The Rubbing Rear Bike Wheel Saga
Yesterday I posted this on Bikeforums.net:
Rear Tires Rubbing the Inside of the Left Chainstay
I ride a Stradalli RP-14 Carbon bike. A few months ago I noticed a spot on the inside of the left chainstay where the tire rubs. I think the problem might be from a wide tire. The tires that came with the bike were 23mm wide. I had a problem with flats on the rear tire so I changed to a 700×25 Gatorskin. A couple of weeks ago I wondered if the tire was still rubbing so I put some blue painter’s tape over the spot. Today I removed the rear wheel and saw the tape was worn away over the spot. My rear tire has about 4900 miles on it so I will need to replace it soon. I have some 700×25 tires but I decided to buy a pair of 700×23 Gatorskins. I hope the 2 mm makes a difference on the rubbing.
   To help keep the tire from rubbing the frame I put a piece of Duck Tape over the spot. (Duck Tape fixes about everything, right?)
   The weather in SE Texas has been frigid for months so I have not been riding much. This might have been a good thing. I have tried moving the rim from side to side to simulate the rubbing but I can’t move it enough with my hand to touch the chainstay. I suspect my full weight and body movement out of the saddle may be enough to flex the wheel to the side. I checked the spokes and all are tight.
   I was wondering if I put a very thin washer on the inside of the left side of the skewer if this would move the wheel to the right.
   Anybody have this problem?
The first comment was from gregf83: (several others offered ideas as well)
“I would check the dish on your wheel. If multiple wheels are offset and too close to one chainstay then it’s an issue with your frame. You could always re-dish your wheel to fit the frame but that might be a hassle if you swap wheels”
I had not thought about the dish being wrong but when I brought the Stradalli inside it was clear that was the problem. I got a private message from another person with an offer to help and a truing stand.
I had to dig out my ancient (1980’s) wheel truing stand from under the dust. Putting the wheel in the stand I could see it was true. So I started to work on the dish. It took a while and I thought I wasn’t making any progress. I doubted myself and went to one bike shop to see if they could check the dish but they didn’t have or couldn’t find their dish gauge. Next I went to Bike Barn Atascocita and they had a gauge. It was 2 mm out of dish. I was considering leaving it with them until he said a week and $35 to $45. So I took the wheel back home and continued. After loosening the non-drive spokes a 1/2 turn and tightening the drive side spokes I changed the dish 2 mm to the drive side. Putting the wheel in the frame it is now centered much better than before. I will check the Duck tape after a ride to see if it has any marks.
Before thinking of the dish being out of whack I ordered two 700×23 Gatorskin tires in case the 700×25 Gatorskins were the cause. The bike came with 700×23 Schwalbe tires. If that was the case I had three 700×25 tires but no bike to put them on. Now with the dish corrected I will put the 700×25 on the rear and the 700×23 on the front. It is almost time to change tires if I ever get to ride again. The weather is not cooperating at all!!!