Questions tagged [handling]

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5 answers
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Drop bar maneuverability in a gravel bike

I'm considering getting my first gravel bike, and I'm wondering how much more difficult/limited (if at all) the maneuverability of a drop bar bicycle is, compared to a flat (riser) bar. I've gone to ...
unie's user avatar
  • 115
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

BB drop vs BB height from stability perspective

While I have heard that a lower bottom bracket tends to give more stability, I'm confused as from which point of reference yields such an effect, from the wheel axle (BB drop) or from the tire contact ...
Gregory Leo's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
477 views

What do "capsize", "wobble", and "weave" mean when referring to bike stability?

Some research into (uncontrolled) bicycle stability (e.g. Jason K. Moore, Human Control of a Bicycle, 2012) models the dynamic behavior of some bikes and determines "critical speeds" for &...
handle's user avatar
  • 301
2 votes
2 answers
751 views

What parameters affect how easy it is to ride no hands?

I've been practicing riding hands free (when I've got a safe traffic-free opportunity of course). This is partly because I'm trying to learn to ride a unicycle and hands free balance is a skill I can ...
Chris H's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
2k views

How does fork offset affect bike handling?

Some forks come in a variety of different fork offsets for the same model. How does replacing the fork designed for the bike with: A fork with smaller offset, everything else the same A fork with ...
abdnChap's user avatar
  • 3,339
1 vote
1 answer
110 views

Steering Dynamics Question

as I contemplate reducing reach by either 1/ shortening my stem or 2/ shortening my dropbar's reach, I have some questions about whether approach 1 or 2 will have a greater difference on my bike's ...
BostonGravel's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
87 views

Front wheel shimmy

I have a trek Allant 7+. When I set the pre-load to minimum I got a terrible shimmy. It seems OK when pre-load is set to max. I weigh 195 lbs. Could the pre-load affect the shimmy like that? It is ...
Ralph. Wager's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Steering dampers

I'm curious about steering dampers on bicycles. Does steering damper really helps on rough terrain. What brands and types of dampers exist on market(in EU)? Does damper requires maintenance of any ...
Pararera's user avatar
  • 197
1 vote
1 answer
153 views

Counter-intuitive steering in crosswinds with hands off the bars

It should not be surprising that it is difficult to ride in a straight line with both hands off the handlebars when there is a crosswind. However, I find it most unintuitive, that for example if ...
mkrieger1's user avatar
  • 156
10 votes
1 answer
9k views

Bike unstable (difficult to ride without hands on bars) after changing fork after collision

After a low speed collision with the front of a car in which a cars bumper met the side of my fork (I was in a track stand-esque stance) my fork was bent slightly so I replaced it with a (inexpensive ...
user74671's user avatar
  • 419
2 votes
1 answer
242 views

handling and steering difference for stem/bar reach combinations?

I was wondering what the steering/handling differences would be (if any) between the two combinations below? Assume rider's hands are on bar hoods. Combo 1 = 90 stem and bar with 80mm reach. Combo 2 =...
user32865's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Problem with suspension fork

I am having trouble with my bicycle which is a Giant Terrago FS1. I have posted a video on YouTube which might help to explain the situation better, as it might be better than words. Due to the ...
Biplov13's user avatar
  • 101
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Anyone have Open Bars or similar on a Surly Cross Check or Straggler?

I read around the Internet that many people use a Cross-Check/Straggler as a basis for a relaxed-ish commuter bike. But I'm told by my LBS that running Open Bars or similar on one of those frames is ...
Robert Atkins's user avatar
-2 votes
4 answers
2k views

Descending with deep section front wheels

Would a deep section front wheel improve stability and control in descends? And if yes would the benefits outweigh the potential danger of side winds? (We usually don't get more than 15kmh winds here)
AzulShiva's user avatar
  • 1,468
2 votes
0 answers
202 views

What handling differences should I expect when moving from a bike to a Recumbent Trike? [closed]

I have been riding a normal bicycle, I just purchased a used Sun EZ-3 SX Delta Trike. I only have about a dozen miles on it on a few short trips. There is an answer here indicating some of the ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
7k views

Aero wheel on front, regular on back - why?

