Chain Slip - Gear Slip?

[Lou Zealand]

Bit of a luddite when it comes to bike mechanics...

 

The other day toward the end of a leisurely cycle I noticed that on occassion it would sound and feel as if I had slipped a gear.

 

On inspection it seemed the gear hadn't in fact slipped but the associated noise and feeling was still apparent.

 

Help - what am I doing wrong. Bike just returned from a service...

[I-FELT-the-FORCE]

Are you running your chain with a chain link? I had a similar problem, felt like I was slipping gears, looked at my chain wear (fine), put on a new cassette and same problem. Discovered a short while later that the chain lnk I was running was for a 9 speed chain, instead of running a narrower 10 speed link! Small problem, could have been descovered earlier and saved me some money

[The_Break]

Bit of a luddite when it comes to bike mechanics...

 

The other day toward the end of a leisurely cycle I noticed that on occassion it would sound and feel as if I had slipped a gear.

 

On inspection it seemed the gear hadn't in fact slipped but the associated noise and feeling was still apparent.

 

Help - what am I doing wrong. Bike just returned from a service...

 

Take it back and have them reset the gears. This is a very normal result from poor settings.

 

Even better. Learn how to set the gears yourself, because most shops tune on a tuing stand which can be different to when you ride the bike.

 

I normally tune up on a stand then take it for a ride. If it shifts up nicely but down poorly then turn the little finger nut at the rear derailler a quarter turn clockwise until it stops. If the other way round then counter clockwise.

 

There are other factors to consider such as system wear, but generally it is poor setting.

[scotty]

Most likely just needs tuning as mentioned, but also look at the cable housing, if dirty it can also cause shifting problems.

[The Saint]

More than likely just a cable adjustment needed - can happen with new bikes as the cables stretch and sometimes just general wear and tear. Pretty much a 5 minute fix. Read up about rear derailer adjustment and do it yourself.

 

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html - read here it even has pictures

[LeTurbo]

It sounded and felt like it slipped a gear but, in fact, it didn't? That suggests to me that your derailleur set-up is OK. Could it be that your freehub is buggered and the pawls aren't connecting or slipping? It may be simply be that they're dirty or need lubrication (especially if you clean your bike with high-pressure).

[Bman]

More than likely just a cable adjustment needed - can happen with new bikes as the cables stretch and sometimes just general wear and tear. Pretty much a 5 minute fix. Read up about rear derailer adjustment and do it yourself.

 

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html - read here it even has pictures

really interesting post, thanks saint

[The_Break]

It sounded and felt like it slipped a gear but, in fact, it didn't? That suggests to me that your derailleur set-up is OK. Could it be that your freehub is buggered and the pawls aren't connecting or slipping? It may be simply be that they're dirty or need lubrication (especially if you clean your bike with high-pressure).

 

That would be the most unlikely of causes and nearly impossible to achieve.

 

It is 99.99999999% the derailler set-up. Happens to me often enough with all the mileage I do and number of cables I change.

[covie]

Could be one of a many things, calbe tension, stretched chain or worn cassette (depending on mileage and age), stiff link, etc.

 

But check the cable tension first, thats the quickest and the easiest.

[The_Break]

Could be one of a many things, calbe tension, stretched chain or worn cassette (depending on mileage and age), stiff link, etc.

 

But check the cable tension first, thats the quickest and the easiest.

 

You lucky Johan Bornmann didn't see your comment there and that I am in a good mood today. Chains do not stretch.