Rode the Avanti Montari HT in to work today (was planning on doing one of the dirt crits at Westgate Park?) and it felt like a flippin’ downhill bike!
I understand it’s not a super light racing machine, but compared to the singlespeed GT, it was rolling terribly slow and felt very “mushy”.
(Yes, it has Bombers on the front versus rigid, but!)
I hope it was just the high rolling resistance of knobbies running low air, versus 50psi semi-slicks on the GT, that made it feel that way, otherwise, my legs are in need of a serious tuneup!
I noticed the position is quite different too. I’m over the back of the seat and it feels like I’m pushing the pedals forward rather than down. I have a sore lower back now, I’m guessing from leaning further forward from the Montari’s slack seattube angle? (Could there be a ‘disadvantage’ to owning multiple bikes?!?!)
The bike handles really sketchy too. Sharp turns really upset what I hope is the low-air tyres…
Also, what are possible causes for speed wobbles?
None of my other bikes have the front wheel shake when I ride no handed, but this one was VERY shaky.
I checked the headset and it seems to spin fine.
A paranoid hippy might check the frame for cracks.
Strange..
Time: 1:10 (slower than the SS)
Tyre and tyre pressure make a huge difference to a bikes speed especially on the road. As for the geometry, try to match your GT’s setup by flipping the head stem and sliding the seat forward. You might need to lower the head stem or get a longer one so you are leaning forward more to what you are used to. Every adjustment will make a big dirrence in ride.