The Dreaded Speed Wobble

[dellzeqq]

I've had it happen to me, and seen it happen to a really light (I'd guess about nine stone) rider.........there is, however, an answer





ride carbon

 

[fossyant]

Carbon - I've seen it happen on them.

Right to find a hill big enough to get my best bike to speed wobble - recon 80mph might not do it seeing as upto just over 60 won't. I think this might happen first

 

[al-fresco]

"Too slow to wobble" - please don't mention this to Pubrunner - he once made me a T-shirt with the caption "Simply the Last."

 

[CopperCyclist]

Never had it happen to me yet, but I'm still to break that 40mph barrier...

 

[MacB]

Never had it happen to me yet, but I'm still to break that 40mph barrier...

It's not just high speed, the oscillations will exist at any speed, but there will only be specific conditions, including bike and rider specifics, that can allow these oscillations to become a full blown wobble. For you and your bike these conditions may never exist.

 

[NormanD]

I've only experienced the speed wobble during sex, but since I've lost weight and slowed the pace down a little I've not had any since!

 

[MontyVeda]

happened to me once going down a big hill in The Lakes, rear pannier was fully laden, as was my large rucksack. flying down the hill like sh!t off a shovel was awesome til the wobble kicked in... I slowed down till the wobble stopped. Don't want to experience that again.

 

[Bicycle]

The worst bicycle speed wobble I ever experienced sent me into the middle of my traffic lane and almost across the centre line.

I was even searching the verge to see where to aim for if I had to dump it.

In the end it calmed down and all was well. I was shocked when I got to the bottom to see that my recoreded maximum was 37 mph.

It is a 42-45mph descent without trying too hard... and when the wobble set in I felt as if I was really flying.

But the computer doesn't lie. Although speed has a part to play, it doesn't seem to be JUST speed.

 

[Scousegaz]

I've had it happen to me, and seen it happen to a really light (I'd guess about nine stone) rider.........there is, however, an answer





ride carbon

My ride is carbon so your answer is wrong
It has only happened to me about 4 times but thats more than enough

 

[Cyclopathic]

Have we all experienced this phenomenom and how do you cope. Answers on a postcard please !!

Slow down.

 

[User16625]

Have we all experienced this phenomenom and how do you cope. Answers on a postcard please !!

I once had a bit of a tankslapper under hard acceleration. Was overtaking a car when my front wheel seemed to hit a bump and oscillate. It was over before I could even react. Never had anything like that on a bicycle tho.

 

[andrew_s]

I get very mild speed wobble if I sit back and ride no hands. If the tyres are soft, it happens at about 17mph, if they are at full pressure it happens at about 22mph. A knee on the top tube or taking hold of the bars stops it straight away.
I've had 3 similar bikes that the same thing happens on: Raleigh Randonneur (circa 1990), Thorn Audax (circa 1998), and a Longstaff (2003)

 

[Smurfy]

Motorcyclists call this a tank-slapper (due to the violent movement of the handlebars, during which they repeatedly oscillate from one side to the other, as if slapping the fuel tank!)

There's some useful information here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_wobble#In_two-wheeled_vehicles

 

[Fran143]

Had it happen a few times when on motorbike but never on roadie.....thankfully!

 

[Arrowfoot]

Even Cannondale mentions it and states that it cannot be explained. They do note that it seem to occur with larger frames and larger individuals. If they and the more hi tech manufacturers can't figure it out, I guess we mortals have to wait another day to solve this one. Interestingly Cannondale suggest gripping the top tube with the legs.

I suppose it falls in the perfect storm zone where geometry, and a whole combination of factors get sucked in.