[Closed] Road bikes (front) susceptible to side winds? (slab-sided forks)

Hands on bars.

I found that the problem went away as soon as I dropped a minimum of £857.63 on a new fork.

You might have success with just holding onto the provided contact points though? 8)

Absolutely, you should change the fork immediately. Sounds like a death trap.

I'm itching to upgrade. Want wheels and some funky coloured forks wouldn't be turned away 8)

Sounds like a dear trap

You might have success with just holding onto the provided contact points though?

This.

It depends on a lot of factors.

My old Cervelo RS with Fulcrum Racing 1 wheels was very skittish in side winds, to the point I really did not enjoy descending certain exposed hills. It really made me nervous.

My new bike is much better in side winds. I don't know if it is the geometry, wheels (more spokes, but oval not wide blades) or just that new bike feeling.

The stock wheels have bladed spokes (c24)

Weyhey... another hora road bike thread 😀

Just get low in the drops and the bike should feel pretty stable at descending speeds.

and hold on..... 🙂

Lean forward a bit eh.. 😆

What hand position are you using when descending when it's skittish?

Got bladed spokes on mine and not experienced any side wind issues. Perhaps steel fork/anchor has something to do with it? Crabon fork next on my upgrade list.

and hold on

The issue is when I'm hunkered down/over the front/bike - why does sidewinds (summer ones not autumn) unsettle it? I'm hardly light either.

Descending on drops and also (I know) occassionally on hoods.

[quote=hora ]The stock wheels have bladed spokes

Definitely that then. New wheels and new forks required.

I'd suggest also changing lots of gears on the back whilst changing rings on the front and standing up - that will likely enable you to justify new gears as well. You've already justified changing the saddle and the tyres haven't you? I reckon given all that the best solution is probably a completely new bike.

On a road bike you need to get your weight over the front (or at the very least centered) - the natural MTB tactic of moving your weight back is a mistake.

Holding onto the bars, though, would be a good start.

😆

We'll need a pic of your descending position to analyse this.

I'd suggest also changing lots of gears on the back whilst changing rings on the front and standing up - that will likely enable you to justify new gears as well. You've already justified changing the saddle and the tyres haven't you? I reckon given all that the best solution is probably a completely new bike.

I'll let the sarcasm wash over me. After all no one who buys a roadbike ever keeps everything that came OEM on it standard and in no way upgraded anything. I imagine every full/complete bike that you bought was kept complete in 100% original condition. 🙄

The wheels are ok - I'd keep them for winter use. I am itching to try circa £400 ones though.

We'll need a pic of your descending position to analyse this.

Ah yes to replace the ageing bloke blowing up his stands tyre?..

Jamie is unaware of this thread so far..

Alberto to the forum!

Deep section rims catch the wind a fair bit, quite a wide area compared to 'slab-sided fork'. Keep in mind when you upgrade.

Why not just title the thread 'road upgrade wanted' rather then a tenuous link to side-winds?

Are you sure it wasn't your body that caught the breeze and took you sideways? 😉

why does sidewinds (summer ones not autumn) unsettle it?

Hmm curious, what could be the difference between summer and autumn winds when it comes to unsettling a bike?

You need a new bike. No question. Fantastic that even on a road bike you want to change the forks though 😆

Road wheels are a lot lighter than mtb wheels usually (when you include the weight of the tyres) so there's less of a gyroscope effect and they'll always me more susceptible to being knocked off line for that reason. As stated though, hands on the bars and you'll be fine.

I only get this when using a deepish (50mm) section wheel. My TT frame has some deep/aero/wide tubes which will add to the mix but never had this on a conventional road bike.

Why not get hold of some Zipp 808s or similar and have another go with some proper deep section wheels to get the full buttock clenching sensation.

Try turning the wheel and fork to face the wind

Fantastic that even on a road bike you want to change the forks though

I'm visiting the Town of Ironic and I've just climbed out of the big ironic taxi 😆

I've only had it in genuinely windy conditions, never just riding along, even if it's descending.

The issue is when I'm hunkered down/over the front/bike - why does sidewinds (summer ones not autumn) unsettle it? I'm hardly light either.

Wind is wind. It's most likely down to your control of the bike more than anything else. When I first rode on the drops I was far less in control but it comes to you in time.

Hmm curious, what could be the difference between summer and autumn winds when it comes to unsettling a bike?

