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bike veers to the right

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bike veers to the right

Old 05-21-07, 03:02 PM
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Are you coasting , pedaling ,or both when this problem occurs? Sitting , standing , or both when this problem occurs? Are you riding in a red state, a blue state, or both when this problem occurs?
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Old 05-21-07, 03:03 PM
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If it is very noticeble to you, getting worse and undetectable to the mechanic; it sounds like an ear infection or mini stroke.
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Old 05-21-07, 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by dekindy
Head set problem?
I bought a used bike, recently, which was almost new, factory installed headset - integrated. It felt fine at first, but over a few weeks of riding it got progressively 'tighter', to the point where steering was affected.
Had to loosen the stem and pop the compression ring that slides down inside the top race area. Then 're-installed' it all again and set the headset downforce properly.
Even with the stem force set right, I think some headset designs allow the compression ring to snug down further.
Maybe try poppin the stem up a bit, loosening the upper race parts and then doing a 'readjust' on the headset. That should then allow those small steering/balance adjustments so neccessary for good smooth steering control.
If you have the nosepicker at the LBS do it, ask them to set it so headset adjustment is just a bit tighter than 'loose' where fork shake is eliminated as opposed to 'tight' and the rotation feels 'binding'.
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Old 05-21-07, 03:50 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by curiouskid55
Are you coasting , pedaling ,or both when this problem occurs? Sitting , standing , or both when this problem occurs? Are you riding in a red state, a blue state, or both when this problem occurs?
i can be coasting, pedaling or both and all while sitting. i don't notice it while climbling or sprinting out of the saddle probably because im rocking the bike from underneath me.
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Old 05-21-07, 03:51 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by jhglaw
If it is very noticeble to you, getting worse and undetectable to the mechanic; it sounds like an ear infection or mini stroke.
o ****....i hope it's an ear infection and not a stroke....im too young to stop biking...o yeah, and living...
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Old 05-21-07, 03:53 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by cyclezen
I bought a used bike, recently, which was almost new, factory installed headset - integrated. It felt fine at first, but over a few weeks of riding it got progressively 'tighter', to the point where steering was affected.
Had to loosen the stem and pop the compression ring that slides down inside the top race area. Then 're-installed' it all again and set the headset downforce properly.
Even with the stem force set right, I think some headset designs allow the compression ring to snug down further.
Maybe try poppin the stem up a bit, loosening the upper race parts and then doing a 'readjust' on the headset. That should then allow those small steering/balance adjustments so neccessary for good smooth steering control.
If you have the nosepicker at the LBS do it, ask them to set it so headset adjustment is just a bit tighter than 'loose' where fork shake is eliminated as opposed to 'tight' and the rotation feels 'binding'.
sounds like a good idea. but i think im gonna go and see the doctor first...apparently after all these ppl mentioned about ear problems i do recall some discomfort and weird headaches lately. but if a check with the doc tells me everything checks out then im gonna head down to the lbs for the adjustment you're telling me. thx.
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Old 05-21-07, 04:15 PM
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Wow,ear infection,one arm shorter,stroke,oversize genitals,leaning to the left in "Frisco"?.Fella,BF is not the place to get good medical advice.They are ready to throw you in the nursing home.
Did the LBS go retro on your bike and mis-glue tubulars on your rims?
Fill your tires with Slime(flat repellent)?
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Old 05-21-07, 04:20 PM
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Well discounting any life threatening solutions, and if it only happens when you ride the bike I would say your pedaling stroke is out of balance, can be a problem especialy if you are a low cadence masher. Try shifting to very low gear ,light resistance and high cadence spin and see if the problem lessens.
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Old 05-21-07, 06:14 PM
  #34  
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Your problem is a perplexing one. I have a beater bike that's badly out of alignment and it pulls to one side rather strongly yet its only a problem if I try to ride no hands. When my hands are on the bars its just not an issue.

Now on the other side I wouldn't get that worried about the 'close eye's and stand on one foot' test because I'm not that good at it either but it doesn't affect my balance on the bike.

You could check your wheel alignment anyway. Set the bike upside down on the handlebars and saddle, stand back a little and sight along the wheels. If they aren't perfectly in alignment with each other then this will cause the bike to pull to one side. Misalignment however shouldn't cause the bike to be dangerously unstable with your hands on the handlebars.

Maybe its a bit of a headset issue. Maybe its a bit of a balance issue. Hard to say.

Regards, Anthony
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Old 05-22-07, 01:35 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by curiouskid55
Well discounting any life threatening solutions, and if it only happens when you ride the bike I would say your pedaling stroke is out of balance, can be a problem especialy if you are a low cadence masher. Try shifting to very low gear ,light resistance and high cadence spin and see if the problem lessens.
no, im high cadence
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Old 05-22-07, 01:38 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by AnthonyG
Your problem is a perplexing one. I have a beater bike that's badly out of alignment and it pulls to one side rather strongly yet its only a problem if I try to ride no hands. When my hands are on the bars its just not an issue.

