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I run a basic bike repair course once a month and the skill I see most people lack is how to effectively adjust a rear derailleur. (course details HERE) So for everyone that would like to know how, here's a video tutorial.

Bike: Rocky Mountain Element 30MSL (26") Current setup: Old type X9 rear derailleur (no clutch, long cage)Wide range Praxis cassette (11-40T)32T chainringX7 shifterAvid Elixir CR brakes Warning: I'm a novice who has done internet research with very little hands on experience. No need to be gentle, just want to make that clear (if my questions don't do that for themselves...). Question: I need some help choosing a rear derailleur to help eliminate chain slap. The Shimano Zee Shadow + sounds perfect for 1 x 10 but there are mixed results when using it with wide range cassettes. It's such a great option for purpose and price and I'm tempted to try it. But I've spent a lot on my Praxis wide range cassette and love the setup. If I go with anything Shimano I know I'll run into issues with matching clamps for my Avid brakes. But I first just want to see if this RD is a solid choice. I have an SLX shifter I can use to replace the X7. Another option would be to find a medium cage SRAM derailleur with clutch but I'm not sure where to get one and if it will really help sort out the chain slap (in same way that Zee seems to). Are there other options I could consider? Many thanks for any advice.

I fitted a new Shimano XT clutch rear derailleur to my trail bike two years ago when I built it up from new. I went for 1x10 setup using a 42 expander and a 32t n/w chainring. A year or so in and I started dropping the chain quite regularly. I replaced the chain, cassette, expander as well as the chain ring (which was quite worn given a poor chain line, which was corrected with the new chainring). Soon after this I'd occasionally still drop my chain. I shortened the chain to what was possible with the bike "fully compressed" in the lowest gear and all the air released from the rear shock. And frustratingly I'd still drop my chain (yes, the clutch was always engaged). Did a little google research and found that the clutch unit on XT and XTR clutch derailleurs could be adjusted by simply removing the plastic clutch cover on the derailleur and tightening the adjuster screw. The recommendation was to tighten in quarter turn increments given the derailleur's sensitivity to these adjustments. I was not aware of this prior to reading reading one of the articles. I removed clutch cover hoping that the adjustment would sort out my chain dropping issues. To my surprise the "cam unit" was broken (at this stage I did not know this part is called a cam unit)! This is the first time the clutch cover was removed and neither had I ever caught the derailleur against a rock etc. My first thought was oh fook, I need a new derailleur. Then thought of asking if any fellow hubbers had a trashed derailleur from which I could salvage the "cam unit". Then did a little more research only to discover that the cam unit (now discovered its name) commonly fails/breaks and can easily be replaced. I found the replacement unit on bike-components.de at the exorbitant price of EUR1.64. I ordered 4 units (along with a new campy chorus group set for my new road bike build...). Hopefully all arrives in the next week or two. Hopefully dropped chains will be a thing of the past as I honestly do not know how long I've been riding with a broken clutch unit. The derailleur still functions normally, just without the clutch. A pic of where the unit sits in the derailleur (sorry, pic's a little out of focus), the broken cam unit cage as well as the replacement part taken from the bike-components.de website. Hope my experience helps anybody else in trying to ID one possible reason for a dropped chain when using an XT clutch derailleur. Edit: changed bikediscount.de to bike-components.de

Today I broke my rear derailleur while riding on the Spruit. I'd like to thank all those that stopped to try help me and those that offerered to help while I walked back from the Virgin Active to the Trailhead. The derailleur either needs to be fully replaced or the part that broke replaced (possibly with a second hand part). I think the part that broke is called the derailleur cage. It is an XT 10 speed. Can anyone please advise where the best place to get the job done in JHB is at a reasonable cost. As the weekend & public holiday is coming up I'd like to sort this out ASAP. I can't seem to find the price for a rear XT derailleur on the service providers websites that I've looked at so far. Thanks!

