bike leans to the left with no hands
04-29-07, 02:34 PM
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bike leans to the left with no hands
as the title may imply, I have noticed that when I take my hands off the bars, my bike feels like its leaning to the left, maybe by 5 degrees or so.
What is the cause of this? I thought it was my water bottle because it was bent over the left side of the bike, but when i fixed that the problem didn't go away.
could this be the effect of a wheel dish problem... or is my body heavier on one side than the other :0
What is the cause of this? I thought it was my water bottle because it was bent over the left side of the bike, but when i fixed that the problem didn't go away.
could this be the effect of a wheel dish problem... or is my body heavier on one side than the other :0
04-29-07, 02:52 PM
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04-29-07, 03:11 PM
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maybe you need to tuck "it" on the right side 
04-29-07, 03:16 PM
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Happens to me quite often. I soon realized that the problem has to do with the tight cable runs in housing (for my shimano setup) such that the bike cannot turn to the right and therefore has the propensity to veer to the left when riden without hands. Check your cable housings.
Originally Posted by olie05
as the title may imply, I have noticed that when I take my hands off the bars, my bike feels like its leaning to the left, maybe by 5 degrees or so.
What is the cause of this? I thought it was my water bottle because it was bent over the left side of the bike, but when i fixed that the problem didn't go away.
could this be the effect of a wheel dish problem... or is my body heavier on one side than the other :0
What is the cause of this? I thought it was my water bottle because it was bent over the left side of the bike, but when i fixed that the problem didn't go away.
could this be the effect of a wheel dish problem... or is my body heavier on one side than the other :0
04-29-07, 03:41 PM
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AH! the cables...
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
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If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
04-29-07, 04:39 PM
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This pulling to the left is usualy a sign that your frame/fork isn't aligned properly and wheel dish is a possibility as well. Set the bike upside down on the handlebars/saddle and sight along the wheels. If they aren't in perfect alignment, and close enough isn't good enough then that's the cause of your problem.
This problem is unfortunately common these day's and I suspect that the fashion for vertical rear dropouts is at least partialy responsible. The modern factory road bike I had for a year wasn't paticuarly stable and the cheapy I bought was shockingly out of alignment. My custom steel road bike with semi-horizontal dropouts is spot on though and is perfectly stable with no hands even though it has VERY fast geometry.
I also bought a vintage cheapy childrens bike the other day and its alignment was spot on. Dodgy work just seems to be the norm these day's.
Regards, Anthony
This problem is unfortunately common these day's and I suspect that the fashion for vertical rear dropouts is at least partialy responsible. The modern factory road bike I had for a year wasn't paticuarly stable and the cheapy I bought was shockingly out of alignment. My custom steel road bike with semi-horizontal dropouts is spot on though and is perfectly stable with no hands even though it has VERY fast geometry.
I also bought a vintage cheapy childrens bike the other day and its alignment was spot on. Dodgy work just seems to be the norm these day's.
Regards, Anthony
04-29-07, 09:50 PM
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Take the bike to Goodyear or Sears and have them do a front-end alignment...sounds like your caster or camber is off, or maybe your tie rods are worn!
I'm getting loopy, time to quit and go to bed!
I'm getting loopy, time to quit and go to bed!
04-29-07, 10:46 PM
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Problem solved yet.?..but I would advice against testing.
Originally Posted by olie05
AH! the cables...
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
04-30-07, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by olie05
AH! the cables...
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
that sounds about right. I didn't spend much time getting the cable geometry correct...
If you notice, the rear brake cable probably needs to be shorter.
You ride it like that????
04-30-07, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
You ride it like that????
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-30-07, 11:06 AM
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Faster but still slow
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Bar tape is for wussy.
Apparently so is having the handlebars anywhere near the correct position.
05-01-07, 07:18 PM
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That picture is a few weeks old. I have wrapped the bars, although I did ride it like that a few times (with gloves).
I moved the rear wheel around a little in the dropouts and found a position that almost eliminates the problem, and it looks to be inline with the front wheel.
I'll look into the headset, although I don't think thats it. On my last long distance ride, when I would go over really rough roads I noticed that the front wheel was moving forward and back a little. I felt slop in the headset when grabing the fork, and made a small adjustment to it just so the slop would go away, but I was far from overtightening it, and it still rotates freely.
oh yeah, someday i'll get around to rerouting the cables... for now, they stay the way they are.
I moved the rear wheel around a little in the dropouts and found a position that almost eliminates the problem, and it looks to be inline with the front wheel.
I'll look into the headset, although I don't think thats it. On my last long distance ride, when I would go over really rough roads I noticed that the front wheel was moving forward and back a little. I felt slop in the headset when grabing the fork, and made a small adjustment to it just so the slop would go away, but I was far from overtightening it, and it still rotates freely.
oh yeah, someday i'll get around to rerouting the cables... for now, they stay the way they are.
05-02-07, 10:30 AM
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How about the handlebars? Are they still pointed towards China?
05-02-07, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
How about the handlebars? Are they still pointed towards Home?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
05-02-07, 01:36 PM
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Maybe you have a crooked ass?
05-02-07, 02:03 PM
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Also check that the wheels are centered and straight in the dropouts. If you tighten them down crooked, the bike might not track straight. It's easy to do if you put wheels on when the bikes off the floor, like when it's in the stand.
05-02-07, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
Huh?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey