Front wheel lifts off the ground when climbing hill
11-14-16, 03:46 PM
#1
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Front wheel lifts off the ground when climbing hill
I was out for a ride on the road and the course I was taking led up a rather steep hill. I was in my easiest gear and seated when my front wheel lifted off the ground. This is kind of scary since at that moment with no friction of the road on the front tire the first thing that happened was a hard right turn of the handlebars while the wheel was in mid air. Fortunately I was able to react and turn it almost straight before it came down. Seeing this happen I continued up the hill and each time I really pushed with the pedals the tire did come up slightly. Now I don't pull up on my handlebars in an attempt to oppose my downward pedal stroke so I'm not sure what to do about this other than stand.
11-14-16, 03:55 PM
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...or get a longer stem. Your weight needs to shift to the front.
11-14-16, 04:00 PM
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Bend your elbows and lay across the top of your bike to keep the front wheel down. It works on steep 20% grades while mountain biking. One of the benefits of doing both, you learn things on the MTB that compliment your road cycling.
11-14-16, 04:34 PM
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shim your stem lower also helps
11-14-16, 04:49 PM
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My thoughts exactly. Mountain biking teaches you many bike handling lessons that will improve your skills on the road
11-14-16, 05:54 PM
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Bikes are okay, I guess.
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Front panniers containing your rock collection.
Seriously, though, I once owned a Trek 720 hybrid that I really liked but on that bike I could lift the front wheel taking off from a light on level ground and, trust me, I cannot wheelie a bike.
Seriously, though, I once owned a Trek 720 hybrid that I really liked but on that bike I could lift the front wheel taking off from a light on level ground and, trust me, I cannot wheelie a bike.
11-14-16, 06:44 PM
#8
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Good advice, I'll go to the leaning more forward like the pic of the Mountain bike.
11-15-16, 03:20 AM
#9
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Get a recumbent bike? 
11-15-16, 04:56 AM
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I always had road and touring bikes, including thousands of miles of loaded touring. (Not to mention just bombing around on bicycles since I was a kid.) I thought I was a pretty skilled rider.
Then I moved out to the country where the roads are almost all hardpack dirt roads, and bought my first mountain bike. I didn't like it at first (too slow, handled weird, etc.) but it was that or nothing, where I live. Four mountain bikes and many many miles later, when I now get on my Fuji road bike I am a much improved rider. That whole thing about becoming "one with the bike" is real. You sort of need to develop that when you start riding mountain bikes, and it definitely transfers.
Good insight.
