Bike is VERY sensitive.....
#26
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Oh, and the fork is the exact same length as the original. I think it's mostly me getting used to it. You definitely have to pay more attention now because it is very nimble now.
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All the better to avoid potholes! And I'd say the bars are uncomfortable because they aren't level. They look uncomfortable to me just looking at the pictures.
Last edited by smd4; 05-03-23 at 01:42 PM.
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Do this with your picture: Draw a straight line along the center of the headtube, and see where it hits the ground. It should be hitting the ground some distance ahead of the tire contact patch. This is known as the 'trail' measurement.
What happened here is that you are using a shorter than stock fork, and now the head angle is too steep, leading to a much reduced trail.
What happened here is that you are using a shorter than stock fork, and now the head angle is too steep, leading to a much reduced trail.
#30
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I went riding with a cousin of mine a while back who has a Specialized Roll step through bike. I ride a Giant Sedona comfort bike. We switched bikes for a while and I was so surprised how much more relaxed the steering was on the Roll. Meanwhile my cousin almost crashed because the steering on my Sedona was so sensitive. After a while we both got used to the change.
So when I got home i looked up the specs that effect steering sensitivity and found them to be very close. But they did indicate the Sedona would be more twitchy, But I had no idea such a small change would feel so different.
My old mountain bike the Sedona replaced also had twitchy steering, And I believe my Sedona is based on a mountain bike frame. Perhaps they are designed to have more sensitive steering then other bikes.
So when I got home i looked up the specs that effect steering sensitivity and found them to be very close. But they did indicate the Sedona would be more twitchy, But I had no idea such a small change would feel so different.
My old mountain bike the Sedona replaced also had twitchy steering, And I believe my Sedona is based on a mountain bike frame. Perhaps they are designed to have more sensitive steering then other bikes.
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I just got home from riding a few miles and it has grown on me except for the bars. I like that it is very responsive now. It was just sluggish feeling before and the bearings were junk so it didn't feel smooth. These are so smooth and nice.
Also, I ride with my dog a mile or two a day aside from riding without her. Usually a mile in the morning and a mile in the evening. If you look at my seat post you will notice a silver metal attachment point. A metal tube quick connects to that and inside the tube is a spring with a tether/leash attached to it and the leash comes out of the tube and clips to her harness. It keeps her about a foot and a half away from the bike. She just runs right alongside me and gets in her exercise. She wears shoes when the pavement gets too hot. I will take a pic of the attachment and post it in a few minutes.
Also, I ride with my dog a mile or two a day aside from riding without her. Usually a mile in the morning and a mile in the evening. If you look at my seat post you will notice a silver metal attachment point. A metal tube quick connects to that and inside the tube is a spring with a tether/leash attached to it and the leash comes out of the tube and clips to her harness. It keeps her about a foot and a half away from the bike. She just runs right alongside me and gets in her exercise. She wears shoes when the pavement gets too hot. I will take a pic of the attachment and post it in a few minutes.
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#37
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This is that "scientific method" mentioned over in the build thread, come back to bite the builder. A little research pays off and in the end saves money.
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And once again someone doesn't understand the "scientific method". Here is what you aren't getting. The 'sixth step' of the scientific method is to make a new hypothesis based on your test results. The scientific method does not involve me listening to you or your knowledge. The scientific method is the exact opposite of following a recipe which you clearly think is the meaning of the scientific method.
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Incorrect. You build upon already existing knowledge. One wouldn't test gravity by walking off the top of a tall building, would they? A person might ask around "what do you think might happen if I exited that skyscraper at the top floor?"
So your new hypothesis is?
You may start with a quantitative analysis of cost, including man-hours of labor. You can also write up a heuristic thesis based upon your subjective analysis of the ride quality after you installed the new fork. Then weigh all the analyzed data against your qualitative feel for what you made and make the call if it was worth it.
I'm drawing solely on your statement regarding the scientific method over in the build thread, in which you didn't bother to research bicycle geometry, you spent a decent amount of money on something, then you came back here where your error in process was pointed out to you.
