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I recently dislocated my left shoulder and have been off the bike for about 4-5 weeks since.
Right about the time I did my shoulder I finished building my new bike which as a result had sat completely un-ridden until today.
On my commute today I seem to be steering left all the time - maybe as much as 10degrees, which seems very odd given its with the camber too.
The frame has sliding dropouts which I've not used before, I think they're aligned but not 100%, at most the rear wheel may be about 6mm out, and if it is that's 3mm left of centre at the seat tube and 3mm right of centre at the rear most point, viewed from behind.
The bars and fork are aligned near enough to not be worth fiddling, and certainly not the cause.
Removing either hand from the bar doesn't change it so it doesn't appear to be me physically pulling the bar.
My guess is I'm correcting balance for some reason.
So is it most likely:
The drop outs?
That my core has deteriorated and I need to work on that.
I'm just protecting my weak side and it'll be fine with a bit of time.
Some other thing involving (possibly) exploding in a ball of flames or nuking from orbit.
Headset. Guaranteed
Get someone else to ride the bike, then at least you can eliminate human vs mechanical.
When stood in a neutral position off the bike, are your shoulders over your hips or is there a torsion through your spine?
Not much help but this comes to mind...
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You are the labour party, your bike is Jeremy Corbyn?
Too much time at the velodrome?
rocketman - Member
Headset. Guaranteed
Why/how so sorry?
Onzadog - Member
When stood in a neutral position off the bike, are your shoulders over your hips or is there a torsion through your spine?
I'm all as best I can tell and physio seems happy enough.
martinhutch - Member
Get someone else to ride the bike, then at least you can eliminate human vs mechanical
next port of call was my other bike to be honest but its at home, theory being I was previously fine on the other one (least ways so as is noticed)
Some other undisclosed issue?
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Rob Hilton - Member
You are the labour party, your bike is Jeremy Corbyn?
It's not this I'm sure as there is no sudden jerk to the right at the crucial moment to keep me in the main carriage way despite my left leaning and obvious desire to be off road
I've had this issue with a knackered headset before too - but i could feel a slight bit of sticking as i turned the handlebars when not moving due to knackered bearings
It's been a while since I was single martin
Not sure on the headset/bearings being at fault.
It's a brand spanking new cane Creek, and was properly pressed by a real mechanic with proper tools (for once) as I didn't have the right stuff at home. Seems to run free enough too, though I appreciate none of that means much.
You are Jeremy Beadle?
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has your right arm grown longer recently?
Check that the headset has been assembled properly
bearings in the right way round
bearings actually move in the cages
upper/lower cups parallel
spacers/washers etc
HTH
Jeremy Beadle?
He got a crap hand in life
I have had this before and it turned out to be the bars and fork were misaligned. I know you've checked it already but it might be worth a second go- they don't have to be far off to make a difference.
Thanks rocketman, I'll take a look see
It was my first thought in honesty shermer, I can actually see the front wheel is tracking left as well as the bars though so I'm definitely steering as such, not just turning the bars to get the wheel straight (which was my previous experience of not aligning correctly)
Jeremy Beadle had a huge willy, but on the other hand 🙂
It sounds like you've not recovered fully from your injury and it could be one of a load of things; effectively shortened left arm, muscle weakness, sub concious protection...
Although the Physio has signed you off, they may have been aiming for what is acceptable to the majority and not aiming for riding a bike in a straight line. I have had similar issues over the past year or 2 (not caused by a shoulder injury) and I'm finally on the route to straightness thanks to a Chiropractor
By the way I'm not a professional so all of this might be utter rubbish and your headset is screwed but I'm speaking from personal experience.
I'm tempted to think it's the likely explanation Adam.
I've taken a look at the head set and can't see anything obvious - I'd expect a gap if bearings were upside down etc. And it all feels fine, the wheel flops left right when the frame is tilted etc.
In the interest of seeing if it's the bike or me I'm going to laugh at a much shorter colleague trying to get on my bike at lunch...
It'll be very interesting to know if it is muscle atrophy or not. Let us know how it goes when your colleague tries yor bike, dangeourbrain! 🙂
How long was your arm in a sling for, just out of interest?
Not so long in terms of all day. Off and on for a few weeks but probably not more than three at most.
Colleague seems fine so Most likely I think it'll be me subconsciously molly-coddling my shoulder.
Colleague seems fine so Most likely I think it'll be me subconsciously molly-coddling my shoulder.
Or you could be a little underpowered in your serratus anterior, causing your shoulder blade to retract (move back), effectively making your left arm shorter than your right. The serratus anterior is your 'boxer's muscle', it's the one you use to push a door closed or throw a punch. If you have a theraband then the following exercise would be useful:
I'm assuming that you had an anterior dislocation btw- ie our arm was somewhere behind you and your shoulder popped out forwards? If not then the above exercise might not be good. I'd also start with a fairly weak (yellow or red) theraband as well
Yes, anterior, though in the X ray it definitely looked under rather than infront, with the whole of what I'd call the "socket" clearly visible above the ball of the joint
I'll have a look for one of those and give the band thing a try thanks