Small bike wobble

[mythil]

Okay, I've gotten back into cycling due to horrible buses in my area and.. well I used to really like taking my bike out plus we have some good bike lanes.

However, I don't know if it's my mounting years of inexperience or the bike I'm using (hybrid road bike) but the handlebars and front wheel still keep swerving a little from side to side at any speed. I'm sorry for the very new/beginner question but I would rather ask and look dumb than not know which it is.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

If you have very wide and upright handlebars, e.g. Flatbars on a Hyrbrid or Mountain bike, then at speed you will make more dramatic movement than if you were on say a road or racing bike - the handlebars on racers are much narrower and so you get a steadier ride.

Why not try out another style of bike and see if you prefer the riding experience.

 

[Markymark]

Try another bike to compare. Also try and remember not to death-grip the handlebars, relax it a little.

 

[mythil]

Thanks, I can't really afford another bike, would be cheaper to change the handlebars :P

I don't go at much speed since I'm using the bike paths, there is always just an odd swerve or wobble.

 

[Markymark]

Thanks, I can't really afford another bike, would be cheaper to change the handlebars :P.

No, I mean borrow a friend's for an hour and see if its you or the bike that's wobbling!!

 

[mythil]

No, I mean borrow a friend's for an hour and see if its you or the bike that's wobbling!!

Sad as it sounds, none of my friends own bikes..

 

[billflat12]

don,t know what setup you have ??, first you should check tyre pressures, then headset bearings & ,hub bearings, check if the wheel spokes are loose or wheel is slightly buckled as the rim could catch your brakes ocasionally, if its full suspension check the frame bushes ( in bad cases this can cause ghost shifting or chain derailment .)

 

[Markymark]

Sad as it sounds, none of my friends own bikes..

That is sad, for them. Lets hope you returning will spur one or two of them onto bikes too.

 

[mythil]

Well it could be a number of things. The fact that I've out of practice and the bike (it's not a great bike but it's not cheap either) is a bit "wonky".. I think there is a bike doctor in town so I may take it down there, have them look at it.

 

[daSmirnov]

Depends how much its wobbling.

The handlebars and front wheel will naturally move by themselves to keep the bike balanced, over rough terrain this will be much more noticeable than over smooth tarmac. As others have said, don't hold the bars tightly, if you feel comfortable just put a finger tip on each side, you'll feel the bars moving about but there's shouldn't be any massive sudden jolts that actually change the bikes direction. Fighting against the natural movement will probably make it feel much more severe than it actually is.