Question

[Bikechic]

Today I was riding to work (about 13.2 miles) and climbing my first large hill with my new Bike (specialized sequoia elite) and as i was shifting my front gear the chain came off. Why would this happen? Just makes me irritated to pay 1200 bucks for a bike and the first hill I ride with it the chain comes off. ANyone have any answers for me?

Thanks,
Kila

[Irulan]

new bike: could be your derrailler needs adjusting, this is very common that cables stretch etc. It could also be that you are shifting under load, ( applying power to the drive train) which can cause exactly what you describe.

Irulan

[Bikechic]

sorry I am a newbie can u explain what "shifting under load means"?

[SadieKate]

Ditto on all 3 of Irulan's points.

Shifting under load means you are standing or putting pressure on the pedals and shifting at the same time. Very, very hard on the old drive train.

[Bikechic]

oh ok i see, so if u are pedaling while shifting this can happen?

[Wendy]

I've had the same problem with my brand-new $1,200 bike. The front derailleur is a Shimano 105. I've taken it in for adjustments twice, and it's a little better each time, but it still came off once this weekend. I'm being extremely careful not to shift under load. I don't really have any answers, but it's very frustrating.

[Irulan]

just let the pressure off the pedals for the split second it takes to shift.
Take it back to the shops for your new bike adjustment, should be free with your purchase.

new drive trains can do this too, not just old ones.

~I.

[SadieKate]

new drive trains can do this too, not just old ones.

~I.

My reference to "old" was a colloquialism. It's hard on ANY drive train, young, old, new, pink or polka-dotted.

[bcipam]

Dropping a chain maybe operator error.

For instance, if you have 3 rings up front and 9 or 10 rings in your rear cassette and you want to move from say the middle to your granny ring up front, your chain should be in the middle somewhere of the rear cassette. If you use all the cassette rings (ie cross-chain) before shifting rings up front (ie the chain is on or near the largest cassette ring in the rear), you will cause the chain to drop. Someone before mentioned a flight deck computer. They can only be used with Shimano Ultegra or Dura Ace components but if your bike has that, the computer is good to show you where you are on the cassette.

Just remember to plan alittle for hills and drop down to granny before you really have to start cranking. It's better on the bike anyway and should prevent dropped chains.

* * *

Editing to add - you need to educate yourself on cross-chaining. It's not an efficient way to ride and will cause maintenance problems. Either askt he bike shop for information or do some online research.

Also you can shift while pedaling - under load means you should have shifted awhile back. Try to move the gears up and down to maintain a steady pace and cadence and pressure. If your cadence starts to slow down, say on a hill, you should immediately shift to an easier gear to maintain a steady cadence. If your cadence goes from 80 to 50 before shifting, you waited to long to shift. Chain droppage is inevitable!

[Irulan]

My reference to "old" was a colloquialism. It's hard on ANY drive train, young, old, new, pink or polka-dotted.

SK, you crack me up. If we ever meet in real life I sure hope we can do better than we do on the internet. ;-)

Irulan - the die hard literalist. And I wonder why I hate it when my kids do it do me...

[SadieKate]

Irulan - I suspect we're two birds of a feather. I have had to work so hard my entire life not to be so literal-minded. My whole family would be off cracking jokes and making up limericks, and I'd be sitting there saying "Whaaaat? I don't get it!"

[swlsue]

Today I was riding to work (about 13.2 miles) and climbing my first large hill with my new Bike (specialized sequoia elite) and as i was shifting my front gear the chain came off. Why would this happen? Just makes me irritated to pay 1200 bucks for a bike and the first hill I ride with it the chain comes off. ANyone have any answers for me?

Thanks,
Kila

Ha! No idea on the chain but WHERE in Houston do you have a Hill?
I'll be right down!

[Bikechic]

I'm from the Sugar Land area...u?

[swlsue]

Exactly - we have "hills" bumps really up here in the woodlands but we go north to get any kind of a hill ride.
Sugarland is rice pattie country - you found a hill? Is is the Katy freeway overpass?

We are getting ready to head to the Pyrenese to ride and watch the Tour de France. I am freakin' out about riding real hills!

[Veronica]

We are getting ready to head to the Pyrenese to ride and watch the Tour de France. I am freakin' out about riding real hills!

Are you going on your own?

V.