What's causing rubbing

Steve 41
Steve 41 Posts: 3
edited September 2010 in Road beginners
I had my old tourer for more than 20 years and picked up a brand new Dawes Sportif on Friday.

When I was riding it into the garage I noticed a rubbing sound similar to brakes rubbing.
When my weight is off the bike all is ok, wheels spin silently etc. if I put any weight on the bike it's back again ?

It's really hard to identify without a rolling road and another observer.
I'd pop back to the dealer but it's a 250 mile round trip :)

Any ideas ?

Comments

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,590
    Might be the flex in the wheels pushing the rim closer to the blocks.
    _
  • Steve 41
    Steve 41 Posts: 3
    I tried loosening the brakes - bigger gap to rims. No difference though.
  • ian_s
    ian_s Posts: 183
    Do you hear it all the time / only when pedaling / only when seated..?

    If when pedalling, check for things like shoes rubbing on cranks, clothing against frame/saddle bottle cage etc.
  • flyingbanana
    flyingbanana Posts: 57
    I noticed a similar rubbing sound when I put my new saddle (Prologo Kappa) on the roadie.

    Turned out it was my thighs gently massaging the side padding of the saddle :)

    I believe that particular steed comes with mudguards. Anything in that department?
    The Stable '04 Trek 1000 | '09 Giant Bowery '72 | '10 Ridgeback Panorma | '10 Cannondale CAAD9 105 Compact
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    I had something similar sounding on one of my bikes. It was worse when I was out of the saddle (weight forward).

    Off the bike, everything ran smoothly; on it an occasional rubbing sound. Opening up the brake caliper made no difference (except I nearly fell off trying to do it on the move! :D ).

    In the end, I adjusted the brake blocks by moving them down a bit on the rim and the noise went away, so I assume it was something to do with the blocks rubbing against the tyre.

    Could be that?

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • dmch2
    dmch2 Posts: 731
    Can you easily loosen the brakes a lot (ie is there a clip for when you take the wheel off) to see if that helps? It could be the tyre wall as the last poster says.
    2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
    2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    I had something today like this, rear wheel vibrating like touching the blocks, but loosened the brake levers and still does it. Weird.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    Is the wheel in tight? It can sometimes be the tyre rubbing against the left chainstay. May only happen under load when you press on the pedals and are actively pulling the right hand side of the wheel forward.

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