Bike wheels not straight

NoisyGiraffe

Hi all,

I used to be an occasional, fairweather cyclist but haven't been on my bike for 5 years. I moved out of town and the bike was sat in my mum's garage. Got it back recently as I want to start cycling a bit more regularly to get into shape.

Along with a good clean the bike needed new tyres (old ones very cracked on the sidewalls). So I watched some videos online, felt confident enough to change them myself and away I went and ordered some online, full of optimism! 

So... I managed to change them this morning and got them back on the bike, but when I went to tighten the brakes again I found that the wheels are both 'leaning' to one side - if you're stood at the front of the bike the front wheel leans left and the back wheel leans right.

I'd like to try and sort it myself if possible but if it's totally beyond my abilities I'll accept defeat and take it to a bike shop! Before I make things any worse trying to do anything, could anybody explain what I should be looking at/trying first? 

Pictures so you can (hopefully!) see what I'm referring to. 

Norman_Castle

Loosen the nuts holding the wheels on and fit the wheel axles properly into the frame.

molerat

Rear - slacken the wheel nuts and centre the wheel using the frame as a guide while pushing it backwards and tighten it up each side a bit at a time - don't do one side tight then do other side up.  The front is very difficult to get off centre as it just sits in the fork.

Lorian

Fix the brakes first.
Then slacken the wheel nuts off, and do them back up while holding the brakes  firmly on to centre the wheel.

NoisyGiraffe

Thanks for the replies everyone. Sorry I didn't respond earlier, just after I posted this thread I fell down the stairs and hurt myself so the bike has been the last thing on my mind! I'm planning to have another look at it this weekend so I'll follow your suggestions. Thanks again!