is there a knack / tool / technique i can use to check and adjust the wheel alignment on spud srs 16in fixed frame bike?

i have a feeling its off even though it looks pretty good by eye.

noticed he was drifting left a lot yesterday on the cycle track which made no sense as its cambered the other way for drainage.

then when i was walking it back up, before shouldering it, it felt like it was drifting again and was doing a lot more correcting than i felt i should have needed.

 

so whats the best way to check the frame and wheels are square and tracking straight??

1 hour ago, mac11irl said:

is there a knack / tool / technique i can use to check and adjust the wheel alignment on spud srs 16in fixed frame bike?

i have a feeling its off even though it looks pretty good by eye.

noticed he was drifting left a lot yesterday on the cycle track which made no sense as its cambered the other way for drainage.

then when i was walking it back up, before shouldering it, it felt like it was drifting again and was doing a lot more correcting than i felt i should have needed.

 

so whats the best way to check the frame and wheels are square and tracking straight??

If the wheels are in the drop outs properly then the only thing it could be is bent/twisted frame or fork, that should be visible from directly behind with the front wheel straight, he hasn't just got a slightly offset handlebars has he?. Can he ride it no hands (assuming he can ride no hands), try it yourself, be a squeeze but I've ridden tiny bikes and sat down on a slight downhill I can tell if a frame is off.

Standing up and honking on a tiny bike is dangerous/fun...

You want to read this thread:- https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=59332

I choose a line someplace, edge of a pavement, line in the road and sit the bike on the line and see if the wheels are in line, push the childs bike along a line and see.

 

Turn the bike upside down and use a straight edge put that along the centre line of the tyres. 

Edited 4 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

hes not up to no hands yet the stabilisers are still on the back. Only got it mid summer, but havnt had the weather to do much other than around our estate since, where the amount of turning needed would hide any alignment issue. 

 

ill have a good look at it later, see if theres anything obvious.

Look straight down the forks and see that there is not a bit of a twist or poor matching of the drop outs that means the front wheel axle is not parallel with the handlebars.

I do not mean the handlebars are squint, bars straight across and stem straight forward but a little bit of a cant with the wheel. 

Or a camber with the wheel not totally vertical. 

On 04/01/2021 at 15:06, mac11irl said:

hes not up to no hands yet the stabilisers are still on the back. Only got it mid summer, but havnt had the weather to do much other than around our estate since, where the amount of turning needed would hide any alignment issue. 

 

ill have a good look at it later, see if theres anything obvious.

 

Is he resting on the stabilisers on one side as he rides??? That could be the reason, if he is, mac???

 

I twisted the forks on my Raleigh Winner slightly to one side (many moons ago) but it still seemed to ride straight...even though the wheels followed very slightly different tracks.

Edited 20 January, 20215 yr by Tilt

2 hours ago, Tilt said:

Is he resting on the stabilisers on one side as he rides??? That could be the reason, if he is, mac???

 

 

only when he drops too much speed and gravity starts winning over inertia. havnt had a chance to look at it again yet, hopefully this weekend..