Dear Mountain Bike Action: Had an embarrassing front-tire washout while riding on a level singletrack with a gentle sweeping turn, a little loose over hard. I was going maybe 5 mph and then I was looking at the ground. It was that fast. After reflecting on the incident I had a great idea for a device that would prevent my handlebar from suddenly ripping out of my hands. My bike shop tech smiled and said there is such a device called a steering damper. Do you have an opinion on such a device?
- Emily, victim of a “tank slapper”
A: The steering dampers that have been applied to mountain bikes would not have helped you prevent your crash. They are designed to keep the front end from swapping during high-speed descents (motorcycle guys call that tank slapping because the fuel tank is where our top tubes are). These devices are not popular with mountain bikers because of their weight and as bikes have progressed with improved geometry, better suspension and sophisticated tires, they have pretty much eliminate the need for the damper. But let’s forget about steering dampers and think about your crashing.
If you continue to have problems while cornering don’t give up on mountain biking. Our first suggestion is to try a slightly fatter tire on the front wheel like a Kenda Nevegal or Specialized Captain tires in a width of 2.2 inches. Check your air pressure. If you have over 35 psi, chances are it is too much pressure. Let out 3 psi and see how that feels.
Another trick is to try a slightly longer-travel fork than the stock
fork. This will slow down the way your bike steers but it will also void
your frame’s warranty, so be forewarned. You might not even need a new
fork because many forks can be modified to slightly increase their
travel. Finally, try riding a bike with 29-inch wheels (we are assuming you ride on 26-inch wheels now). These larger wheels are far more stable especially at slower speeds.
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