Wheels feel skittish? cause for concern?
Discussion
I've noticed in the past year that whenever I ride over a stone, pot hole or raised paving at an angle my wheels feel very skittish horizontally. If i run over one of these it will almost jump sideways (left/right, depending on which way it's it's contacted) and makes me s
t myself for a fraction of a second (not literally). I'm, not sure if it's combination of the fact that i have different tyres, or maybe it's something else? i tend to check my tyre pressures every few days depending on how often i ride and always pump it up to 110psi.
cause for concern? something i've not overlooked?
having said that I have felt for a long time that it could do with dropping the bike off to halfords for a full service, the wheels spin true so i supppose the nipples don't need fondling. or maybe i'm wrong?
t myself for a fraction of a second (not literally). I'm, not sure if it's combination of the fact that i have different tyres, or maybe it's something else? i tend to check my tyre pressures every few days depending on how often i ride and always pump it up to 110psi. cause for concern? something i've not overlooked?
having said that I have felt for a long time that it could do with dropping the bike off to halfords for a full service, the wheels spin true so i supppose the nipples don't need fondling. or maybe i'm wrong?
i don't think the psi matters that much IMO. perhaps it's down to the fact that I upgraded from 23c to 25c wheels?
the wheels and tyres i had on my decathalon triban 3 were pretty crap, just can't help but wonder as it does give me a little fright when it happens and makes me not want to push too much in turns.
the wheels and tyres i had on my decathalon triban 3 were pretty crap, just can't help but wonder as it does give me a little fright when it happens and makes me not want to push too much in turns.
henrycrun said:
Do you trust the Halfords guy ? I'd always check out the LBS first.
last time i went to my local their was a repair guy that i seemed to trust as he chose to repair/replace my bottom bracket there and then instead of taking my bike off me and me having to wait for days. if the guy is still there then the answer is yes.otherwise there isnt really an indie bike shop near me in my area. I'd have to hop onto the c2c and find somewhere that might be worth going to near Limehouse or fenchurch street (london).
Unless you're decidedly on the chunky side, 110 is a *lot*, especially in the front wheel. Most folks will be running 25's at lower pressures; at 80kg I don't run 100+ on 23's. On 25's, I run about 80psi front, and 90 rear.
Yes the high pressure will make them more skittsh. Simply put, less tread on the road. Also don't cross things at shallow angles. The tyres will grip surprisingly well in most circumstances (so long as you don't have a truly terrible tyre), but a ridge at a shallow angle to the wheel can take it out from under you.
If the wheels are true, there's nothing to do with the spokes. It could be made worse by shot bearings in either the wheel or the headset.. but less likely. very high pressure and riding at things at angles you probably shouldn't. Oh, and gravel is evil and to be treated with caution!
Yes the high pressure will make them more skittsh. Simply put, less tread on the road. Also don't cross things at shallow angles. The tyres will grip surprisingly well in most circumstances (so long as you don't have a truly terrible tyre), but a ridge at a shallow angle to the wheel can take it out from under you.
If the wheels are true, there's nothing to do with the spokes. It could be made worse by shot bearings in either the wheel or the headset.. but less likely. very high pressure and riding at things at angles you probably shouldn't. Oh, and gravel is evil and to be treated with caution!
ambuletz said:
I am.actually, should i therefore not be pumping it up to 110psi? whenever i check after afew days or a week (varies) the pressure is usually down to 100psi so it's not much to pump back up to 110.
How heavy are you? That will drive the pressure you put in.Most people would suggest a 10-20psi drop when you go from 23-25mm anyway.
It's almost cetainly your tyre pressures.
Moving from 23 to 25, as has been said above, you can reduce anyway.
It's not like you're making life changing decisions anyway - just give reduced pressure a go.
I'm 85kg and run 80 psi on 25mm gp4000s. Suggest you try 90psi and see how you get on.
If the pressure is too low, the bike will feel very strange in cornering (washy, understeery oversteery and not at all confidence inspiring) - but there will be a balance.
Try 90, 95, 100 and pick what works.
This all assuming that your headset, hub, cranks and pedals are all secure and free of any play, of course!
Moving from 23 to 25, as has been said above, you can reduce anyway.
It's not like you're making life changing decisions anyway - just give reduced pressure a go.
I'm 85kg and run 80 psi on 25mm gp4000s. Suggest you try 90psi and see how you get on.
If the pressure is too low, the bike will feel very strange in cornering (washy, understeery oversteery and not at all confidence inspiring) - but there will be a balance.
Try 90, 95, 100 and pick what works.
This all assuming that your headset, hub, cranks and pedals are all secure and free of any play, of course!
ambuletz said:
i don't think the psi matters that much IMO. perhaps it's down to the fact that I upgraded from 23c to 25c wheels?
.
From a purely physics point of view, psi definitely does matter..
Instead of a rock sending your effectively solid tyre jabbing off to the side, the tyre is much more likely to deform around the rock and carry in in the same direction!
I have weighed everywhere between 94 - 118 kg and run 25mm. At the top end I run 115 rear, 100-105 front. In the middle where the OP is I would be 105/95. The occasional stone would cause a slight skip and little bit of wee to come out but not that bad, there is enough weight over it to prevent much movement.
It depends as well where you are riding. On the roads there are few stones. I cycle to work on cycle paths and during the summer it was fine but in autumn with conkers, and crap all over the path I have swapped to a MTB as I kept hitting things and having the tyres skip.
It depends as well where you are riding. On the roads there are few stones. I cycle to work on cycle paths and during the summer it was fine but in autumn with conkers, and crap all over the path I have swapped to a MTB as I kept hitting things and having the tyres skip.
Skittish horizontally sounds weird, have you checked the wheel and headset bearings and QRs are all night and tight (and that the spokes are tight) ?
I have bought bikes in the past which had wheels with not enough tension on the spokes. They were true but didn't ride well.
As for tyre pressure, I use this which seems to work, giving ~75 on the front and ~95 on the rear for my weight:
I have bought bikes in the past which had wheels with not enough tension on the spokes. They were true but didn't ride well.
As for tyre pressure, I use this which seems to work, giving ~75 on the front and ~95 on the rear for my weight:
well you guys have me worried now. I should probably take the bike in for a complete service as it's not really something it's ever really had. the bike is a decathalon after all, and never came with any free checkup services like halfords do with their bikes. On one occasion when the bottom bracket pretty much seized i did take it to halfords, the good mechanic there noticed it had somehow been put on the wrong way and was flabbergasted.
now to decide if I will take it to my local halfords (there is no indies around my area). or take it on the c2c and see if there's a bike shop worth visiting around the limehouse or fenchurch street area. full service for peace of mind.
now to decide if I will take it to my local halfords (there is no indies around my area). or take it on the c2c and see if there's a bike shop worth visiting around the limehouse or fenchurch street area. full service for peace of mind.
ambuletz said:
well you guys have me worried now. I should probably take the bike in for a complete service as it's not really something it's ever really had. the bike is a decathalon after all, and never came with any free checkup services like halfords do with their bikes. On one occasion when the bottom bracket pretty much seized i did take it to halfords, the good mechanic there noticed it had somehow been put on the wrong way and was flabbergasted.
now to decide if I will take it to my local halfords (there is no indies around my area). or take it on the c2c and see if there's a bike shop worth visiting around the limehouse or fenchurch street area. full service for peace of mind.
seriosuly - just give it a few rides with lower pressures first.now to decide if I will take it to my local halfords (there is no indies around my area). or take it on the c2c and see if there's a bike shop worth visiting around the limehouse or fenchurch street area. full service for peace of mind.
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