bike fits with disc brakes, it takes longer and longer to attach bikes to the bike fit trainer.
Elite sent me a new thru axle adapter tool they said would solve this issue for me.
The tool came in recently, and I had my first bike fits with it the very next morning after I received it. I had four bike fits scheduled and three of them had thru axles. So, the timing of this tool was right!
It took less than a minute to unscrew each client’s thru axle and insert this tool – see below. The first client brought in a beautiful brand new Giant TCR Advanced.
As soon as I installed the Elite Thru Axle Adapter, I put the bike on the trainer. Perfect fit!
Three hours later, bike fit complete, I quickly removed the trainer tool and installed his thru axle so he could ride around the block.
Happy customer and a happy fitter. This tool is definitely worth picking up.
The same tool works for both 10mm and 12mm thru axles. It is solid and secure on the trainer.
The Elite Thru Axle Adapter costs around $30 at most bike shops, and can also be purchased directly from them at shopelite-it.com.
Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern California. Rick is an engineer by trade, and in addition to being a coach, he's a bike fitter and prolific product reviewer. He's the author of Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist and Bike Fit 101: Your Toolset for a Great Bike Fit in the RBR eBookstore. Check his product reviews website, www.biketestreviews.com, and his coaching site, www.bikefitnesscoaching.com. Click to read Rick's full bio.
One question came up, “Will it damage the threads in the frame?” Short answer, No. The spacers are plastic so it is plastic that the threads sit on. I notified Elite of the question and they added this answer to their website and marketing campaign. It really works well, an easy tool to use.