Riding today, was going down a hill approx 40km's/hr when down a little dip on the road and my front wheel made a 1 bang noise. I stopped immediately and when checking for loose spokes but didn't find any. Anyhow around 10km's later front wheel made a bang again when it hit an object. The wheels are Shimano R550. I have done 1600km's on them and I'm am a large guy around the 100kg mark.
Am I right that I am suspecting that my front wheel spokes are preparing to break, or coming loose, or is it something else? I have gone around and flexed all the spokes and they appear to all have the same amount of flex.
And yes I am planning on purchasing new wheels, but I'm waiting on my holiday to europe for that, but that is too long away right now
Please, further explain the unexplainable bang, Is it loud? Is it soft? Is it metallic? Is it nometallic? Is it a dull thud? Is it a sharp crack like a gunshot? Is your headset loose? Is your water bottle cage loose?
I had a service performed on friday so I'm obviously going to take it back and raise this issue.
Very hard to spot objects when travelling in big groups especially when they fail to give notice 😠 or if the object covers the entire surface of the road
I would have to say it sounded like a sharp thwack. Bottle cages are not loose, headset does not seem loose, but from the sound of the noise it sounded like something cracking so could have been the headset starting to loosen up. I'll be taking bike down to LBS tommorow as no way I can get there today.
I had a service performed on friday so I'm obviously going to take it back and raise this issue.
Very hard to spot objects when travelling in big groups especially when they fail to give notice 😠 or if the object covers the entire surface of the road
I would have to say it sounded like a sharp thwack. Bottle cages are not loose, headset does not seem loose, but from the sound of the noise it sounded like something cracking so could have been the headset starting to loosen up. I'll be taking bike down to LBS tommorow as no way I can get there today.
From the sound of your description I'd suspect the handlebar slipped. Check to see the stem bolts holding the bars are torqued to spec. Is your stem a 2 or 4 bolt? For a guy your size 4 would be better.
I'm fairly big and know that if I hit a bad section of road....the front wheel can make a big bang....the key is getting the 'heads up' from riders in front to avoid the problem area or object so you can avoid it....
from your description i dont think it was the wheels.....but what you struck.
From the sound of your description I'd suspect the handlebar slipped. Check to see the stem bolts holding the bars are torqued to spec. Is your stem a 2 or 4 bolt? For a guy your size 4 would be better.
First bang arose from a dip in the road on a downhill. The second bang arose from impacting on a rubber matt approx 1-2cm high which was at the finish line used for timing devices.
Stem bolts are 2 bolts. I have attempted to move my handle bars to no avail, they won't budge with normal pressure. One of my work colleagues will check my bike out next time I ride to work as he claims he will find the source of those bangs.
First bang arose from a dip in the road on a downhill. The second bang arose from impacting on a rubber matt approx 1-2cm high which was at the finish line used for timing devices.
Those mats shouldn't have caused the bang. But, I think people are right about it being the cockpit. If the wheels were making huge bangs you probably wouldn't be talking to us, they would have failed. Wheels don't have enough /the right moving parts to make bangs like that without failing. So check your handlebar, the headset tightness, the frame, making sure there is no cracks around the HT area etc. All I can think of is the fork is getting pushed back, not up, when you hit anything. BTW, was this dip gradual, eg \_________/ or sharp \/. But do get your bike checked out, and I think the LBS will have a bit of trouble if you can't replicate the sound.
And handlebars that slip a little I wouldn't even notice. How do I check the torque settings on my handlebar bolts?
Torque wrench. Or, if you feel comfortable, tighten fairly tight and if they still slip then tighten a little more. If you are using carbon bars then you should use a torque wrench.
I know that slight bar slippage can sound terrible. When disassembling bikes I put a piece of tape on the bars with a pen mark lined up with the stem-faceplate gap. After putting one bike back together, I left the tape there. When hitting a couple of bumps it sounded like my fork might have cracked. Looking down at the tape showed the mark had barely moved out of alignment.
I just used an allen key on my handlebars and tighten up. One of screws was a little more loose than the other screw. I will see how it goes after this weeks riding.
I just used an allen key on my handlebars and tighten up. One of screws was a little more loose than the other screw. I will see how it goes after this weeks riding.
See if you can reproduce the "bang" while static by lifting the front end 3-4" and bouncing it. Have found it's a lot easier to isolate noises like this if you can repeat them in your garage.
My DA 9sp STI left hand shifter makes a pretty loud clunk over sharp bumps when the brake lever hits the stop....almost sounds like the tire is slapping the fork. If that's the source of your bang, just lightly holding the brake lever will stop it. Of course, no need to worry if that is the source.
I had the same happen to me when I used by aluminum bike on a crit. The course had shallow speed bumps and everytime I hit one there was a bang. I could have sworn it was from the forks coming loose or something at the front.
There was nothing wrong with the front end and everything seemed tight. Then I noticed the chain marks on my chainstay. I rode over similar bumps in similar speed and it was the chain making the thump on the chainstay (not so much metallic coz I had a vinyl guard but it was a loud thump).
See if you can reproduce the "bang" while static by lifting the front end 3-4" and bouncing it. Have found it's a lot easier to isolate noises like this if you can repeat them in your garage.
My DA 9sp STI left hand shifter makes a pretty loud clunk over sharp bumps when the brake lever hits the stop....almost sounds like the tire is slapping the fork. If that's the source of your bang, just lightly holding the brake lever will stop it. Of course, no need to worry if that is the source.
Already tried that, have not been able to reproduce the bangs. I believe it was handlebar slipped very slightly. I might find out tommorow on my commute. I've got a nice steep downhill section quickly changing less steeply so if I hear bang then I know it wasn't my handlebar loose 🙁
Already tried that, have not been able to reproduce the bangs. I believe it was handlebar slipped very slightly. I might find out tommorow on my commute. I've got a nice steep downhill section quickly changing less steeply so if I hear bang then I know it wasn't my handlebar loose 🙁
Don't see how a handlebar that's slipping can make noise though....what would it hit to make the sound? Have you checked obviously stuff like water bottles, seat pack? What about cable housings or the cables slapping the bars or frame?
No more bangs on my commute today 🙂 Believe it was my handlebar bolt. But I do need to get a torque wrench as I suspect my handlebars are carbon. They are an EA50 on a Giant OCR 0 2006.
No more bangs on my commute today 🙂 Believe it was my handlebar bolt. But I do need to get a torque wrench as I suspect my handlebars are carbon. They are an EA50 on a Giant OCR 0 2006.
No more bangs on my commute today 🙂 Believe it was my handlebar bolt. But I do need to get a torque wrench as I suspect my handlebars are carbon. They are an EA50 on a Giant OCR 0 2006.
Reminds me of ... You don't ever want your handlebars to come off like that.
