Chain is jumping cogs

Hey guys,

I had a question and I didn't see another post on it, please forgive me if I missed it........ this is on a new bike, although I'm riding the heck out of it. when I'm in second gear and under load (rear in 2nd or third mostly, my chain wants to jump cogs (ker chunk!) and sometimes it feels like its jumping gears, but when I got off and looked, it was where it was supposed to be, and its certainly not cross chained..... When I lift the bike and crank it, it almost looks like the chain is wobbly or something........ I tried adjusting the little black nurlly nut on the rear deraileur a little bit...... ummmm inwards, it seems to help it....... I'm just a little afraid to fiddle around too much myself. The bike shop always wants me to leave the bike, which is not acceptable, as I'm determined NOT to drive my gas-mobile, and I'm single, and i don't want to walk nor set up housekeeping in the back of the bicycle shop! ....... I think this is just a little adjustment because the bike is new and things are stretching out........ Am I ok adjusting that little nurly adjuster thingy??? As Pooh Bear would say... oh halp and bother!!! :eek:

Thanks a bunch for any thoughts and help!!
Cyn

With a new bike, you tend to go through a breaking in period...normally most shops will have you bring the bike back in so they can go over it once again.

It sounds like you need a cable adjustment; I would take it back to your LBS.

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

With a new bike, you tend to go through a breaking in period...normally most shops will have you bring the bike back in so they can go over it once again.

It sounds like you need a cable adjustment; I would take it back to your LBS.

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Yup, you are 100 percent right on - they wanted me to leave the bike from Saturday through the following Thursday....... I could walk back home (about 10 miles from the shop) and then ride my other bike for the time that they have my new one, and then walk back the 10 miles to the shop, on Thursday....... or I could take it to the LBS in downtown Issaquah, (Veloce Velo) ......... great people, and let them do it....I'm just so bound and determined not to drive the car....... my bike is now my car - to work, to the store, etc, ........bikes have gotten so complicated! :eek:

Huggs!
Cyn

It sounds like the mechanic is not there everyday. Maybe you can find out when he/she IS there, and make an appointment. For a new bike you can expect some cable stretching, and they can adjust it in about 5 minutes. I can see leaving it for an hour if they are busy, but really, if they sold you the bike they should give you some ready adjustments without having to wait several days for it. That's just ridiculous.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by withm

It sounds like the mechanic is not there everyday. Maybe you can find out when he/she IS there, and make an appointment. For a new bike you can expect some cable stretching, and they can adjust it in about 5 minutes. I can see leaving it for an hour if they are busy, but really, if they sold you the bike they should give you some ready adjustments without having to wait several days for it. That's just ridiculous.

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I know! I was frankly, a little disappointed, I was told to bring it back after about 15 hours, and they would do the adjustments - and then I was told to leave it - the mechanic was there - I think they are just over busy - but when you buy a new bike, I would think it would think that you would be treated as if you bought a new car.......... I wasn't very happy, and probably looked a little shocked - the attitude was more or less, thats just the way it is. The road to the shop isn't exactly bike freindly either - 2 lanes, curves, hills, and no shoulder.... a real nail biter. I asked if I could make an appointment, they said that they didn't do appointments per se, but if I got it in when they opened they would see if they could have it back to me in a day!! As you said, this seems like it should be a very simple adjustment. But if I have to pay to have it done at Veloce Velo, I guess I'll have to do that....... It just seems like as you said this is a simple adjustment and really should not be rocket science......

Cya,
Cyn

When I took my new bike in for some adjustments someone there told me I'd have to leave it for 3 or 4 weeks. I hung around until the guy who sold me the bike saw me, explained what I needed and what the other guy told me, and he took the bike into their shop and asked the mechanic to just sneak me in quick. I think he realised that having me standing around being annoyed was going to screw up the sale he was in the middle of.

It does sound like it just need a bit of fine tuning on the cable.

Try turning the barrel adjuster to your rear derailleur a tiny bit (1/2 turn) and shift through the gears. See if it helps. If it doesn't fix it but doesn't make it worse, twist a little more. Don't twist it a ton though, just 1/4 to 1/2 turns at a time and shift through. If it makes it worse, turn it the other way.

Could be a simple way to solve the problem.

Shops are making people wait THAT LONG for a basic derailleur adjustment?!
That is ridiculous!!
Ok, from an lbs owner's point of view, this is how I see it.

I HATE when people walk in the door and expect us to drop what we are doing to take care of their mechanical need on the spot. Esp. since they are effectively line jumping. And the ones that come off with an attitude of entitlement are the ones that we will surely say "gee I'm sorry, but I have this bike on the rack due in a few minutes, and another one due later today. I just can't stop right now. But I'll get to yours as soon as I can."
But that being said. If the client says anything about the bike being their only mode of transportation, or needing it for a race, etc. we will do our best to get the bike back asap. And depending on what it is, we may just rack it and take care of it. For something so simple as a new bike cable stretch issue, it is MUCH easier just to take care of that on the spot. Between writing up the ticket, and dealing with storing the bike, we would just rather get you back on your way. An adjustment like that shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. And our mechanic is kind of OCD about making sure nothing leaves his stand unless it's perfect. But I've never seen him take longer than that.
I just can't see why a bike shop would need your bike that long? Are they THAT busy?? wow!
We are a small shop, but we still are busy most of the day. And Nick isn't just a wrench for me. He's also a fit expert and great salesman. So he wears many hats- and still get's everything done. ANd yeah, our service bay is ALWAYS full. But our tuneups never take more than 3 days??
OY. I feel for ya'll out there!

I agree. That's insane. I'm just a consumer, never been a shop employee, but aside from waiting for parts to be delivered, the longest I've ever left my bike for service has been overnight -- and that was for stuff like a complete tune-up, and in most of those cases they offered to have it ready that day, but it was easier for me to pick it up the next day.

I agree with Running Mommy, a shop should NOT need your bike that long! Being a shop owner as well, if someone bought a bike from us then we will make every effort to get their bike in and out the same day! We also would schedule appts for people. Another item that we offer is a pick up/delivery service. People have busy schedules these days and it's one other way that we can reach out to help.

I hope that your shop realizes what a valued customer you are!!