My first speed wobble....

[Salty seadog]

I must say I was more intrigued than worried by it as any input from me as stated in my OP stopped the wobble. I didn't let it go on for more than 5 seconds or so as it got more violent with each passing second and I was no handed. I can imagine it getting worse until I'm on the tarmac but wasn't going to take my research that far.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I don't know a lot about speed wobble, but I suspect it's quite hard to define exactly what it is and when it's taken place.

You'll know it when it happens. I've been riding many different bikes averaging several hundred miles a week since approx 1980 and have only had it happen once. It was a bike I used to use for audaxes and clubruns, I had done thousands of miles on it before it happened and I went on to do thousands more without further incident. Just one of those perfect storm random events.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I had a couple of scary speed wobbles on fast, curving down hills on my new road bike a couple of months ago. With a sportive around the Peak District coming up, I decided that I`d better have a look at sorting the problem out and found this https://cyclingtips.com/2011/03/speed-wobble-when-the-bike-shakes-its-head/.

"3. Incorrect weight distribution is a very common cause of speed wobble. Quite often, speed wobble has just as much to do with the rider as it does with the bike. If speed wobble starts occurring, many people will intuatively put their weigh towards the back of the bike instead of putting their weight towards the front to actually stop it and dampen it out. The best thing to do to get out of a wobble is to weight one of your legs down at the 6/12 o’clock position, put some weight on the front end by bending your elbows (use soft hands – don’t grip handlebars firmly!), and take some weight off your seat (to take the pivot point away) which puts more weight back on the handlebars, which puts more weight on the front wheel. This will usually bring stability back to the bike and correct the oscillation. The reason it’s suggested that the pedals be in the 6/12 o’clock position (rather than the 3/9 o’clock position) is because this will bring your body weight into a better balanced position which will calm the bike down."

It worked for me and I now do it before the problem occurs.

Another thing you can add to that is gripping the top tube with your knees, which also helps control any vibration.

 

[mustang1]

Had speed wobble twice on an old road bike. Once at 40mph downhill but managed to slow down using rear brake.

2nd time was in the middle of a corner but again managed to slow down.

Not sure it stop do with weight distribution on the bike. Both times I was in my normal riding position and relaxed.

 

[Drago]

Here some dash cam footage of my ill fated attempt to break the sound barrier on a Raleigh Chopper in 1976.


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yr02n1b8sUE

 

[gaijintendo]

I thought I had speed wobble recently, but it was just my work bike rack had unclipped my front QR... So sometimes you can and probably should try to diagnose it.

 

[si_c]

Not had it on my new bike, but my 80s pug is very prone to it. From what I've read larger framed bikes are more susceptible to it.