Wobbling??

[mike killay]

I watched the pupils coming out of school in Ypres. They were on a cobbled road, yet a number had passengers on their carriers.
They did not wobble at all. I think it must be because of the long framed, heavily raked forks of the 'Dutch' roadster.

 

[trex]

the suspension fork may have something to do with it

 

[neptune]

You may have seen modern bikes which have a tension spring fitted under the steering head. I assume that its function is to centralise the steering on a bike with little fork rake. So it would still have quick steering, but more stability.

 

[flecc]

You may have seen modern bikes which have a tension spring fitted under the steering head. I assume that its function is to centralise the steering on a bike with little fork rake. So it would still have quick steering, but more stability.

They are parking springs, intended to stop a front wheel swinging to the opposite direction when stationary, which can easily happen with the large degree of steering rake on a utility bike. The spring is never strong enough to act as an effective steering damper.

 

[neptune]

@flecc, that would make sense. My non electric bike, a hybrid bike is prone to that very problem, and might benefit from such a spring.

 

[flecc]

They are called steering dampers even though they don't work well in that fashion. Here's links to a couple of them:

First

Second

 

[Willber G]

Something in that, there's a video of Peter Sagan riding his bike on to the bonnet and then roof of his support car to park it on the rack.

Cool! I'm going to try that with my Woosh Zephyr. If it works I'll post a video on here...

 

[peerjay56]

Cool! I'm going to try that with my Woosh Zephyr. If it works I'll post a video on here...

But who's Citroen?

 

[RobF]

Cool! I'm going to try that with my Woosh Zephyr. If it works I'll post a video on here...

Yes, I like old Saggers.

He's been known to pull wheelies across the finishing line.

Road racing is a tiny minority sport and desperately dull to 99.9 per cent of the population.

It needs characters like Sagan to give it some oomph.

 

[flecc]

Road racing is a tiny minority sport and desperately dull to 99.9 per cent of the population.

Not much different from cycling as a whole in the UK then!

 

[peerjay56]

I wobble like an old biddy when on my hybrid at really low speed - it's definitely the bikes geometry. I can ride my wife's urban mover handsfree easily.

 

[robdon]

I bought a Kudos Dutchess in December, when it arrived one of these was lying on the bottom of the box, it is only now that I realise what it was for.
It is of no use though, as the hook that it attaches to is broken on the frame.
does`nt look very strong
ROB

 

[flecc]

The after market ones use a frame clip Rob, so you could still use that if you wish. The springs aren't very strong but they are enough to stop the steering irritatingly reversing at awkward parking moments.

It's an odd fact that when parking a bike, especially on a hill, we often need to be like an octopus. A hand to hold the bike upright, two more to manipulate the lock, maybe two further hands to pass a chain or cable around a post and if the steering flops around, a hand to catch that.

 

[robdon]

I have all the parts, might be able to make something up.
ROB