Handling The Wild Weasel

[19Sprocket]

I have recently put together a conversion kit and although I have started riding (2 weeks) I still find the steering to be randomly twitchy, hence the bike has been christened the Wild Weasel. One moment I will be riding in a straight line, the next the bike is trying to weave across the road. When riding I find myself pulling back on the handlebars on the same side as the pedal stroke, is this the correct technique? If anyone has any advice on handling I would be very grateful. At this point I could never contemplate going no hands, but I know its possible.

[John Tolhurst]

Although you are riding okay, your legs are still to make that slight adjustment in technique that will relieve your arms somewhat, and your brain sometimes reverts and you wobble. This will pass.

[currystomper]

Sprocket

I echo what John said.

I was where you where three months ago. I found a quiet car park and tried varying your technique.
Here some ideas that helped me:-
- fix on a point that you want to get to use your legs to push to the point you want to get to.
- try stop and starting pit stop.
- try not worrying about where you go just relax and let it happen.
- try running along holding a straight line on the ground.

I found a little and often at the beginning helped, then I found I wasn't getting better and had to go on longer rides to embed my skills.

Still learning - but happen to ride along using just one hand now!!

Good luck - its will come and it is worth it!!

CS

[cristin]

I had my first ride today, went out to the Rose Bowl parking lot as it is huge and empty.

I almost dumped it a couple of times, but after an hour I was mostly able to ride in a straight line, and sometimes able to start myself from a stop.

It is certainly a challenge!

[John Tolhurst]

It is certainly a challenge!

Its good to exercise the brain, as well as the body.

[blief.z]

On the flip side - I rode my mountain bike for the first time in a long time yesterday after months and months of riding my Silvio.
Just a short, easy, stint - all was well.
Then...
I was well back of a greenlight that was getting stale and I stood up in the pedals and cranked it up to make the light...and nearly wiped out.

My mind and body is used to counter-steering when under power like that so much that I nearly steered myself into the curb>lane>curb>lane>curb.

Crikey, it was like an angry snake under me!
I quickly sat back down and resigned myself to taking it easy the rest of the way.

This morning, back on my Silvio - all is right in the world again.