n00b needs some advice...

AzFlyBoy said:

I have a Roadmaster Mountain Sport SX that I bought from Wal-Mart (no
flamers needed, already got enough critique for buying there)

It has the Shimano handle shifting system, with twist adjustments at the
cable-end nearest the shifter, and the typical 2-screw adjustment at the
derailer itself.

I'm sure it's human error (mine) that is causing my bicycle to malfunction
between certain gears.

As I'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it hesitates to go into 3rd, and I must
shift up a couple more gears to pass the gear up, THEN downshift into 3rd...
also at times it not only hesitates, but the chain seems to "slip" off the
sprocket, causing me to suddenly pedal freely (or so it seems)

I'm about 70% positive it is an adjustment issue, and if I had the manual to
the bicycle I would not be posting this plea for help. I've even googled
around for a proper "how-to" but I've found nothing but a harangue of
technical terms I know nothing about.

I'm wondering if someone in this forum can point me in the right direction,
or MAYBE even explain to me how to adjust this stuff.

PS- I'm not necessarily a n00b to cycling, I just don't do it avidly.

Therea re lots of possible causes of bad shifting and a skating chain.
If the two following articles are too technical for you, I'd suggest
you take the bike into a shop and let them deal with it.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQrindx.shtml

If these adjustments don't fix it, new cables and housing, cleaning,
and off to the bike shop.

AzFlyBoy said:

I have a Roadmaster Mountain Sport SX that I bought from Wal-Mart (no
flamers needed, already got enough critique for buying there)

It has the Shimano handle shifting system, with twist adjustments at the
cable-end nearest the shifter, and the typical 2-screw adjustment at the
derailer itself.

I'm sure it's human error (mine) that is causing my bicycle to
malfunction
between certain gears.

As I'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it hesitates to go into 3rd, and I must
shift up a couple more gears to pass the gear up, THEN downshift into
3rd...
also at times it not only hesitates, but the chain seems to "slip" off
the
sprocket, causing me to suddenly pedal freely (or so it seems)

I'm about 70% positive it is an adjustment issue, and if I had the
manual to
the bicycle I would not be posting this plea for help. I've even googled
around for a proper "how-to" but I've found nothing but a harangue of
technical terms I know nothing about.

I'm wondering if someone in this forum can point me in the right
direction,
or MAYBE even explain to me how to adjust this stuff.

PS- I'm not necessarily a n00b to cycling, I just don't do it avidly.

Sounds like a problem with the cassette gear spacing. I have one that
has close spacing on the big rings and wide spacing on the 14, 16, 19.
Cheap gears, soon to be replaced. Does anyone know why a manufacturer
would actually do this or maybe just some real noob trying to build his
own gears, which I inherited on a wheel. The only reason it is on my bike
is that I wore out the bearing races on the original wheel so no amount
of packing would get rid of the once per rev graunching sound.
Bill Baka

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

Quoted message said:

I'm sure it's human error (mine) that is causing my bicycle to malfunction
between certain gears.

Don't be so sure it's your fault. I was at my LBS last week when a guy
brought in one of these bikes. It was nearly new but the shifting was giving
him problems. They finally figured out that his chain ring was flexing
sideways when he pedaled. Yes, the ring was of such inferior steel that it
was moving as a wave action! They had to replace it with something a bit
sturdier, and that solved his problems for the time being.

Pat in TX

Dan Daniel said:

Therea re lots of possible causes of bad shifting and a skating chain.
If the two following articles are too technical for you, I'd suggest
you take the bike into a shop and let them deal with it.

Probably good advice, but I was down at the shop when a guy brought in his
kid's bike with the same X*mart bike & twist-grip index shifting. Kid had
broken the shift cable. Mechanic took one look at the shifter, and boy,
you should have seen him roll his eyes.

"Man," said the mechanic. "Those are a pain to adjust."

The guy--who had just brought the shifter, not the bike-- went home with an
appropriate length of cable & housing, and everybody's wishes of good luck.

-Luigi

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