So, what is your new hypothesis? It might involve a bit of research and possibly taking the advice of others, if they are gracious enough to give it. Might save you some money and egg on your face.
So your new hypothesis is?
You may start with a quantitative analysis of cost, including man-hours of labor. You can also write up a heuristic thesis based upon your subjective analysis of the ride quality after you installed the new fork. Then weigh all the analyzed data against your qualitative feel for what you made and make the call if it was worth it.
I'm drawing solely on your statement regarding the scientific method over in the build thread, in which you didn't bother to research bicycle geometry, you spent a decent amount of money on something, then you came back here where your error in process was pointed out to you.
So, what is your new hypothesis? It might involve a bit of research and possibly taking the advice of others, if they are gracious enough to give it. Might save you some money and egg on your face.
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I agree, the bars look terrible. With all that backsweep and an effectively super-short stem, I'm not surprised it's a bit twitchy. But as you've already found for yourself, people quickly get used to changes in steering sensitivity.
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Stock pics with the suspension fork don’t account for sag, however, although such an upright position and a seat slammed fully rearward may not result in any sag anyway, so maybe a fully extended fork is the way the OP experienced the stock fork.
I dunno how OP determined fork lengths, but if done manually, maybe simple measurement error is at play; it only takes about 10mm, or roughly 1/2”, to shift head tube angle a half-degree, which is enough to be noticeable,
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Measuring to the bottom of the fork crown would not seem to be the ideal way to measure in this instance--fork crowns vary in thickness. A more-accurate measurement would be to the bottom of the headset crown race.
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Yeah, as I said, I don’t know how the OP determined the forks are “the exact same length,” but to the eye and based on the posted pics, they don’t appear to me to have the same length.
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This sounds like a trail issue. Trail is the distance between where an extension of the headtube would hit the road and the point on the road directly under the hub. It can be both observed and calculated. The further the point below the hub is behind the head tube extension point, the more stable the handling.
Another factor that affects perceived "twitchiness" is how far your hands are in front of the headtube/steerer centerline. The further, the more stable. You have a short stem and near straight handlebars that are in fact swept back a little so your hands are maybe 3" forward of that centerline.
Measure or calculate your trail. (And get it right; small differences between trails make a big difference in handling. 45 to 55 mm covers most of the bikes out there.) Until you know the trail, you are just trying to shoot pigeons in a dark barn. (Yes, rule out loose/tight headsets and other mechanical issues.)
Another factor that affects perceived "twitchiness" is how far your hands are in front of the headtube/steerer centerline. The further, the more stable. You have a short stem and near straight handlebars that are in fact swept back a little so your hands are maybe 3" forward of that centerline.
Measure or calculate your trail. (And get it right; small differences between trails make a big difference in handling. 45 to 55 mm covers most of the bikes out there.) Until you know the trail, you are just trying to shoot pigeons in a dark barn. (Yes, rule out loose/tight headsets and other mechanical issues.)
#47
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So what did the bike ride like before you did all the stuff to it?
And in your pic of the final product, do you have spacers underneath the stem or is that just bare steerer tube exposed between the stem and headset? I really think that must be a large spacer or sleeve, but just asking as if that is bare steerer tube exposed, then that seems an issue right there.
But still without having a shot square on from the side it's hard to tell if your new fork changed the trail and other things up very much.
If you are just wanting to ride around the neighborhood on a paved road or sidewalk, then one of the cruiser type bikes with a very slack seat tube will be ideal for that. Your hybrid seems more appropriate to riding off road in mildly challenging terrain, not on roads.
And in your pic of the final product, do you have spacers underneath the stem or is that just bare steerer tube exposed between the stem and headset? I really think that must be a large spacer or sleeve, but just asking as if that is bare steerer tube exposed, then that seems an issue right there.
But still without having a shot square on from the side it's hard to tell if your new fork changed the trail and other things up very much.
If you are just wanting to ride around the neighborhood on a paved road or sidewalk, then one of the cruiser type bikes with a very slack seat tube will be ideal for that. Your hybrid seems more appropriate to riding off road in mildly challenging terrain, not on roads.
Last edited by Iride01; 05-04-23 at 09:19 AM.
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