Now on the other side I wouldn't get that worried about the 'close eye's and stand on one foot' test because I'm not that good at it either but it doesn't affect my balance on the bike.

You could check your wheel alignment anyway. Set the bike upside down on the handlebars and saddle, stand back a little and sight along the wheels. If they aren't perfectly in alignment with each other then this will cause the bike to pull to one side. Misalignment however shouldn't cause the bike to be dangerously unstable with your hands on the handlebars.

Maybe its a bit of a headset issue. Maybe its a bit of a balance issue. Hard to say.

Regards, Anthony
well, im pretty sure it's an ear infection cuz i was having a pretty bad headache all day. i don't know if it's a fever but if it is a fever it'll be highly likely that it's an ear infection. well, i'll definitely know by tomorrow after going to see the doc.
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Old 05-23-07, 02:37 AM
  #37  
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well, i went to see the doctor today and i have no ear infection. here's the strange news... she told me to walk down a hallway with my eyes open and then walk down the same hallway with my eyes closed... i veered toward the right as i walked down the hallway with my eyes closed. the doctor doesn't even know what is causing that but she booked me an appointment for an MRI. she said that it would be best to get it checked out because i have headaches associated with the imbalance. worst part is she told me to stay off the bike... im going to go for a ride tomorrow with my other bike to see if the same thing happens. im still hoping it's something with the bike and not me.
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Old 05-23-07, 06:38 AM
  #38  
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Wow, scary. Good luck, and report back. Kudos to the bike for exposing the condition though.
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Old 05-23-07, 07:38 AM
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Good luck. Don't let it worry you too much yet. I've been in the same situation.
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Old 06-11-07, 08:24 PM
  #40  
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AND IM CURED! i figured out the problem after getting my MRI yesterday morning...no, i haven't gotten the results but i did some testing of my owning today. i rode with my old ocr 3 and i had no problems with the bike at all. so, that means it's really the bike and not me. so, i took a look at my old bike and i was examining the saddle and it seemed really flimsy. i mean, i have the selle italia signo race saddle and i think because it flexes to my leg movements it doesn't really properly support my weight which in itself is strange because im not heavy....i weigh only 140 lbs. i went ahead and swapped out my signo with the saddle from my ocr3 and went out for a 20 miler and everything was great again. no veering. thank you guys for all the suggestions and all your help. im glad it's not me and that it's also not a major problem with my bike either.
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Old 06-11-07, 08:45 PM
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Are you looking right, try looking toward the left and see if it still veers.
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Old 06-11-07, 09:07 PM
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I can't help but love that BF managed to make halocon a hypochondriac for all of 3 weeks with the rash of medical "could-be's". All joking aside though, I'm glad it was just the saddle.
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Old 06-11-07, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Dick Rhee
I can't help but love that BF managed to make halocon a hypochondriac for all of 3 weeks with the rash of medical "could-be's". All joking aside though, I'm glad it was just the saddle.
OOH Booyea!

Originally Posted by slvoid
Believe it or not, the saddle has a lot to do with balance. Check to see if that's off. Also check your shoes, maybe your pedaling style is causing a bias.
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Old 06-11-07, 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Dick Rhee
I can't help but love that BF managed to make halocon a hypochondriac for all of 3 weeks with the rash of medical "could-be's". All joking aside though, I'm glad it was just the saddle.
hahahaha, no worries guys, my job covers my doctor visits without requiring any co-pay on my part. i mean, going through all the medical stuff just helps to narrow down the possiblities. thanks again for all the help.
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Old 06-11-07, 10:26 PM
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Man you lucked out with good insurance. Heck my insurance would stuck me with
3000.00 for that MRI. You should celebrate and by a 3000.00 setup since insuranced
covered you and call it your MRI bike

Dynodan
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Old 06-17-07, 05:33 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by slvoid
OOH Booyea!
it's weird...the problem seems to have returned even with a different saddle... maybe it's the seatpost?
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Old 06-17-07, 05:44 AM
  #47  
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Did you ever hurt your hip in any way? A while back I did and would "favor" one side by not putting so much pressure on it. I always end up sitting in a chair as if I'm leaning a little. Even today, because of the "habit", I still lean a bit when I'm sitting. Perhaps you are not sitting straight on the saddle, causing your weight to go to one side?
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Old 06-17-07, 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by halocon
it's weird...the problem seems to have returned even with a different saddle... maybe it's the seatpost?
It's cancer...
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Old 06-19-07, 01:16 AM
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Originally Posted by slvoid
It's cancer...
LOL! not again with the health issues! be gone!
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Old 06-19-07, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by halocon
it's weird...the problem seems to have returned even with a different saddle... maybe it's the seatpost?
It's the beer you're supposed to have it after the ride
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