I'm just making my first foray into road disc brake ownership and I haven't even got the bike finished yet and I'm incredibly frustrated with the through axles that came with the frame. I assumed they all came with a lever that just locked into position once you'd tightened the thread up. However the ones that came with my Ribble endurance SL frame you have to insert a 6mm allen key into the end instead. There isn't really enough opening to insert the allen deep enough for it to sit properly without it slipping out easily and this is going to chew up the hex slot in no time as I like to pull my bike apart regularly for cleaning/maintenance. I just assumed, wrongly perhaps, that I would just be able to purchase new ones with a lever such as those made by DT. It all seems totally confusing to me as to what, if any, I can purchase that would suit as I've read things that said it's essential not to lose the original axles that came with your frame as they're frame specific. They're standard width dropouts (100mm front, 142mm rear) and the dimensions are printed on the axles below.
Looking at the DT site has only added to confusion for me as only one of the axles is listed as being road specific and that doesn't come with the lever. I've linked to the DT site for 12mm through axles
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/products/hubs-rws/rws/12-mm/
The entire length of the axle doesn't seem to quite match mine but the very first MTB specific one (does it matter if it makes reference to road or MTB?) is very close to mine (121mm) and further along there's one at 171mm which could be suitable for the rear. Any advice appreciated as to what my options are would be appreciated as would any links to suitable alternatives
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