no-hands balance: what makes a bike squirrely? - Page 2

Maybe the shorter top tube of the Ridley is putting more weight on the front wheel.

Not enough info from the OP to determine the cause of this. Were the same wheels/tires used? If not, try the Trek with the wheels from the Damocles - could be a problem with the bearing or even the wheels being out of true/round. Was the descent in question taken during similar weather conditions - not uncommon to have the bike shake a little because you're shaking ever so slightly. Have you had the headset checked? What's the weight distribution like on the Trek when you're sat on it?

Roadhouse once again bring the great "unknowledge" - big/heavy guys with the same amount of 'cajones' tend to go downhill faster... That ride I 'challenged' you too - you better be bringing your A game for those extended periods of 50+mph.

Since the early 1980s I have only ridden one bicycle, a 1977 Schwinn Sportabout (poor man's Varsity). Nearly all of the miles I've ridden all these years have been "no hands" while playing guitar.

This year I replaced the steel wheel rims with aluminum ones. I can still ride no hands, but it seems I have to work harder to make the bike turn and the turning circle isn't as tight. Maybe I just need to get used to the feel of the new wheels, but maybe it's physics instead.

I have a 2007 Madone 5.2 and ride with no hands to stretch, eat, etc and have no stability issues. Wheels true & round, headset properly adjusted, frame in alignment. Sounds as if it could be mechanical as already noted above. If I'm on a washboard road I won't attempt no hands, otherwise...

I also have a '77 Sportabout. I understand that green color was the only one offered that year, and the only year it was offered. Pretty little devil that my kids named Kermit, after the frog. It's been on the trainer for a year or so now. I guess I should take it out and ride it, it's a fun bike to ride.

Great feedback, fellas. Appreciate your thoughts and thanks for the advice, Roadhouse...

Checking out Cornell's site...thx!

~John

Yes it is a fun bike to ride! If you want to share photos and info on the internet about it, I could host a page or two about your bicycle on my web site. Please email me if interested.

They made them in '78 too, and yellow was another color option (mine was originally yellow). There is an April 1, 2008 joke page at oldtenspeedgallery.com about a famous bike racing team switching to 1978 lime green Schwinn Sportabouts:

Rock Racing Drop De Rosa For Sportabout

That bike isn't anywhere near ugly enough to be a Rock Racing bike. Michael Ball likes to live his lack of taste out loud.

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I haven't seen the team, but a while back someone told me in an email that the Rock Racing team apparently has a lot of money behind them as evidenced by their equipment, their clothing, and the impressive graphics on their bikes and their transport vehicles. Apparently they drove up in a bunch of brand-new shiny black Cadillac SUVs (if I'm remembering his email correctly; if not it's my mistake not his). The writer of the email was impressed by them.

Whether or not Ball has lack of taste, this Sportabout story shows he has a good sense of humor! Besides, chacun à son goût.

Oh, back to topic. I was riding yesterday afternoon and found that the gusts of wind were pushing my front wheel around so much it was not safe to play guitar as I rode on a busy street in town doing errands. I grew up next to Travis A.F.B. where the biggest cargo planes in the USAF are based because of the winds there, and I was used to riding in wind with the steel wheels, handlebar and stem my bike used to have. I live in Oregon now and just switched to aluminum wheels, handlebar and stem this year.

I definitely noticed a big difference today from the wind pushing the front wheel around. I could see the wheel turn as a gust of wind hit it, necessitating my stopping playing guitar to grab the handlebars for safety. I guess the difference in weight of all those aluminum parts compared to steel is significant for the front wheel's stability in wind when riding with no hands. I hadn't really noticed much of a difference until yesterday, but it was noticable yesterday. On the good side, there is also a noticable difference in how much easier it is now to go UP hills! My bike is about eight percent lighter than it was before the upgrades.

Often the thing we like the most about our new bike--the lively feel---is what we miss the most about our oud bike--the no handed stability. I agree with several of the posters that it could be frame alignment, headset and even rear wheel dish can have an effect.

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