What can cause this

[Allrounder]

HI guys and girls. 

 

I need some advice once again. 

 

I went on a few rides after my crash in Feb, my confidence is fine (I think) but I do not trust my bike a bit. Still fun to ride, but the trust is broken. 

 

Although everything is fine, fixed and tuned, it keeps on feeling like my bike is "drifting" to a side when I ride.

 

At first I thought it is me, and my one shoulder being weaker than the other, my core etc. but I do not get the same effect on my mountain bike. I know this can be due to the wider bars and tires.

 

So the question is, can my road bike have damages that I missed? (Wheels are true) Or is it still my shoulder?

Or am I just a woes and should HTFP? 

 

The bike: Trek 1.2 alu with carbon fork, and mavic acksium wheels, 23c continental tyres.

[joevan]

Bike is easy to check, get LBS to do this. Mind not so easy!

Had a frightening experience on a road bike a few years back, nearly came off at 82km/hr going down Vissershok in a howling South Easter. Serious speed wobble but managed to stay upright so definitely no crash damage.

Never been comfortable on the bike since, and I used to enjoy sharp sweeping descents. No problem on the MTB though, so it's just the road bike that I am uncomfortable with. Feel as if the bike let me down!! So always tensing up going down fast downhills expecting the same thing to happen. 

It's all in the mind!!!

[Allrounder]

how do you see if the frame is bent?

 

Went OTB at around 60kmph. 

 

If it is all in the mind I will have to apply rule 5 is it? 

[Tumbleweed]

Do the simple water test to see if the frame is bent.

[Allrounder]

Do the simple water test to see if the frame is bent.

?

[Tumbleweed]

?

 

Pour a bucket of water on a slight slope. Hold the bike firmly and push it through the puddle, and then out. Check how the tread marks line up on the dry road.

 

It's a simple method, but a bike shop may have an alignment tool/gauge to confirm this. 

[Capricorn]

?

ride in a straight line through a puddle and see if the front and rear wheel leave a single track

[MrJacques]

Handlebars straight?

[Allrounder]

Cool will try that. Thanks guys

[Allrounder]

yes bar is straight and and in the middle. 

[NotSoBigBen]

Pour a bucket of water on a slight slope. Hold the bike firmly and push it through the puddle, and then out. Check how the tread marks line up on the dry road.

 

It's a simple method, but a bike shop may have an alignment tool/gauge to confirm this. 

 

Even at my age you can learn something new every day 

[Ttocs]

Bike is easy to check, get LBS to do this. Mind not so easy!

Had a frightening experience on a road bike a few years back, nearly came off at 82km/hr going down Vissershok in a howling South Easter. Serious speed wobble but managed to stay upright so definitely no crash damage.

Never been comfortable on the bike since, and I used to enjoy sharp sweeping descents. No problem on the MTB though, so it's just the road bike that I am uncomfortable with. Feel as if the bike let me down!! So always tensing up going down fast downhills expecting the same thing to happen. 

It's all in the mind!!!

Check you hub bearings (front and rear), happened to a mate and he nearly killed himself down Sterkies at 80kmph. Was the best R200 spent and speed wobble gone.

[BaGearA]

Check you hub bearings (front and rear), happened to a mate and he nearly killed himself down Sterkies at 80kmph. Was the best R200 spent and speed wobble gone.

This ^^ Never underestimate the effect a worn bearing can have!

[Hennie VR]

Can also push your bike along a solid white line in the road and check if the front and rear wheel follow the same path. 

[Headshot]

HI guys and girls. 

 

I need some advice once again. 

 

I went on a few rides after my crash in Feb, my confidence is fine (I think) but I do not trust my bike a bit. Still fun to ride, but the trust is broken. 

 

Although everything is fine, fixed and tuned, it keeps on feeling like my bike is "drifting" to a side when I ride.

 

At first I thought it is me, and my one shoulder being weaker than the other, my core etc. but I do not get the same effect on my mountain bike. I know this can be due to the wider bars and tires.

 

So the question is, can my road bike have damages that I missed? (Wheels are true) Or is it still my shoulder?

Or am I just a woes and should HTFP? 

 

The bike: Trek 1.2 alu with carbon fork, and mavic acksium wheels, 23c continental tyres.

Mmm, does this only happen on windy days maybe? :-)

[MrJacques]

Fork Alignment can be out as well: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/pull-side.html

 

*unless you have a carbon fork?