Tips Archive:

Hot Tip of the Month- March 2004: "Flywheel Wobble"
Have you ever been in the middle of a ride, you look down and see the flywheel wobbling? It looks like the flywheel is not straight, almost like a bent wheel on a bicycle. Your eyes may not be deceiving you. Although some flywheels may weigh upward of 40-45 pounds AND may be cast from what seems like almost solid steel, certain situations or even mechanical failure may cause the flywheel to warp or wobble. The most common bikes to have this occur are bikes with an outside weighted perimeter. If the bike has been ridden for any length of time, for example, a 45 minute class, the flywheel gets hot from the constant rubbing of the resistance pads. Then if the flywheel suffers an impact, it may cause the flywheel to go out of round. This will typically happen when bikes are moved after a class has ended and the flywheel takes a hit. Another common reason is the bike has been dropped when it is new and still in the box. If a bike in a box is dropped, the heaviest end (the front of the bike with the flywheel weight) will most likely hit the ground first. If this is the case, your bikes are under warranty and you should contact the manufacturer immediately. Finally, if the flywheel bearings have entered failure mode, this may cause the flywheel to wobble. The good news is, in all the above listed scenarios that I’ve witnessed, none are a safety issue.