Bike Feels Like its Swinging at the Back

[Kaid]

Hi Guys

I don't know whether this is me and the way, I cycle, the paniers which are pretty heavy or my bike but over the last week or so I have noticed that the back of my bike feels like its swinging (left to right) and ideas why this is?

Am I riding too aggressively on my Giant City Hybrid?? I am a returning mountain biker after 10 years?

Kaid

 

[mickle]

Pump up your tyres. If that fails tension your spokes. If that fails check your frame for cracks.

 

[PatrickPending]

indeed - check the walls of your tyres too

 

[threefingerjoe]

Is your rear axle skewer tight?

 

[Bay Runner]

indeed - check the walls of your tyres too

I've had happen a few times time to change the old boots

 

[Randochap]

Check your rack struts/stays and braze-ons or brackets for security. Are they loose or broken?

Are your panniers attached firmly?

 

[zacklaws]

I had this on my road bike the other day which worried me when it happened the first time, as I have never experienced it before, but I put it down to the exceptionally strong side wind and a very slippery road covered in mud that farmers had left just causing my rear wheel to side slip a tad but enough to be felt.

Anyway I hope it was the wind as I cannot find nothing wrong with the bike and it has handled OK since that day.

 

[garrilla]

Is your rear axle skewer tight?

Or broken.

 

[yorkshiregoth]

Had this on my fixie. It was due to a couple of broken spokes.

 

[gaz]

Or broken.

that could be the cause, i;ve had a broken real axle that felt similar.

 

[weevil]

Have you tried just going with the flow and swinging with it. Try whistiling some Glenn Miller tunes to help you along.

Or, more seriously, when do you feel the swinging? Hard pedalling, cornering, braking, in/out of the saddle? Are you felling it through your bum, feet, or hands, or is it just a general feeling?

I can't think of much to the preceding comments, except to check that the saddle's not moving and that the headset's properly adjusted.

 

[gbb]

Sounds far fetched (so much so i'm not convinced myself )...but are you sure its the bike and not you ?
I ask because i've had a similar occurence occasionally. Feels like the bikes got a giro attatched to it, pulling to one side.
Ive checked and checked...nothing. I begin to wonder if its a balance problem, mild vertigo maybe ?

 

[davidg]

I have a pannier on my commute and it feels like that a lot....I just ignore it!

ride without the panniers and if it still feels like that then start to think about it

 

[cyberknight]

Is your rear axle skewer tight?

I had this i could hear a noise at the back and when i checked the rear wheel had a lot of movement...QR skewer needed tightening

 

[kewb]

another thing it might be is the terrain too much power going to back wheel on loose or smooth surface can cause back to fishtail a bit , if its happening constantly you can easily rule this out .