Slight sway while pedaling
09-13-10, 04:45 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 116
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Slight sway while pedaling
Hey guys,
I'm wondering if it is normal to experience a little bit of wobble while pedaling. It's not that serious, probably sways just a inch and a half from side to side on each corresponding pedal stroke. This may be due to my horrible ability to pedal efficiently (pulling back and up etc). BUT I will be doing many single legged drills to improve.
So is this phenomenon normal or is it my technique? Or possibly the bike?
Thanks
I'm wondering if it is normal to experience a little bit of wobble while pedaling. It's not that serious, probably sways just a inch and a half from side to side on each corresponding pedal stroke. This may be due to my horrible ability to pedal efficiently (pulling back and up etc). BUT I will be doing many single legged drills to improve.
So is this phenomenon normal or is it my technique? Or possibly the bike?
Thanks
09-13-10, 05:12 PM
#2
SyncopatedCyclist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 31
Bikes: 2009 Scattante CFR Elite, 2007 Trek 7.5fx, 2001 Schwinn Mesa GSX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Assuming there is nothing wrong with the bike, it sounds like you should work on your core. When you use your legs to place pressure down on the pedal, the pedal exerts force back up through your leg to your hips. If you don't have a strong core to stabilize your hips, they will rock back and forth.
09-13-10, 05:25 PM
#3
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
maybe seat too high and hips are rocking.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
09-13-10, 05:59 PM
#6
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
250 Posts
3 inches is kind of a lot.
I don't think I have a great pedal stroke, but the only time I can tell my body or bike moves at all is when the sun is behind me I can see my head moving slightly in the shadow.
I don't think I have a great pedal stroke, but the only time I can tell my body or bike moves at all is when the sun is behind me I can see my head moving slightly in the shadow.
09-13-10, 06:30 PM
#7
Senior Member
I vote for saddle height too, but... If you have a chance, do a spin class in front of a mirror, or put a mirror in front of you on a trainer at home. Watch your form and movement. I always try to sit at front of spin class to focus on my technique (mirrors are on the front wall). It's amazing to see how much unnecessary movement people have in spin classes. Some exaggerate their movement because they think it's improving their workout, and some are just terrible on a bike.
09-13-10, 06:34 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Near Sacramento
Posts: 4,886
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Normal, to some extent. The effort you are putting in, the more the bike moves. More pronounced when climbing. More pronounced in the drops or in a TT type position. Watch a pro race, you'll see even they have a bit of a rocking as you describe when they're pushing hard.
__________________
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
09-14-10, 04:29 AM
#9
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
+1
Leave your saddle too high, and you'll end up with achilles tendon problems.
Leave your saddle too high, and you'll end up with achilles tendon problems.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
09-14-10, 07:53 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 817
Bikes: Felt F5, Fuji Robaix Pro and a KHS Mountain Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What is your cadence? If you pushing too big a gear you will end up swaying more as well. Saddle height could definitely be a problem too.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...uch-long-stems
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...uch-long-stems
09-14-10, 08:01 AM
#11
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,302
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 724 Times
in
371 Posts
Watch the aerial shots of a bike race. It's normal for the bike to move laterally as you pedal. The fact that you're doing it enough to notice may indicate you're not as smooth as you should be.
After you've checked your fit as suggest above, a couple of things to work on: 1) get rollers. Ride rollers for a while and you'll be smoother and be much better at riding straight.
2) practice riding down the white line on the road (when its not wet). If you can ride on a 3" white line for an extended period without coming off it, you're riding straight enough.
3) the one legged drills, and also high cadence drills should help.
After you've checked your fit as suggest above, a couple of things to work on: 1) get rollers. Ride rollers for a while and you'll be smoother and be much better at riding straight.
2) practice riding down the white line on the road (when its not wet). If you can ride on a 3" white line for an extended period without coming off it, you're riding straight enough.
3) the one legged drills, and also high cadence drills should help.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
09-14-10, 10:12 AM
#12
Guads of Steel
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are you sure its only 1.5 in. Have someone ride behind you and give you honest feedback. What you perceive is only a little wobble might actually be larger than you think and follow some of the tips given here.
09-14-10, 10:19 AM
#13
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
if it is indeed saddle height, don't delay lowering it. you can get really nasty hamstring tendon injuries if you ride for long rides like that. i needed physio and was off the bike for several months last year.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
09-14-10, 10:52 AM
#15
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
+1 on checking saddle height. It also helps to work on technique -- ride rollers and/or fixed gear for a while to smooth out your pedal stroke.
09-14-10, 11:02 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,925
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1818 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times
in
974 Posts
A thought. When you pedal, how close to the top tube are your legs? If you pedal with your knees splayed out, your legs act as pendulums and will cause the bike to wobble a bit. To some extent, there may be little you could do, but see if this is what is happening you may be able to pedal more up and down. One mental exercise I do is to think about pedaling in ever diminishing circles. This will work wonders in smoothing out your pedal stroke. And rollers are a great training device to help you pedal better. I was a smooth pedaler, I thought, but when I started using rollers I discovered that my left leg was not doing its job as well as the right, as soon as I fixed that, I could ride rollers no hands
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Beachgrad05
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
10
09-07-12 01:50 PM
