Since the early 1980s I've ridden my 1977 Schwinn ten-speed many tens of thousands of miles "no-hand" while playing guitar in traffic day and night, up hills, from one town to the next and back nonstop, to stores, restaurants, etc.
Last November I made the mistake of riding WITHOUT a guitar. Somehow my front wheel hit a curb or something and bent the rim. The LBS straightened it, but lately my front wheel has developed a wicked shimmy. It whips sideways back and forth faster and faster making it less safe for me to ride with no hands playing guitar.
I checked the tire's air pressure first. It's good. I also don't think the front fork is bent. There are no scratches in the paint or deformations of the front fork to indicate any damage has been done to it. I had the front wheel hub rebuilt with all new bearings and fresh Phil Wood waterproof grease. When I hold up the bike and spin the front wheel, it looks straight. However, something is evidently wrong.
It seems worse when I have cargo on the rack over the rear wheel. This may be taking some of the weight off the front wheel, but why is it shimmying? It didn't use to. Any ideas anyone?
When I can afford it I plan to have new wheels built using vintage Schwinn Approved quick release hubs and new Sun CR-18 27" rims. Until then, if the shimmy on the existing front wheel can't be fixed, I will switch back to the original bolt-on front wheel that came with my bike.
Last November I made the mistake of riding WITHOUT a guitar. Somehow my front wheel hit a curb or something and bent the rim. The LBS straightened it, but lately my front wheel has developed a wicked shimmy. It whips sideways back and forth faster and faster making it less safe for me to ride with no hands playing guitar.
I checked the tire's air pressure first. It's good. I also don't think the front fork is bent. There are no scratches in the paint or deformations of the front fork to indicate any damage has been done to it. I had the front wheel hub rebuilt with all new bearings and fresh Phil Wood waterproof grease. When I hold up the bike and spin the front wheel, it looks straight. However, something is evidently wrong.
It seems worse when I have cargo on the rack over the rear wheel. This may be taking some of the weight off the front wheel, but why is it shimmying? It didn't use to. Any ideas anyone?
When I can afford it I plan to have new wheels built using vintage Schwinn Approved quick release hubs and new Sun CR-18 27" rims. Until then, if the shimmy on the existing front wheel can't be fixed, I will switch back to the original bolt-on front wheel that came with my bike.