Something isn't right?

[Powely]

I had my first fall the other day. I tried to avoid a big puddle, thinking it might be a deep hole and went up a slightly muddy bit of track and next thing I knew the bike went from under me. The bars were a little out of line and the wheel was buckled. I've taken the bike into my LBS and they fixed the wheel and checked the alignment of everything but something isn't right on the bike. I feel like it wants to go to the right and when I try to ride no handed to stretch my back out it virtually throws me off unless I either lean to the left or quickly grab the bars again. The bike is currently back with my LBS but they aren't sure what it could be. Do you guys have any ideas of what it may be or have had something similar happen to you?

Any help will be much appriciated as it's taking all the enjoyment out of riding it at the moment.

Cheers guys

 

[Pauluk]

I presume it was the front wheel that was damaged? Is the bike a light road bike, hybrid or MTB? If it was happening to me I would check the brake pads first to make sure one side wasn't binding then double check the wheel true. Then with the wheel off check for any play in the hub (all easy to do and quick to check, just check the wheel true against your brake pad by eye).

Following those if they seem ok, I would release the stem and drop the forks checking that the steer tube slides smoothly up and down. Check the head bearings and crown race for any signs of obvious play around the steer tube and check the steer tube for any obvious signs of damage. Make sure that the fork arms haven't been damaged. When you put the steer tube and stem back make sure the steer tube is at the correct tightness (youtube videos show you how).

What you are experiencing seems a bit drastic for a fall you describe, but there seems to be a change in something with the bike even if its subtle.

Hope you get it fixed soon.

 

[sittingbull]

Push it through a long puddle, then push it in a straight line along a dry flat/smooth pavement and make sure you get a single track

 

[Powely]

Hi, Yes it was the front wheel and it's a road bike (a cheap Carrera one). Thanks for the tips, I'll go through them if the LBS doesn't find anything. The LBS said the same thing...it would be strange if anything was bent after such a light crash as there wasn't any direct impact (i.e I didn't actually ride into anything). But it rode true before the crash and now it doesn't??

 

[Powely]

Got the bike from the shop last week and it still wasn't right. They said everything looked straight but said they hadn't rode it so they took it back in and checked over it again and test rode it and they agreed there is something wrong somewhere. They suspect it to be the forks now and have quoted me £75 for new ones. Which seems a tad expensive for a bike that only cost me £300. Also they can't guarantee this will cure the problem. I'm thinking of trying to get a set from eBay to try but how do I know what specs/sizes to look for? Also as I'm still considering buying a new bike I'm in a quandary to whether to invest anymore into this bike or just bite the bullet and buy a new one. Seems a shame to scrap this one completely though as I've only had it about 4 months approx? Any ideas/suggestions folks...I'm currently unable to ride and it's annoying me.

 

[fossyant]

£75 isn't expensive for forks, especially if carbon. Have you checked the headset isn't too tight - that would make things weird !

 

[Powely]

I know you can pay a lot more than £75 for forks and these are not carbon. I think carbon would be excessive for this frame too. I meant £75 seems expensive in relation to the cost of the bike. The LBS said they've checked everything on the front end and check the seat post wasn't bent either as I have it quite a way out of the frame.

 

[palinurus]

Have you checked the headset isn't too tight - that would make things weird !

This would certainly make the bike tricky to ride no-handed.

 

[fossyant]

I can't ride no-handed anyway. I recon the OP has gone all wonkey, and the bike is fine

 

[AndyPeace]

It seems unlikley, as its been to the LBS, but what about wheel dish? With the front wheel being recently serviced, I'd check the rear wheel.

 

[Powely]

It seems unlikley, as its been to the LBS, but what about wheel dish? With the front wheel being recently serviced, I'd check the rear wheel.

Check if it's buckled do you mean?

 

[lpretro1]

The only way to be sure the frame and forks are in alignment would be to take ot to a frame builder and get them to set it on a jig. To be fair to the LBS all they can do is a visual inspection and you cannot always see what may be a very small amount of 'wonkness' - it doesn't need to be too far off for it to make the bike feel bad. The bike shop sound as though they have done all they can to get it right without it costing you a lot of money. £75 is NOT expensive for a set of decent forks.

 

[Powely]

The only way to be sure the frame and forks are in alignment would be to take ot to a frame builder and get them to set it on a jig. To be fair to the LBS all they can do is a visual inspection and you cannot always see what may be a very small amount of 'wonkness' - it doesn't need to be too far off for it to make the bike feel bad. The bike shop sound as though they have done all they can to get it right without it costing you a lot of money. £75 is NOT expensive for a set of decent forks.

Sounds like the next step then. Does anyone now of any framebuilders in Merseyside/Cheshire area?

I do realise £75 isn't a lot for a set of forks just 1/4 of what I paid for the entire bike. but saying that the forks that came with it can't be much cop seeing as they have been bent so easily?

 

[AndyPeace]

Check if it's buckled do you mean?

Wheel dish is how central your rim is to your frame. any bike shop can check this, It requires a simple tool which measures the distance from the locknut to the rim ( which would be equal both sides). A wheel can be true as in round but off center, thus might not appear buckled. you can make a visual inspection by looking at the bike from the rear.

Frame and fork alignment is different from wheel dish but equally could be the cause.

 

[Powely]

Wheel dish is how central your rim is to your frame. any bike shop can check this, It requires a simple tool which measures the distance from the locknut to the rim ( which would be equal both sides). A wheel can be true as in round but off center, thus might not appear buckled. you can make a visual inspection by looking at the bike from the rear.

Arrr ok, I understand. I'll get this looked into. Thanks