I've seen a lot of riders in the city, usually fixe riders or courriers, riding bikes with an expensive aero wheel on front and a regular, cheap-looking, un-aerodynamic alloy wheel on back. Why ...
ebrohman's user avatar
  • 5,508
3 votes
3 answers
15k views

25 degree rise stem vs 6 degree rise stem with taller head tube - how is handling affected?

All, I’m shopping for a new road bike with endurance geometry (more upright position and shorter top tube), 9mm drop saddle-to-bars. I’ve had a Guru fit done by a professional fitter. The main ...
North Krimsly's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
152 views

After conversion, Paramount OS is super squirrely

All, I have a custom made Paramount OS from 1991. I converted the bike to be my bike for family rides. To do this, I replaced the handlebars and put larger tires on the rim ~ nothing crazy, just a ...
Fred Hayek's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are there geometrical differences between framesets optimised for flats vs drops, other than top tube length?

Question background: I am on the cusp of buying a 'do it all' bike for commuting and light touring. The bike i'm looking at (Genesis Croix de Fer 2015 model) comes with drop handlebars. I would like ...
Rich's user avatar
  • 41
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Front wheel oscillation

I'm not sure if oscillation is the right way to describe this, but when I'm riding at speed (say around 35-40 km/h) and take one hand off of the bars, the bars shimmy or oscillate – kind of like they ...
dlu's user avatar
  • 7,046
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Fundamental principles of tire friction for off-road biking

This is a two-part question. I've been watching various videos and getting various advice about mountain bike cornering. My impression is that all of the advice cannot be true, because the advice, ...
David J.'s user avatar
  • 357
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

How does the geometry of cross bikes affect on-road handling?

I'm planning on getting a cyclocross bike for commuting because my road bike is suboptimal for riding in rain and snow. A bike shop employee told me that cross bikes have worse geometry for riding on ...
amcnabb's user avatar
  • 7,095
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

How bad is handling with only front aero wheel?

I think it's obvious that the only reason to have aero wheel at front and regular wheel at rear is budget. I did some research on this and what I found was aero front wheel is more important and rear ...
imel96's user avatar
  • 1,363
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

What would be the handling of a bike with reversed stem?

There are short and long stems: What effect does changing the stem length have on my bikes handling There are flat bars and there are curved back bars for comfort upright position: There even ...
Vorac's user avatar
  • 13.7k
15 votes
4 answers
23k views

What are the disadvantages of more suspension travel?

Having some suspension travel is always nice, but what disadvantages are there for the bikes handling as the travel increases? This question applies to both to full and front suspension bikes.
user1049697's user avatar
  • 4,208
1 vote
3 answers
3k views

If I replaced the fork on my cyclocross bike with a track fork, what would be the effect on the bike geometry?

If I replaced the fork on my cyclocross bike, surly cross check, with a track fork, what would be the effect on the bike geometry? What would be the effect of the modified geometry on bike handling. ...
Benzo's user avatar
  • 18.2k
8 votes
5 answers
10k views

Riding with one hand

I have been riding a bike for years. The one thing I've never managed to do is to feel comfortable about letting go of the bars with even one hand. This is actually not exactly true, I can ride ...
Nic's user avatar
  • 704
70 votes
19 answers
84k views

Do skilled cyclists really "use the front brake alone probably 95% of the time"?

Sheldon Brown's Braking and Turning Your Bicycle page states that: Skilled cyclists use the front brake alone probably 95% of the time and "Generally I advise against using both brakes at the ...
amcnabb's user avatar
  • 7,095
22 votes
4 answers
1k views

How to descend mountain roads?

What skills and techniques are required to descending at high speeds while maintaining control of the bicycle? How does this change when the roads are wet or have gravel in them?
David LeBauer's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
9k views

What effect does changing the stem length have on my bikes handling

I'm finding that when jumping my mountain bike seems to be very nose heavy no matter how far back my saddle is. What effect will moving to a shorter stem length have? My bike, a Boardman FS-PRO came ...
davefiddes's user avatar