Okay, guys. Another Q&A. I'm doing my own wrenching for the first time, so apologies in advance if my question seems daft. When affixing my new SRAM NX RD to the hanger of my bike and with the nut/screw/whatever fastened, the RD can still move freely (swing) on the RD. By "swinging", I mean that with the RD fastened to the hanger and looking at the bike from the right side, it can move/swing to the left. It obviously stops on the hangar stop, but can still move towards the back of the bike. Now, is it supposed to be able to move freely to the back of the bike or should it be completely fixed to the hanger?

Need some help!!! Trolled the net to death, but not able to figure out the differences between the 1x11 and 2x11 SRAM GX rear derailleurs? Yes you get two versions, never expected it: https://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/family/gx http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/za/en/sram-gx-1x11-speed-rear-mech/rp-prod135897 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/za/en/sram-gx-2x11-speed-rear-mech/rp-prod135898 After looking at the SRAM tech docs, it seems that the 1x11 is only avail in a long cage version that makes sense, but apart from that, what is the real world differences, will a 1x11 unit work on a 2x11 setup. As I see it , it is as easy as the rear derailleur should just be able to shift 11 gears. Shimano only has one 11sp Xt derailleur, why does Sram need 2? Looking at GX 2x11 crank + 104bcd single chain ring, 2x11 front derailleur, XT 11-42 cassette (due to XD driver), xt chain, SRAM GX shifters, but the rear derailleur is the Q? The above will enable me to experiment with a 1x11 setup and still be able to change over to a 2x11 setup for the days that you start at the back and need to work your way thru the walkers on the hills, or help to get to the end of the TransBaviaans.

Hi Guys I need some help. The rear derailleur hanger on my son's bike broke, I don't have a spare! He rides a Raleigh RC3000 (carbon version) I received a quote for R335 on back order or R450 if ordered on it's own, with no view on when it will be arriving. Anybody know where else I can get one? This is terrible timing!

holycow, how long did it take them? but boy, all those 'limitations' aka 'other stuff you must buy'...*facepalm* http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb10662325/p5pb10662325.jpg A shorter cage and modified low-limit stop geometry are some of the differences between the X01 DH derailleur and a standard unit. http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb10662310/p5pb10662310.jpg The 7 speed cassette sports an integrated spoke guard, and it mounts on a standard XD driver body. Pinksauce

Hi Everyone, Needing some help please with my drive train. __________________________________ Firstly What I Have: CRANKSET: Custom SRAM S-1250, 7050 alloy arms, 10-speed XC double, PF30 spindle, 175mm FRONT DERAILLEUR: SRAM X7, 10-speed, 34.9mm clamp, top pull REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano XT Shadow Plus, 10-speed, SGS long cage SHIFT LEVERS: Shimano SLX, 10-speed, trigger CASSETTE: SRAM PG-1030, 10-speed, 11-36 CHAIN: SRAM PC 1031, 10-speed, PowerLink _______________________________________ Now My Problems: - Bad Chain Slap, with clutch on and off... - Keep dropping the chain off the big front ring, I have tuned it and had the shop tune it, even lowering the mount a touch but still after about 20km of riding the problem starts up again.. - Sometimes when standing to power up a small climb the back gears would skip up one and then back down, mainly on the smaller cassette gears... On the stand the gears shift perfectly even on the trail its perfect, just when I stand up to power up a short hill it would jump every now and then. Limit screws are set and tension on cable is great for fast and smooth shifting. - This weekend my chain kept hoping off the bottom jockey free wheel of the Rear Derailleur jamming it between the cage and the free wheel. When I took it apart nothing seemed to be wrong despite seeing it wobble and throw the chain off while on the trail and stopping to unjam it. - Lastly the chain seems to have a bad flex in it, but since the beginning. Its been measured and not worn to the point of replacing it _________________________________________________ Bike is about 3-4 months old, done about 850kms and bought it brand new so first owner. I have never been a Shimano fan, none of the derailleurs I have had worked great and also been fussy. I am thinking of replacing it with a SRAM X9 type 2, most likely a medium cage since is a 2X10 setup and perhaps a new chain However would this help solve the problems I am having or must I check somewhere else for the cause of these problems before spending the money? Thanks in advance for your help, looking forward to your feedback. Kind Regards, Tim