i have a problem with my bike...

[hero of valour]

…since i had a service it feels odd when braking. almost as though the tyres are snaking, and its especially bad in the wet conditions….its hard to put my finger on it to be honest…i have to really concentrate on braking safely where before it was not a problem whatsoever….it feels like the bike is almost skidding to the side ever so slightly….i had a fall before xmas when i had to brake hard and ended up with whiplash and 4 days off work….i had to get off my bike at certain times on my commute home tonight and I've never had to do it before…any ideas what it could be…I've thought it could be the new brake pads….new back tyre….no idea really…help! oh and I'm taking it to get the once over tomorrow

 

[L14M]

It could be a number of things,
I'd check wheel's being true,
Tire quality - if they are worn it may cause this, especially in wet with a cross wind.
Otherwise i'm not sure, i'm thinking it could be either of these, both seem possible!
Perhaps even check the stem is lined up and tight?

 

[TissoT]

Are the pads touching the wheel at the same time ...(brakes central to the wheel)
Are the pads on the rim when brakes are applied .....(not touching the tyre wall)
Tyre pressure ...

 

[boydj]

Wheel centred in the drop-outs?

 

[the_mikey]

Check that the wheels are centred in the drop outs, if you have quick release skewers then it's as simple as releasing the wheels, and refitting them ensuring the wheels are straight and true in the drops, the left and right brake pads should both reach the braking surface simultaneously for effective braking, the rim should not be pulled to one side while braking.

 

[Lanzecki]

Serviced? Maybe some cleaner/oil got onto the rims? You'll get a shudder sensation as you pad slips more over the contaminated section.

If you had an LBS do the job, take it back. "Can you look at this, it wasn't doing it before, and I'l worried it's unsafe"

 

[Somewhere]

If it's put together right my money would be on it being in your head!

 

[Globalti]

Broken frame? Check very carefully around the lug areas.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

What bike, brakes, tyres? Are the skewers tight enough, as it sounds from your description that the wheels are loose. Possibly skewers or bearings, tbh we need more info to be able to help.

 

[Globalti]

By the same token, check that the rear wheel axle isn't broken. Certain lightweight boutique hubs do snap their aluminium axles.

 

[PpPete]

All good suggestions above - but here's another thing that conceivable could be worth looking at.

Any chance the tyres were swopped front-to-back in the service?
I only ask because I once put a tyre on the front of my hack bike that had previously been on the back of another bike for a lot of miles. It had got distinctly "squared-off" in it's profile, and whilst that made no difference on the back, it certainly did on the front: the handling was seriously dodgy until I binned that one and replaced it.

 

[Pottsy]

Ok hero of valour, I think you should let us know what it was.