Blasted Gears

[Python]

Since that idiot tampered with my gears the other day, I've had nothing but problems.

Went into work this morning (my fastest time yet ). When I got to work I discovered my bike was in the second highest gear. I kept her on the 3rd cog (I've got 5 gears on my bike) as it's mostly downhill all the way with a couple of minor uphills that 3rd cog is fine for. I find 3rd gear is usually a good all-rounder on my bike. Got to work to find she was on the 2nd smallest cog. Considering I didn't change gear...

On the way home (uphill all the way with two parts quite steep that go for a fairly long way), I wondered why I was struggling to get up the hill. I'd put her in the second lowest gear which is usually fine and leaves 1 cog in reserve for the steepest part of the journey. Wondered why my legs were protesting but sheer determination kept me going. Due to the volume of traffic (we've got a bank holiday weekend and a lot of people are going away), I decided to dismount and cross the bike on the crossing instead of going round the roundabout like I usually do. No wonder I had legs that felt like lead. I'd come all the way uphill in 2nd highest gear. Again I didn't change gear at all

I'll have to get someone that knows what they're doing to fix my gears. We do have a bike shop fairly near but I'm just so tired I haven't got the energy to take the bike there today. I could take it back to Halfords but I really don't want that idiot messing with my bike again

[HillSlugger]

If the bike is changing gears without you doing it you probably have to tighten up the nut on the friction shifter. Sounds like it's now a little too loose.

[RoadRaven]

Derailleur???

[Python]

Yes. He messed with my derailleur

[Grog]

Your derailleur hanger might be a little bent. It happens to me pretty often as the bike gets a slight beating in the locker room (too much stuff in there).

It's not the end of the world. Just go back to the shop. It happens to me often that I'll get my derailleur adjusted and it doesn't work perfectly right away (I'm fussy, I like it to be very very sharp) and I just go back and they tweak it.

It doesn't mean they are idiots.

[Python]

Don't think the derailleur's bent as it hasn't been knocked or anything and this only happened after I got the tyres put on. I was there all the time so they didn't damage anything. When he put the back wheel on he didn't take into account the position of the shift lever in relevance to the gear the bike was in when I took it into the shop. He should have asked and I should have told him, but it didn't happen.

When I nipped up to the shop tonight, I put the bike in 2nd lowest gear (steep short uphill). She stayed in gear. On the way back I changed down a gear. I only touched the lever with my fingertip and she went down a couple of cogs so I've tightened the shift lever nut a bit and will try that tomorrow. Weather permitting son and me will be going for a run on the bikes so I'll try it out and see how she performs.

I've got until Tuesday before I use her to get to work again. It is a holiday on Monday here and hubby is taking me to work and picking me up as we are going out in the afternoon. If I can't get the gears working properly I'll use my son's bike (same as mine) to get to work on Tuesday then take my bike to the other bike shop which is less than a mile from my house and they'll adjust the gears properly.

On the plus side at least I know my fitness is improving after managing to get up the steep hill on the way home in 2nd highest gear (gasp, wheeze...)

[Grog]

Hi again Python,

Maybe sometime you could take a mechanics course and learn to fix your gears (and brakes and everything you fancy) yourself. It's really not very complicated and very empowering!!!!

I often forget to drop the chain to the smallest cog when I take off my rear wheel but honestly it doesn't matter much. I don't think that would be the cause of your derailleur problems. It sounds like a tiny misadjustment to me.

Another possibility would be that your cables need to be changed.

[RoadRaven]

You say the derailleur is not bent etc... but I was wondering if you need to adjust it 1/2 a turn or two one way or the other?

That usually sorts my jumping gears after maintenance...

[Python]

Yes I would like to learn bike maintenance but I'm not sure who runs classes here, if anyone. I know there are classes for motorbike maintenance at our local college but I've never seen any for bicycle maintenance.

Doesn't look like we'll be going out with the bikes today as we have very strong winds and there's thunder forecast. Forecast for all this week isn't good Don't mind the rain so much but don't like wind.

Hopefully it won't be too bad on Tuesday. Working for a few hours tomorrow morning then going to a barbeque in the afternoon at a reptile shop. It will be a chance to see venomous snakes like Cobras which I've never seen except on TV so I'm looking forward to it.

[Grog]

Yes I would like to learn bike maintenance but I'm not sure who runs classes here, if anyone. I know there are classes for motorbike maintenance at our local college but I've never seen any for bicycle maintenance.

Just ask your bike shop(s)! They might know. They might also be happy to take you in the shop and simply let you watch as they explain to you what they're doing, or even walk you through doing it yourself. It's not rocket science.

[Python]

I'm going to have a cycle up to the large bookstore on Tuesday after work and see if I can find a book that gives step-by-step instructions on bike maintenance.