Balance - Page 3

06-06-2004, 07:08 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> I recently had some work done on my bike. Since getting it back from the
> shop it feels like it pulls to the right. The work I had done was related to
> the drive on the right side of the bike and new parts were installed. Is it
> possible that this has thrown off the bike's balance? Has anyone ever
> experienced this? Is there anyway to check a bike's balance and then correct
> it if it is off?

It's not the bike's "balance." It's more likely the bike's wheel
alignment. They may not have the rear wheel in straight. (They may not
have the front wheel in straight, but it sounds like they worked in the
back.) The other potential cause is a bent frame or fork, but if your
bike rode fine before the shop visit, that's an unlikely cause.

Look at the back wheel, where the tire passes between the chain stays
(the two frame tubes just behind the crankset). Is the spacing between
the tire and those frame tubes even on the left and right? If not, the
wheel's crooked in the frame.

Loosen the rear quick release lever (or axle nuts, whichever you have),
pull the axle all the way back in the dropout slots and re-tighten, then
check again. Still crooked? Loosen again and "steer" the wheel
straight before re-tightening. If you've got axle nuts, it's sometimes
helpful to leave the right one tight and loosen only the left before you
steer the wheel straight.

But now that you've fussed with it, check to be sure the wheel's
straight between the brake shoes. You don't want it to drag the brakes,
even a little.

The front wheel is usually easier. With the bike on the ground, just
loosen the axle's quick release or nuts, push down on the handlebars to
force the wheel & axle firmly up into the fork ends, then re-tighten and
check the brakes.

There are more precise measurements we could discuss, but those moves
will usually take care of things.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-06-2004, 08:23 AM

<sstearns@main wrote: I recently had some work done on my bike. Since
getting it back from the shop it feels like it pulls to the
right(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen bicycles with one loaded pannier, certainly out of balance
more than yours could be, being ridden without difficulty. I have
ridden with an unbalanced load lashed to the rack, and all that
happens is that I shift my body weight and the angle of the frame to
compensate. I don't think your problem is caused by unbalanced
weight. Since you say that drive-train components were replaced, my
first thought is that the rear wheel was not fully engaged in the
dropouts when it was reinstalled. Certainly, if the rear wheel is set
at an angle, this would cause the bike to handle "funny."

06-06-2004, 08:23 AM

<sstearns@main wrote: I recently had some work done on my bike. Since
getting it back from the shop it feels like it pulls to the
right(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen bicycles with one loaded pannier, certainly out of balance
more than yours could be, being ridden without difficulty. I have
ridden with an unbalanced load lashed to the rack, and all that
happens is that I shift my body weight and the angle of the frame to
compensate. I don't think your problem is caused by unbalanced
weight. Since you say that drive-train components were replaced, my
first thought is that the rear wheel was not fully engaged in the
dropouts when it was reinstalled. Certainly, if the rear wheel is set
at an angle, this would cause the bike to handle "funny."

06-06-2004, 08:23 AM

<sstearns@main wrote: I recently had some work done on my bike. Since
getting it back from the shop it feels like it pulls to the
right(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen bicycles with one loaded pannier, certainly out of balance
more than yours could be, being ridden without difficulty. I have
ridden with an unbalanced load lashed to the rack, and all that
happens is that I shift my body weight and the angle of the frame to
compensate. I don't think your problem is caused by unbalanced
weight. Since you say that drive-train components were replaced, my
first thought is that the rear wheel was not fully engaged in the
dropouts when it was reinstalled. Certainly, if the rear wheel is set
at an angle, this would cause the bike to handle "funny."

06-06-2004, 08:23 AM

<sstearns@main wrote: I recently had some work done on my bike. Since
getting it back from the shop it feels like it pulls to the
right(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen bicycles with one loaded pannier, certainly out of balance
more than yours could be, being ridden without difficulty. I have
ridden with an unbalanced load lashed to the rack, and all that
happens is that I shift my body weight and the angle of the frame to
compensate. I don't think your problem is caused by unbalanced
weight. Since you say that drive-train components were replaced, my
first thought is that the rear wheel was not fully engaged in the
dropouts when it was reinstalled. Certainly, if the rear wheel is set
at an angle, this would cause the bike to handle "funny."

