Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the May's Giveaway: Win the LIVALL PikaBoost 2 E-bike Conversion Kit


Twitchy handling at higher speeds
#1
My road bike gets a little unstable feeling at higher speeds during downhill runs... starts around 30-35+ MPH. The gyro effect from the front wheel is not increasing enough to over come "the shakes". Tire pressure, front/rear alignment, front hub play, headset play, fork rake and trail... anything else to consider? It bugs me to see mountain bikers on the same roads doing 40+ comfortably! Your thoughts?
  Reply
#2
Some bikes are prone to shake at high speeds. Some say grip the top bar with your knees when on the decent?
What wheels are you using?
I have a light bike with Ksyriums and that feels a bit jittery on downhills. But if I fit my Open Pro's on, it feels O.K.
Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply
#3
Well, the shaking is a resonance effect. Gripping the top tube with the knees is an old trick, it works, I know cause I had to do it. Sometimes the shaking will disappear if you loosen that steel hard grip on the handlebar as the resonance frequency is changed. You might also want to read up on the subject on http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/shimmy.html
  Reply


Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Massive Chainring redux
Yesterday 06:47 PM
Is anyone riding with music?
Yesterday 06:32 PM
POLL: Are non-recumbent riders looking a...
Yesterday 05:26 PM
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
Yesterday 04:51 PM
What was your first bicycle?
Yesterday 04:48 PM
The great thing about trikes
Yesterday 04:33 PM
First long distance ride..
Yesterday 11:26 AM
Great Giro
05-29-2025 08:32 PM
Quiet is good
05-29-2025 09:38 AM
What is your favorite MTB trail/route in...
05-28-2025 06:55 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Criminal
17 posts
no avatar 2. Painkiller
16 posts
no avatar 3. Flowrider
16 posts
no avatar 4. SPINMAN
13 posts
no avatar 5. rydabent
13 posts