Unbalanced no hand riding

[jido]

I have a question about riding no-handed.

I just got a new cycle, it is one of these "fixies" - I wanted to give a go to single speed cycling - and the front wheel will very easily go 180°. Despite that I tried no handed riding.

I find that riding no handed is a little incomfortable as I will feel the need to compensate to the right all the time.

I checked the wheels alignment and the seat alignment (and tightening!) and they seem good, do you know why that would happen? My initial thought was that I am not used to the seat yet and I am simply slipping off-centre. But I tried standing up and the bias is still there. What do you think?

 

[vickster]

Hold the handlebars?

 

[Dogtrousers]

As @vickster says, use the handlebars to steer.

Is it actually new? Or is it just new to you? On some older bikes headsets can get notchy when the cups (or cones) get worn engineers (which I am not) call it "brinnelling". If it's an old bike check to see if the headset bearings are smooth.

Note to engineers: Please do not castigate me if I'm misusing this term.

 

[I like Skol]

Are the brakes rubbing on one side


Seriously, is the alignment of the frame right? If it is a cheaper bike then the wheels might not actually line up when riding straight, you could get someone to squat down and look along the bike lengthways as you ride towards/away from them to see if they can see anything obvious. The other thing to check is that the headset is not too tight so it is binding and settling into a position just off straight. If the bike is second hand then the headset could actually be 'brinnelled' where the bearing races have been previously damaged and now settle into an indexed position.

Some people will just regrease and fit new bearings in this case but a full new headset is the only proper fix.

 

[Markymark]

tbf the OP probably doesn't want to ride no-handed, just using it to see if the bike is pulling one way which it appeasr to be.

Now, whether that's the bike or the rider not being symmetrical is another matter...

 

[Red17]

Sure its not just the road camber?

 

[jido]

Yes. It is actually new but it is a cheap bike so that could explain.

It does no seem to be road camber or a caught headset.

I note duly the advice to see my doctor

My plan is to adjust again the rear wheel in case it's not straight.

 

[I like Skol]

Hold the handlebars?

What use is a fixie if you can't cruise down the high street to the coffee bar riding none-handed?

 

[fossyant]

The OP is just crap at no-handed riding, just like me.

 

[Red17]

Could try riding it through a puddle then looking at whether the front wheel and back wheel are tracking the same line (should only have 1 tyre track)

 

[winjim]

Could try riding it through a puddle then looking at whether the front wheel and back wheel are tracking the same line (should only have 1 tyre track)

No, they'll be wibbly wobbly due to the constant topple and correct way that a bike balances. Surely also if the headset was stuck, the rider would simply fall off, as the steering would be unable to provide this correction.

I reckon the rider's just unconciously leaning slightly. I think it'd be very difficult to control for that in any meaningful way.

 

[I like Skol]

The OP is just crap at no-handed riding, just like me.

I thought you were just crap at riding.

 

[RMurphy195]

Try "walking" the bike, holding just the saddle, and see if its the same.

For the puddle test, walk the bike along holding the saddle and the bars, perfectly upright in a straight line to eliminate any wobble.

When riding, it could be just you, rather than the bike , either your natural gait or maybe you are just not sitting on it perfectly upright for some reason!

And don't forget the phrase "look dad, no hands - look dad, no teeth"!

 

[jonny jeez]

Have you ever suffered a serious ear infection?

 

[PeteXXX]

Look, mum, no hands!!

Look, mum, no teeth...