06-06-2004, 08:23 AM

<sstearns@main wrote: I recently had some work done on my bike. Since
getting it back from the shop it feels like it pulls to the
right(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen bicycles with one loaded pannier, certainly out of balance
more than yours could be, being ridden without difficulty. I have
ridden with an unbalanced load lashed to the rack, and all that
happens is that I shift my body weight and the angle of the frame to
compensate. I don't think your problem is caused by unbalanced
weight. Since you say that drive-train components were replaced, my
first thought is that the rear wheel was not fully engaged in the
dropouts when it was reinstalled. Certainly, if the rear wheel is set
at an angle, this would cause the bike to handle "funny."

06-06-2004, 03:07 PM

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 10:23:59 +0000, sstearns wrote:

> I recently had some work done on my bike. Since getting it back from the
> shop it feels like it pulls to the right. The work I had done was related to
> the drive on the right side of the bike and new parts were installed. Is it
> possible that this has thrown off the bike's balance? Has anyone ever
> experienced this? Is there anyway to check a bike's balance and then correct
> it if it is off?

Pulling to one side would either be caused by alignment problems, fork or
frame, or maybe wheels that were not all the way in and straight before
they were clamped down.

One other thing might be the problem. If the work involved the handlebars
at all, say to replace a shifter, or even to raise the bars, it might be
that one of the brake cables is too tight, literally pulling the bike to
one side. It might also be shifters, depending on brand.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?
(_)/ (_) | Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. -- J.
R. R. Tolkien

06-06-2004, 03:07 PM

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 10:23:59 +0000, sstearns wrote:

> I recently had some work done on my bike. Since getting it back from the
> shop it feels like it pulls to the right. The work I had done was related to
> the drive on the right side of the bike and new parts were installed. Is it
> possible that this has thrown off the bike's balance? Has anyone ever
> experienced this? Is there anyway to check a bike's balance and then correct
> it if it is off?

Pulling to one side would either be caused by alignment problems, fork or
frame, or maybe wheels that were not all the way in and straight before
they were clamped down.

One other thing might be the problem. If the work involved the handlebars
at all, say to replace a shifter, or even to raise the bars, it might be
that one of the brake cables is too tight, literally pulling the bike to
one side. It might also be shifters, depending on brand.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?
(_)/ (_) | Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. -- J.
R. R. Tolkien

06-06-2004, 03:07 PM

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 10:23:59 +0000, sstearns wrote:

> I recently had some work done on my bike. Since getting it back from the
> shop it feels like it pulls to the right. The work I had done was related to
> the drive on the right side of the bike and new parts were installed. Is it
> possible that this has thrown off the bike's balance? Has anyone ever
> experienced this? Is there anyway to check a bike's balance and then correct
> it if it is off?

Pulling to one side would either be caused by alignment problems, fork or
frame, or maybe wheels that were not all the way in and straight before
they were clamped down.

One other thing might be the problem. If the work involved the handlebars
at all, say to replace a shifter, or even to raise the bars, it might be
that one of the brake cables is too tight, literally pulling the bike to
one side. It might also be shifters, depending on brand.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?
(_)/ (_) | Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. -- J.
R. R. Tolkien

06-06-2004, 03:07 PM

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 10:23:59 +0000, sstearns wrote:

> I recently had some work done on my bike. Since getting it back from the
> shop it feels like it pulls to the right. The work I had done was related to
> the drive on the right side of the bike and new parts were installed. Is it
> possible that this has thrown off the bike's balance? Has anyone ever
> experienced this? Is there anyway to check a bike's balance and then correct
> it if it is off?

Pulling to one side would either be caused by alignment problems, fork or
frame, or maybe wheels that were not all the way in and straight before
they were clamped down.

One other thing might be the problem. If the work involved the handlebars
at all, say to replace a shifter, or even to raise the bars, it might be
that one of the brake cables is too tight, literally pulling the bike to
one side. It might also be shifters, depending on brand.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?
(_)/ (_) | Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. -- J.
R. R. Tolkien