On 06/09/2018 12:59 PM, Birdman wrote:
I’ve been doing a lot of long rides and sub24Os on the 65cm Atlantis that I built up over the winter and I’m loving it. It’s the most comfortable touring bike I’ve ridden and it handles a load so well. It’s super stable at speed and on descents. Where I’m having trouble—and could use some advice—is on slow climbs. All the stability is gone. Instead, it’s very hard for me to keep a good line, which can be pretty scary on busy roads with no shoulders. I find myself weaving all over the place. Part of it may be the nature of a high trail bike (67cm with 48mm Shikoro tires). I also have a big front rack w/basket and do tend to carry some weight up front, though more goes in the rear on tour. But I’m also sure that better climbing technique could help, as I’m relatively new to loaded touring. I’ve already found that relaxing my upper body and picking a spot up the hill to aim for has helped. Any thoughts, tips, advice?
I had the same issues on slow climbs with my Rambouillet and my Saluki. It's high trail / high wheel flop at work. Going slow up steep hills in a 20" gear felt a lot like balancing on a knife blade with the bike wanting to dart off to one side or the other on a whim. I lost it once with each of them, the bike darting across the road at a right angle.
I replaced each of those bikes with a low trail, more flexible alternative. Neither of those bikes shows the slightest inclination to dart off to the side on slow climbs, and there's no sawing back and forth with the handlebars to keep the bike in line. I just sit and ride, and the bike minds its manners and climbs nice and straight.
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