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Speed wobbles ?

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Still a bit Mar 2011 5:49pm, 26 Mar 2011 47 posts	Quote Pin Still a bit Like scribbler I have also had my first bike crash today. I was on the third time round local hill Arthurs seat, coming down at about 40 km/ hour turned into a bend, not sharp but designed for oil tankers. The front wheel starts to wobble uncontrollably I start braking but the wobble continues, I realise I have no chance of making it round the bend and to use a quote"tried to look for a soft spot" which I think I found. Good news is I'm just a bit bruised, well maybe a lot bruised but I suspect we won't find that out until tomorrow. The front left gear / brake lever is looking like "an insurance job" but other than that the bike seems ok. Bruise on my head indicates that the helmet took a good whack, but there are no signs of cracks in the polystyrene or the the plastic cover. So my big questions are, should I replace the helmet? What causes speed wobbles ? How do you get the bike under control once it starts ? Are they called speed wobbles ?
fastfreddiescat Mar 2011 5:56pm, 26 Mar 2011 146 posts	Quote Pin fastfreddiescat I ride a motorcycle & if my lid takes a bash it is replaced.....no if's or but's, my head is too important & a new Shoei is real expensive. Speed wobbles : check your tyre pressures, on a m/c we use stearing dampers, is that an option? any of this any good?
Still a bit Mar 2011 6:24pm, 26 Mar 2011 48 posts	Quote Pin Still a bit My instinct is that you are right about the helmet but I wanted some second opinions. And there is an element of wishful thinking that I don't need to replace it Not heard of steering compensators for a bike, trying to under stand if it's just me going too fast or a setup thing on the bike / wheels
GeeeM Mar 2011 6:37pm, 26 Mar 2011 161 posts	Quote Pin GeeeM I've had this and it's scary! A tip someone gave me was to put pressure on the top tube crossbar with your knee which can dampen the vibrations / speed wobble. It's worked for me so far up to speeds of 42mph!
GeeeM Mar 2011 6:39pm, 26 Mar 2011 162 posts	Quote Pin GeeeM I knew I'd seen an article about it over on bikeradar bikeradar.com
Mudlark/P T. Mar 2011 6:43pm, 26 Mar 2011 1,890 posts	Quote Pin Mudlark/P T. facebook.com This guy might have your awnswer,hes web site is called 'one man & his bike '
Stepford Wife Mar 2011 7:14pm, 26 Mar 2011 14,579 posts	Quote Pin Stepford Wife Yes to replacing the helmet - it's really not worth finding out it's knackered next time you crash :-/
The pilotlight Mar 2011 7:28pm, 26 Mar 2011 3,034 posts	Quote Pin The pilotlight if you get a speed wobble, clasp your thighs on the top tube, they says it helps. i'll find an article on ctc site about them. in 30 years of cycling I have only expereinced twice.
The pilotlight Mar 2011 7:30pm, 26 Mar 2011 3,035 posts	Quote Pin The pilotlight ctc.org.uk
Still a bit Mar 2011 11:02pm, 26 Mar 2011 49 posts	Quote Pin Still a bit Great line in that article, hence fat old men suffer more shimmy problems on super light race bikes than the lean athletes they were designed for Think that probably covers most of it but, once the bike is fixed, will practice that knee clasp thing.