Help!

[Catrin]

I am headed to southern Indiana first thing tomorrow morning to ride fire roads with a couple of friends - and for assorted reasons had my Jamis upside down at my mechanics advice - and while it was there I played with the shifters. For some odd reason I dropped the chain while it was upside down, but the chain is jammed between the derailleur and back of the crank - and I can't seem to free it

Tips on how I can free it? Moving it by hand doesn't help.

[Catrin]

Here are a couple of pictures, hopefully they are clear enough:

[Becky]

Is the chain between two chainrings, or between the smallest chainring and the bottom bracket? I'm having trouble picturing this....even with the photos.

[Catrin]

Is the chain between two chainrings, or between the smallest chainring and the bottom bracket? I'm having trouble picturing this....even with the photos.

The chain is loose, except for a part of it that seems to be jammed between two chain rings... I just can't get any slack in it...

[Becky]

I asked DH, and he suggested using a bungie cord or some string to secure the rear derailleur forward and take tension off the chain. He says that, once that is done, it may be easier to wiggle the chain loose.

Good luck!

[laura*]

had my Jamis upside down at my mechanics advice

Did your mechanic tell you to store the bike upside down? Or is there some other reason?

A bike repair book I've read mentions that advanced bike mechanics work on bikes right side up, while beginning amateurs flip the bike over.

In your pictures, it looks like the derailleur is tugging on the chain. Shift it so that it isn't pulling the chain against a chainring. To unstick the chain, you'll need to gently tug, push, wiggle, and twist until you find where it is caught. Start by seeing if you can free the end of the chain going towards the rear derailleur. To get more slack chain, shift the rear to the small (likely 11 tooth) cog - you'll have to manually move the chain down the cassette.

[Catrin]

Yes, my mechanic told me to store it upside down for a couple of evenings - it has to do with the oil in the new suspension. He is considered one of the best in the state so I listen to him. probably back pedaled just a bit while playing with the shifters which caused this to happen

[Catrin]

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT

I really don't know what I did, and it took close to an hour, but it appears to be fixed Then I had to fix the chain on the RD and rear cassette, and that was easy easy after the chainring!

I do know what happened, and that helps.

Now time to go to bed and rest for a little fire trail riding and hiking tomorrow!

[laura*]

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT

Clap, clap, clap!

I really don't know what I did, and it took close to an hour, but it appears to be fixed Then I had to fix the chain on the RD and rear cassette, and that was easy easy after the chainring!

This was a good learning experience: Sometimes the chain can get wedged like that while you are out on the road!

[OakLeaf]

See, you can handle it.

[Catrin]

See, you can handle it.

It's a confidence thing, I've never been what would could consider "mechanically inclined". I REALLY wanted to do my first little mountain bike ride this morning though, so it was an incentive to not give up

[marni]

here's to the inner gear goddess in all of us.