Are all bicycle front wheel quick release skewers the same?

Question

Ebay has great prices, but none seem to be my brand - but I've used my bf's cheap Canadian Tire bike's skewer on my Giant bike and it was the same darn thing.

Answer 1

Zoe,

Yes, essentially all road bike quick release skewers are the same dimensions.  MTB skewers are the same diameter, but are longer (at least in the rear) to accommodate the wider hub shell.  eBay is an excellent place to get a good buy.  Don't worry about matching brands.  My daily rider has American Classic Wheels with the fantastic Mavic composite levers.

A warning: if you mount your bicycle on a trainer for winter training use an old-school chrome plated steel rear skewer, as the clamps on many of those units will chew up a lighter allow QR.

Keep riding!

Ben

Answer 2

...but see Sheldon Brown's take on this.  The Master has gone to that great Bicycle Path In the Sky, but the shop he worked at (I guess) is keeping the vast amount of info he published to the web available.