Am I sick or is the bike?

[fatblokish]

I had a very unsettling experience on the bike yesterday.

To set the scene: I was riding uphill, slowly as usual, focusing on the rear wheel of a friend's bike some 4 feet ahead of me, when I had a moment. It felt like I was losing my balance or was suffering from vertigo or summat and I veered almost to the centre-line of the road whilst trying to stay upright. I only ever have had this experience when disembarking a ferry on foot that has been over choppy waters and is known in our family as "ferry-out".

Further on into our 30 mile ride I sensed (more than noticed) some peculiarity with the steering although it was so insignificant I carried on anyway.

Today I had a look over my bike and this time noticed a very slight clunkiness in the steering. Does this mean a new Aheadset is needed?

Anyway, further questions in case the answer to the above is affirmative.

1. The bike is a Mercian circa 2001, is this a 1" A headset?
2. I built the bike up years ago but the only part I did not touch, and was installed by Mercian, was the Campag Chorus Aheadset. If I DIY what tools are needed to remove and replace an Aheadset and is it easy or is the LBS a better choice?
3. I cut down the steerer tube myself back in 2001 but in the last six months I replaced the stem, could this be an issue?
4. Should I ditch the Merc and buy another bike?
5. Do I need to take my imbalance issues to the quack?

thanks as always

FB

 

[gbb]

Swing your bars and feel for any notchiness, resistance etc. If its all smooth, then your headsets probably ok.
Are your bars tight and aligned properly.
Are you brake cables ok, not fouling or twisted over each other...This can create resistance, like something pulling to one side.

Vertigo ?.

 

[Crackle]

I'm no quack but you can suffer vertigo for a number of reasons, I have myself. Just suddenly lost my balance and had a few giddy occasions later, all, most probably, due to an infection. So it may not be the bike but if you've got a notchy headset, get it sorted anyway.

 

[lutonloony]

Notched headset not likely to cause such a drastic reaction IMHO, more likely medical?

 

[fatblokish]

Okies,
Just been out to check on the bike, I lifted up the front wheel off the ground and waggled the bars, there is definitely a notch about the "straight ahead" position and this is not caused by any cables fouling on each other.

I will take myself to the Docs just in case, but in the meantime

1. Are Mercians fittied with a 1" headset
2. Should I change both the Aheadset and the bottom cups? If so, what bottom cups are compatible?
3. Is a campag record a good replacement?
4. Owt else I should know?

ta

FB

 

[Fab Foodie]

Mercian is a quality bike. You should replace the whole headset. Is it a threaded steerer?
Campagnolo is as good a quality as any ( though others are available that will be fine).

 

[fatblokish]

Mercian is a quality bike. You should replace the whole headset. Is it a threaded steerer?
Campagnolo is as good a quality as any ( though others are available that will be fine).

Not threaded, no. Aheadset and fangled nut.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Replace the headset, check for vertigo. Blood pressure meds?

 

[mrandmrspoves]

It is likely to be 1inch based on age alone - but if you take a spacer off you should be able to measure it or take to a LBS for confirmation.
I would be tempted to try replacing the bearings and regreasing and seeing if that cures it - but if you check the races and see they are badly worn they will need replacing.
I think it unlikely that a normally worn headset would cause you to swerve and lose balance but a visit to the doctors may well not reveal anything either because of the transient nature of your symptoms.
I will ask the obvious question which is had you eaten and more importantly (because dehydration can cause your blood pressure to drop) drank sufficiently?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Not threaded, no. Aheadset and fangled nut.

Ok, then given the choice I'd get replacement from Hope. British company and very smooth. IMO the headset is one of the most important parts of the bike being the join between fork and frame, so worth investing in the best you can get.

 

[2IT]

It's probably both. Many have had the "this bike is not right feeling" without feeling dizzy.

Another possibility is a stress induced viral attack near the inner ear. Combine life and a physical stress and you're dizzy. Treated mine with an antidepressant and it stays away. Whereas they used to come and go for about fifteen years.

Also do neck exercises to continually train the inner ear to respond appropriately. Oh the joys of aging.

I had a very unsettling experience on the bike yesterday.

To set the scene: I was riding uphill, slowly as usual, focusing on the rear wheel of a friend's bike some 4 feet ahead of me, when I had a moment. It felt like I was losing my balance or was suffering from vertigo or summat and I veered almost to the centre-line of the road whilst trying to stay upright. I only ever have had this experience when disembarking a ferry on foot that has been over choppy waters and is known in our family as "ferry-out".

Further on into our 30 mile ride I sensed (more than noticed) some peculiarity with the steering although it was so insignificant I carried on anyway.

Today I had a look over my bike and this time noticed a very slight clunkiness in the steering. Does this mean a new Aheadset is needed?

Anyway, further questions in case the answer to the above is affirmative.

1. The bike is a Mercian circa 2001, is this a 1" A headset?
2. I built the bike up years ago but the only part I did not touch, and was installed by Mercian, was the Campag Chorus Aheadset. If I DIY what tools are needed to remove and replace an Aheadset and is it easy or is the LBS a better choice?
3. I cut down the steerer tube myself back in 2001 but in the last six months I replaced the stem, could this be an issue?
4. Should I ditch the Merc and buy another bike?
5. Do I need to take my imbalance issues to the quack?

thanks as always

FB

 

[fatblokish]

Thank you for all the replies, I have this afternoon replaced the headset bearings and filled with grease. A ride in the morning will determine whether that part of the problem is fixed..I'll let you know how I get on.

ta

 

[fatblokish]

Well, just about perfect!
32 miles this morning, plenty of hills and not a moment of concern,

thanks everyone!

FB