Wheel Flex?

[Jburks]

coming at you guys with another newbie question. I noticed the other day while pedaling up hill that I was getting some wheel was rubbing my brakes. I only noticed it when I was really pedaling hard. My bike is a single speed so I have to really get on it when I go up hill. I noticed that my wheels do have a little side to side motion when I apply pressure with my hands. I'm wondering if the wheels flex a bit? is this normal? Thank you for any advice.

[ichitan]

(08-26-2023, 02:42 PM)Jburks Wrote:  I noticed the other day while pedaling up hill that I was getting some wheel was rubbing my brakes. I only noticed it when I was really pedaling hard. My bike is a single speed so I have to really get on it when I go up hill. I noticed that my wheels do have a little side to side motion when I apply pressure with my hands. I'm wondering if the wheels flex a bit? is this normal?

When you say 'flex a bit,' it depends on how much that is. If it is an extremely tiny amount, it might not be a problem. It should not be so much that it rubs on your brakes.

I suggest also checking if the bearings are tight. Is it moving at the axle, or is it wheel flex?

Is there a bike shop near you? Take it in and ask them.

They may be able to tighten the spokes. They may not be able to tighten the spokes, as nipples may be rusted on.

You may need to replace the spokes.

Another option is to just ride the bike, and not do anything until a spoke breaks. If a spoke never breaks, you don't need to do anything.

Does the wheel wobble, or does it run true? If it wobbles too much, you may want to get it fixed.

That is a nice bike. It is worth looking after.

[SPINMAN]

I agree with ichitan that it's probably the hub. From the hub to the fork to the spokes to the wheel, there will be a little flex at all four locations. It's easy to give it a spin and check for true. The other thing you said is that you really have to get on it during a climb. How much weight are you putting on the handlebars, and how much lean are you putting that frame through during every peddle stroke? Doing under 50rpm, you may be putting too much pressure on the fork- and cranks

[ichitan]

(08-26-2023, 05:10 PM)SPINMAN Wrote:  Doing under 50rpm, you may be putting too much pressure on the fork and cranks

I don't know how heavy the op is. If he is a fairly thin, fairly normal person, this would not be a problem. This was a normal bike a few decades ago. These bikes are stronger than new ones. The bike has stainless steel rims, which are much stronger than aluminum rims.

Check the pictures in the ops other posts.

A rider heavier than most cyclists, may be putting more force than normal on the back wheel.

I recently had an aluminum back wheel fail on my 29 inch mountain bike. I made a 29 inch back wheel using a stainless steel rim from an old bike. Most likely, the stainless steel rim will never fail.

Front wheels normally don't fail on my bikes, as they have less weight on them.

https://forums.bikeride.com/thread-8529.html

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

Wheels can flex if the spokes are loose or not up to high spec.

The heavier you are, the more likely this is.

But they shouldn't flex as you've described. This is definitely the hub needs tightened, or the wheel needs trued. I can also add with recent experience that running larger chainrings can cause a drag feeling in your drivetrain which is produced by the pulleys, and replacing the pulleys with sealed and/or ceramic bearing ones smooths this issue out.

[Talha]

I think there's excessive flex.
Here are a few things you can do

1. Trueness. Your wheels must be correctly trued. They must be straight and shouldn't have the 'side to side' motion. If they are out of true, like you say, this can be the reason for the bakes rubbing.
2. Spoke Tension. Adjust spoke tension. If you can't do it give to the handy neighbor's bike shop

You riding style can also cause wobbling but I don't think it would be as noticeable.

[Jburks]

thanks for all the info guys! I'll take it into my local shop here soon. I did have the wheel trued awhile ago but perhaps it wasn't enough. The wheels are old and the spokes are pretty rusty so maybe they are getting worn out too. I'm not huge, 180 pounds but i was putting a lot of force on the bike. it's a single speed bike and I'm pulling a bike trailer with my two children in it up the hill so it's definitely a decent amount of force on the bike. I may just get a new set of wheels at some point. the bike is old and could use them anyway.

[ichitan]

(08-29-2023, 12:07 PM)Jburks Wrote:  I may just get a new set of wheels at some point. the bike is old and could use them anyway.

Those stainless steel rims are much stronger than modern rims. I would not get new wheels. If needed, get new spokes in the existing rims.