Help!!!! Boardman carbon road bike problems

frattonpark
frattonpark Posts: 4
edited May 2015 in Workshop
Hi, I desperately need some help and advice on my boardman carbon road bike, at 3 weeks old I've done around 200 miles with no problems up until last Thursday when traveling down hill at high speed (45 mph) the front wheel began to vibrate/wobble allmost uncontrolable to the point when I thought I was going to lose control and come off! When I eventually came to a halt myself and 2 friends gave the bike a quick check but could find no problems, a quick check in a LBS all so could find no problem other then to remove the spoke reflector which could cause slight inbalance of the front wheel, can anyone offer any help please?

Comments

  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Speed wobble. Try relaxing on the bike - that'll help. You need to speed up or slow down a bit to stop it if it does happen again.
    More problems but still living....
  • frattonpark
    frattonpark Posts: 4
    Many thanks, could it be that simple? I hope so and I'll certainly give it a go.
  • ADIHEAD
    ADIHEAD Posts: 575
    It's a bit like having a wheel out of balance on a car. Do you have a speed sensor magnet? Try moving it to opposite the valve if so :idea:
  • bexley5200
    bexley5200 Posts: 692
    maybe the tyre not seated properly
    going downhill slowly
  • petejuk
    petejuk Posts: 235
    Its most likely speed wobble. The earlier analogy of wheel balance out on a car is a very good one. It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with your bike set up If it happens again, try shifting your position on the saddle slightly , stay loose and relaxed, stay off the brakes if you can and ride it out until your speed balances your wheels again. Slightly thicker tyres can help in some circumstances.
  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    I have a team carbon also and it would be worth checking:

    Loose headset?
    Front wheel quick release done up tight enough?

    I had a vibration at the front of the bike for ages which I mistook for a loose headset. It was the front wheel quick release not done up tight enough which caused a small amount of lateral play.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    The headset on my Team Carbon came loose pretty quickly (despite LBS giving it a checkover due to Halfords notorious set-up & servicing reputation) but it was fairly obvious that something wasn't right.
    Do a forum search for speed wobble.
  • ADIHEAD
    ADIHEAD Posts: 575
    Only just read your post properly and see you've taken the gay boy reflector off - expect that was the problem :wink:
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    it has most to do with riding style i think. lift most of your weight off the saddle when going downhill is my advice. saddle weight is pretty high up if you visualise the bike as a vehicle with no rider, your body weight on the seat you can see its very top heavy. now raise onto the pedals (bottom can still be touching the seat) and the acting centre of your weight on the bike is on the pedals, about level with the wheel axles which is a couple of feet lower. its a far more stable system, also applies at cornering, the bike is much more agile.
  • frattonpark
    frattonpark Posts: 4
    Thanks chaps, so good advice there.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    "at 3 weeks old I've done around 200 miles with no problems up until last Thursday"

    I suspect your age might have something to do with it. Even the smallest Boardman is going to be way too big for a newborn.

    Impressive typing for one so young!
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    keef66 wrote:
    "at 3 weeks old I've done around 200 miles with no problems up until last Thursday"

    I suspect your age might have something to do with it. Even the smallest Boardman is going to be way too big for a newborn.

    Impressive typing for one so young!
    :lol::lol:
    Work
    Ride
    Play
    Sunny Days
    Fun
  • dkwa009
    dkwa009 Posts: 3
    Just found this thread, I too have had the same problem, just had to pull out of the wye valley warrior due to high speed wobble on my 2012 Boardman Carbon Pro, I nearly came of it when doing the etape a few years ago so am a tad nervous at high speeds. Could be position etc, however really tries to speed things up and relax - it does not feel right though - are you still having problems?
  • dee4life2005
    dee4life2005 Posts: 773
    A couple of things I would check

    1) With the bike stationary, hold on the front brake and try checking for play in the headset as this can be a cause.

    2) check that the wheel hubs don't have any play in them.

    3) Was it windy? As crosswinds have been known to induce this phenomenon.

    4) Can also be caused by being too tense at speed.

    If it does manifest itself try to relax and try not to jump on the brakes as this usually makes it worse ... clamping your knees against the top-tube or lifting yourself just off the saddle is usually enough to stop it fairly quickly by damping the vibrations or changing your weight distribution.


    I've not had a major speed wobble as such, but I've had weird handling on a decent before and it was caused by a combination of (1) and (2) above. Clamping my knees against the top tube lessened the effect.
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/307297
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    dee4life2005 wrote:
    A couple of things I would check

    1) With the bike stationary, hold on the front brake and try checking for play in the headset as this can be a cause.

    I've never seen how that could induce a speed wobble (Tank slapper in motorcycling lingo). The bars don't turn any more freely if the headset is loose.
  • dgunthor
    dgunthor Posts: 644
    Smokin Joe wrote:
    dee4life2005 wrote:
    A couple of things I would check

    1) With the bike stationary, hold on the front brake and try checking for play in the headset as this can be a cause.

    I've never seen how that could induce a speed wobble (Tank slapper in motorcycling lingo). The bars don't turn any more freely if the headset is loose.

    headset is the first thing i'd check - been the cause on a couple of people's bikes i know

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