A few times in the past week on my commute my bike has gotten really wobbley. The first time it happened, I thought I had a flat tire. I tried to take it easy and just get to the parking garage. When I got there, both tires were properly inflated and the wheels/suspension seemed tight. I figured I must have just been tense and probably stayed that way thinking I had a flat, (though I know you shouldn't do that)
So this happened again on my ride home last night. It was kinda cool, windy and a bit rainy. So I figure I'm just tensing up. I took a few deep breaths trying to relax, but it doesn't seem to help. Same thing this morning, cold and windy and I'm wobbling all over the place in stop and go traffic. It seems like if I adjust a little bit because I'm drifting to one side of the lane I go shooting to the other side of the lane. This is scaring the crap outta me.
I was completely fine when I first left home this morning, even taking some fairly aggressive corners and having fun. I'm thinking there is a combitation of stop and go that puts more weight and/or strain on my wrists/ arms/ shoulders (especially my clutch side), the wind blowing me around (normally doesn't bother me), cold (45-50*F), maybe more restrictive gear (with jacket liner installed), and my mind making this happen and hard to overcome.
It seems like after this starts happening, I can't get myself to relax.
Any Ideas? My thoughts so far are: take a few days off from riding, wear warmer gear, hang up the helmet for the season (for commuting anyway), stretch/ warm up before riding, still something wrong with bike, or seek professional help (not really)
Last winter, whenever it was raining I'd have odd problems riding... I figured out that my riding pants made me sit a little differently and had to learn to compensate for it...
Well, it's raining again... And the problem is back. :icon_confused:
Being tense, tired, or changing your gear can change your riding position and change how you ride... You might want to ride around town, rather than trying to practice while you're commuting to work. Pay special attention to where/how you're sitting and your riding position in general.
If that's not it, then I dunno... :dunno_white:
I have tried shifting around to better support myself with my torso, but that gets hard to do when I have to keep putting my feet down and stopping.
That reminds me though, I did recently switch my gel seat for a standard seat to try out for a while. I'll have to go back to the gel seat and see if that does anything, if I feel like attemping the commute again tomorrow
If you can spare the time, just ride around town a bunch....... I always do that when I change something.
Yep, check the change in the ride with the seat. Also, flap your elbows and do the funky chicken, if you can't you're too tight on the bars; try palming the bars. No grippae :nono: