Road Cycling - Need help

I have an '99 Allez Sport and was noticing the last couple of rides the bike seems like its getting harder to pedal. I was off over 3 to 4 mph this morning and knew I needed to take a look :( OK, this is what I'm finding.
#1 both wheels with the brake quick levers loosened spin good and appear to be very true. With the quick levers in normal position, the pads are dragging the wheels down big time..they dont free spin at all. The pads and caliper are not centered to the wheel. One pad on the front/rear wheel is rubbing no matter what.
#2 The front wheel is centered in the front fork very well.
#3 Here is the main thing worrying me. The rear wheel is within a 1/16" of an inch on the right side (sorry for not using metric) of the front of the chain stay, but looks very centered on the seat stay. Any advice or normal?

I figure I need to recenter the calipers, but what do you think about my rear wheel. I guess I cant adjust them until my Park tool set arrives , any day I hope.

So frustating.......I'm going to have to ride my mountain bike tomorrow morning...sorry mtn bikers...lol..I'm addicted to the speed of my road bike now!

Originally posted by bman

I figure I need to recenter the calipers, but what do you think about my rear wheel. I guess I cant adjust them until my Park tool set arrives , any day I hope.
You're right about simply re-centering the calipers....that's no big deal.
When you say you only have 1/16" clearance between the rear tire and the right chainstay, how much clearance do you have on the left side??????? Assuming your rear wheel is mounted correctly and you have more clearance on the left chainstay, then your wheel needs to be re-dished (centered). Did someone build this wheel for you? I doubt your wheel became this way all on its own......otherwise, it would have gone completely out of true. On your frame, say with 20mm tires, there should be a good 10mm of clearance on both sides of the tire within the chainstay & B/B area..... tell me more about that area...

George!!

On second thought, try removing your rear wheel and re-install...

The left side has 1/2" and the wheels are the factory CXP-21's with Turbo Pro Cipollini Tires, 700x23's. As far as mounting them correctly, I varified they are all the way in the dropouts and remounted them already. I do have new custom wheels coming next week from Colorado Cyclist....Am I S.O.L. until the new ones arrive?

Do me a favor.......reverse your rear wheel (mount wheel with cassette on left side) and see. If your right side shows identical clearance problem, then that means your axle is not seated in the dropouts evenly.....nothin' wrong with your wheel.
But if you have 1/16" clearance on the LEFT side, you definitely have a dishing problem with that wheel.

George!

I'm not familiar with your frame but do the dropouts come with set screws???? or are they vertical dropouts???

OK...I just did that and the clearance didn't change. So then, how do I make sure the axle is seated in the dropouts properly?

Do you have vertical dropouts or are they horizontal with long skinny set screws????

George, Here is a photo I just took of the rear dropouts.


http://childs-dunawayracing.com/images/Dscn1852-500.jpg

George, Here is a better one when I had the bike upside down with the cassette on the wrong side. I took the skewer out and I think the axle isn't all the way in the droput in the pic..

http://childs-dunawayracing.com/images/Dscn1851-500.jpg

I saw the photos. Is your axle butted all the way against the dropouts? Your frame MAY be out of alignment in this situation.
I can't tell from the photo but is that a replacable derailleur hanger? If so, make sure part of it is not interferring with the seating of your axle.
Maybe someone else with an identical frame can chime in here and advise......

George!

Originally posted by bman
[B....I took the skewer out and I think the axle isn't all the way in the droput in the pic..
[/B]
If it went all the way in on the derailleur side, wouldn't your tire make contact with the right chainstay as you only have 1/16" clearance now ......?

George, Just went back outside and here is what I'm seeing. I believe the caliper is so far off center, the pad on right side is still pushing hard against the rim, even with the quick lever released, its not letting the axle all the way in the dropout. I took the skewer nut off and can still see a little bit of clearance in the dropout. I then took the pad off as I dont have the tool yet for the caliper nut and now I can get the wheel to center. Wow, a very slight clearance that is really very unoticable, looks like its been biting my azz for the last so many rides. So now I'm thinking I should be OK when my new Park tool set arrives. What do u think of me riding the next few days without brakes....lol I know many will say brakes are overated..lol Anything but riding my mountain bike again..lol

Well......glad to hear it was nothing major..... with the right sized cone wrench, you should tweek the calipers right smack centered. I'm just surprised the rear caliper didn't have enough 'give' for you to even center your wheel!

George!

George, I'm surprised I couldn't tweak the caliper either. I'm sure I'll try Tues morning and see, if not, I'll be hitting the dirt trail in the am..

Thanks for all your help!!