Summer breeze... Makes me feel fine... Blowing through the Khamsins on my Hind*...

(*I don't own Khamsins or a Hind, but then, the Isley Brothers didn't have any jasmine growing in their minds either... Artistic licence, innit)

[quote=atlaz ]When I first rode on the drops I was far less in control but it comes to you in time.

If he'd been holding the drops you might have a point.

No-handed, in a sidewind, descending. Trolling?

This lot seem to manage mostly ok, check out the guy at about 55 seconds though 😛

Lack of hands on the bars will definitely make the front wheel go in the wind. Deep sections and bladed spokes also can catch the wind but it shouldn't be enough to knock you off, just keep the bike pointing where you want to go and it'll be fine. I also find pedalling seems to keep the front wheel from twitching if it's really windy.

No handed wobbly front wheel you say?

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OP
Things will improve enormously if you have your bike set up properly.
It sounds like you need to get a bike fit and maybe a few skills sessions so you can get more confident out on the road.

Unless your wheels are +50 mm its almost positively nothing to do with the bike and 100% the nut between the bars and the saddle .... Although you already admitted this nut wasnt attached properly.

Even 9st mrs tr can handle a 100mm deep rim through a sidewind when required ..... Gusts and passing gate openings on the other hand is tough,

Things will improve enormously if you [s]have [/s] ride your bike [s]set up[/s] properly.

hora - Member
The stock wheels have bladed spokes (c24)

Just re-lace your existing wheels, but make sure the blades are perpendicular to the rim.

Mountain biker in poor handling skills shock!! 🙂

Mountain bikers always make the best descenders, just ask Phil Ligget.

Are we talking arms locked or arms bent when on the drops?

What bit of the bars are you (sometimes) holding?

Are you as low as you can get over the bike to keep the CoG low and hence increase stability?

Every time I see a thread by Hora about road bikes I think of this....

Shut the **** up Donny. You have no frame of reference in this conversation. You're like a child.....

So, you were riding along on windy exposed descent without holding onto the bars and not wearing a helmet?

You deserved the scare IMO. Get some common sense, throwing all the money in the world at your bike isn't going to defend you against idiocy of that scale.

Slight aero dish and bladed spokes = kite in strong winds.

If it happens regularly, get a spare set of normal wheels with std spokes and minimum height rims.

Too upright position will lighten the front end.

I recently test-rode a very light Bianchi with deep rims and found it quite alarming; every time we passed a farm gate the wind blew me across the road as if a big invisible hand was guiding the bike. That's why, up here in coastal Lancashire, I won't be buying deep dish rims.

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Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm deep dish
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.
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(dish being the offset between spoke bed and hub flanges and nothing to do with the depth of the rim).

What you need to do is post more on an Internet forum that'll fix it.

It's not the bike it's you.

Stop wearing baggies and embrace the Lycra, it's your shorts acting like sails!

Get some common sense, throwing all the money in the world at your bike isn't going to defend you against idiocy of that scale.

if it wasn't [i]so[/i] much like kicking a puppy, or too easy, i'd say harsh but fair. 🙂

Perhaps it was a bit harsh, but ive had an accident which resulted in a helmet in two pieces, and Horas an experienced rider so on both counts my sympathy was on the low side.

Imagine what might have happened if he'd come off.

[quote=Kryton57 ]Imagine what might have happened if he'd come off.

He might have ripped the bar tape and used that as an excuse for a completely new bike?

and Horas an experienced rider

Really?

(dish being the offset between spoke bed and hub flanges and nothing to do with the depth of the rim)

Glad you said it!

simondbarnes - Member
and Horas an experienced rider
Really?

I kind of assumed he'd ridden one of those bikes he sells...

The best way to approach strong side winds is to get low on the bike, big gear, push hard, guide the bars, don't grip them tightly.

And understand that the wind will blow the bike about, just lean into it and pedal harder.

Your weight balance on the bike and way you hold it will affect it's stability hugely.

Or you could sit up with your hands behind you back, that works well I'm told 😆

Stop wearing baggies and embrace the Lycra

Hora in lycra? Shudder.

I'll let the sarcasm wash over me. After all no one who buys a roadbike ever keeps everything that came OEM on it standard and in no way upgraded anything. I imagine every full/complete bike that you bought was kept complete in 100% original condition.

I did on my road bike...