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By slipping out of gear, do you mean jumping from one gear to another or does the chain try to ride between gears and have trouble deciding which one it wants to be in? This can be corrected with the barrel adjuster - turn the adjuster out (making it longer) to increase cable tension until the chain is centered on a cog.
Or is the chain skipping over a tooth in a single gear? This mean that your chain and cassette are worn and need to be replaced.
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Thread: Adjusting the rear derailleur
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08-04-2007, 09:17 AM #1
Shine on...
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Adjusting the rear derailleur
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I hope this isn't a stupid question, but do most of you do this yourself? I've had my bike for a few months, and yesterday as I was riding, I seemed to be slipping out of gear. Very annoying. And alarming on hills, too!
Should I just bring the bike in to the shop? I know directions are out there online, but I'm not mechanically inclined, and I don't know anything, really, about bike mechanics. I can change a tire and clean and lube a chain, but that's pretty much it!
Perhaps I need to take a clinic or something at the LBS.2007 Trek 5000
2009 Jamis Coda
1972 Schwinn Suburban
"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
Susan B. Anthony, 1896
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08-04-2007, 06:09 PM #2
Grease Monkey
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Oil is good, grease is better.
2007 Peter Mooney w/S&S couplers/Terry Butterfly
1993 Bridgestone MB-3/Avocet O2 Air 40W
1980 Columbus Frame with 1970 Campy parts
1954 Raleigh 3-speed/Brooks B72
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08-05-2007, 02:14 PM #3
Shine on...
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This is what is happening. I watched it today as I was riding. It was trying to hop to a lower gear.
Originally Posted by DebW
2007 Trek 5000
2009 Jamis Coda
1972 Schwinn Suburban
"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
Susan B. Anthony, 1896
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08-16-2007, 10:55 AM #4
Registered User
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I know this post is a little late but watch this video...it is really helpful. I was always scared to do any adjustments on my bike for fear of messing it up even more. After watching this video several times I'm no longer worried...at least not as much. I was able to resolve my shifting problem on my own! And that feels so good not having to rely on the LBS all the time.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D0Xt_QCHD1UAs we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence." ~Benjamin Franklin
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08-16-2007, 01:08 PM #5
Meow!
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li10up, thanks for posting that. That's very helpful.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
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08-17-2007, 02:45 AM #6
Ride your ride.
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Another thanks to you, li10up, for that link! I always forget to check YouTube as a source for that sort of thing, and it looks like there's a pretty big assortment of bike maintenance videos posted there. Awesome!
"How about if we all just try to follow these very simple rules of the road? Drive like the person ahead on the bike is your son/daughter. Ride like the cars are ambulances carrying your loved ones to the emergency room. This should cover everything, unless you are a complete sociopath."
David Desautels, in a letter to velonews.com
Random babblings and some stuff to look at.
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08-18-2007, 08:40 PM #7
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Your problem is your rear derailleur isn't quite indexed properly.
This is caused by one of three things.
1) You took your wheel out when it was properly adjusted and didn't quite get it back in straight. It happens but unless you have Campy, it's have to be pretty severely out of whack for this to happen.
2) Your stops aren't set right. These are set by the little screws on your derailleur. If they were set right to begin with, it's probably not that.
3) Your derailleur cable stretched or slipped a bit. This is the easiest thing to fix and the first thing I suggest you try. Turn the barrel adjuster that your cable runs through counter clockwise a little bit. If you watch the derailleur while you do this, it should move toward the wheel a little. Play around with it until your derailleur starts to behave.
Also, this site is magnificent:
http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp
It shows pictures and the tools you'll need.
If you can get your hands on one, Terry has a great manual on how to fix your bike.
