Bicycle Tutor

hi all -
this is probably stupefyingly simple to fix, but it's got me baffled -
took front wheel off to get chewing gum (yuck) off the rim and out of the brake pads.
problem - the wheel now sits tilted slightly to the left, but when i put the brakes on, they drag the wheel upright, and on release, wheel tilts slightly left again. i refitted the wheel several times, but same thing. the bike is 12 days old, so it's not like anything is worn out. any suggestions??

It may sound crazy, but did you center the wheel before you tightened it up? I have even forgot to put the nuts on the front axle before.

Skewer or bolt on?

Recheck how you have the wheel mounted asap. The fact that it's crooked means you may have not gotten it set right in the forks. But the fact that it moves around is much scarier. If you can't figure it out, take it back to the shop and have them walk you though taking the wheel off and on.

(Oct 12, 2012 09:43 AM)DaveM Wrote:  Recheck how you have the wheel mounted asap. The fact that it's crooked means you may have not gotten it set right in the forks. But the fact that it moves around is much scarier. If you can't figure it out, take it back to the shop and have them walk you though taking the wheel off and on.

Unless the chewing gum was used during the bikes assembly and was required to center the wheel. Then, we might have a real problem.