I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Operator Error?
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole
derailleur/cable
Quoted message said:
system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far
enough
Quoted message said:
to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal
torque
Quoted message said:
is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail
is
Quoted message said:
fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any
constructive
Quoted message said:
tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
Don't know if this'll help you, but as long as the shifter clicks, everything should be fine at the derailluer. All I do is slow my pedal stroke down slightly (lessen the torque) for just an instant, until the chain engages the next gear. Being in a tight situation, I can see how one could try and rush it (panic shift), but that's where the trouble starts. Try practicing fast, but smooth shifts. It may sound silly, but could possibly help.
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
Wait a sec. Throwing your chain to the inside (I assume you mean up front?) and the shifting technique issues you describe are two separate problems/questions (though almost certainly related).
Both /could/ be from simple cable stretch, although it sounds like your front derailleur may need a set-screw adjustment, too. The rear sure SOUNDS like a little cable stretch; turn the barrel adjuster at the derailleur counter-clockwise to tighten the tension a tad.
It's easy to "over push" the thumb shifter when needing to go up a few cogs in back; try "single clicking" quickly to get the individual shifts to happen fast, instead of forcing it.
Bill "will shut up now and let someone who knows something talk" S.
In news:[email hidden], Penny S <[email hidden]> typed:
Quoted message said:
Operator Error?
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
penny
Sounds like your cable tension needs to be increased. Use the barrel adjuster on your shifter by unscrewing it about 1/2 turn at a time. If it's unscrewed too far already you may need to loosen the cable pinch bolt at the front derailleur and pull the cable tighter. This is done while shifted in the small ring to release all tension from the shifter.
More often than not a bike that will shift perfectly in the stand will show problems on the trail. The chain needs to be under riding load. So you get it very close in the stand and fine tune it on a test ride.
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
Wait a sec. Throwing your chain to the inside (I assume you mean up front?) and the shifting technique issues you describe are two separate problems/questions (though almost certainly related).
Both /could/ be from simple cable stretch, although it sounds like your front derailleur may need a set-screw adjustment, too. The rear sure SOUNDS like a little cable stretch; turn the barrel adjuster at the derailleur counter-clockwise to tighten the tension a tad.
It's easy to "over push" the thumb shifter when needing to go up a few cogs in back; try "single clicking" quickly to get the individual shifts to happen fast, instead of forcing it.
Bill "will shut up now and let someone who knows something talk" S.
Penny,
I'll second Bill. Check the set screw in the front. It may be allowing your derailleur to go too far in toward the frame. As for the rear. If you're having trouble getting into larger cogs, that "tad" Bill refers to should be 1/4 turn at a time with a few test shifts while riding in between turns. If the problem is hitting smaller cog shifts, turn the barrel clockwise a "tad" at a time.
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
Wait a sec. Throwing your chain to the inside (I assume you mean up front?) and the shifting technique issues you describe are two separate problems/questions (though almost certainly related).
Both /could/ be from simple cable stretch, although it sounds like your front derailleur may need a set-screw adjustment, too. The rear sure SOUNDS like a little cable stretch; turn the barrel adjuster at the derailleur counter-clockwise to tighten the tension a tad.
It's easy to "over push" the thumb shifter when needing to go up a few cogs in back; try "single clicking" quickly to get the individual shifts to happen fast, instead of forcing it.
Bill "will shut up now and let someone who knows something talk" S.
Penny,
I'll second Bill. Check the set screw in the front. It may be allowing your derailleur to go too far in toward the frame. As for the rear. If you're having trouble getting into larger cogs, that "tad" Bill refers to should be 1/4 turn at a time with a few test shifts while riding in between turns. If the problem is hitting smaller cog shifts, turn the barrel clockwise a "tad" at a time.
Shawn
rear shifting is fine, and yes it happens under load. I take it that it's time to do some field adjustments and don't rely on workstand performance??
rear shifting is fine, and yes it happens under load. I take it that it's time to do some field adjustments and don't rely on workstand performance??
Yup. Take your time. Make sure each change in adjustment hasn't gone the wrong way. If so, undo it and go the Other way. Also, check to make sure the cable guide near the BB is free of crud and lightly lubed (if its bare cable-not in housing). I've had problems there lately. Did your re-build involve a new chain? This usually necessitates some adjustment in my experience. Not to mention the new chain old parts sermon I know you've heard, but that doesn't sound like the problem. Then again there's always SS! Nah :-p
rear shifting is fine, and yes it happens under load. I take it that it's time to do some field adjustments and don't rely on workstand performance??
Yup. Take your time. Make sure each change in adjustment hasn't gone the wrong way. If so, undo it and go the Other way. Also, check to make sure the cable guide near the BB is free of crud and lightly lubed (if its bare cable-not in housing). I've had problems there lately. Did your re-build involve a new chain? This usually necessitates some adjustment in my experience. Not to mention the new chain old parts sermon I know you've heard, but that doesn't sound like the problem. Then again there's always SS! Nah :-p
Shawn
I see I'm going to have to learn to do this myself.
The chain was not part of the strip down, new cables/guides/clean and grease routine, probably later this spring I'll do that.
Ignore the guys saying to adjust your cable, that is only the possible second thing you should do. There are two screws on the top (in most cases) of your derailer the outside screw adjusts the derailer so it can't go too far and flip your chain off on the inside. The inside screw limits how far your derailer can go to the outside.
Now all this is very simple but there is one aspect to this that screws everything up. Once you get the outside limit set and the inside limit set sometimes you have problems shifting to and from the middle gear. So now you adjust the cable as good as you can then you may need to tweak the inside and outside limit settings. Sounds hard but if your bike is out of adjustment it won't hurt to play with the adjustments. An experienced bike mechanic can fix anything you do in minutes.
Penny S said:
Operator Error?
I have been throwing my chain to the inside a lot at time, and not being able to shift real smooth in certain situations. The whole derailleur/cable system was just rebuilt and operates perfectly on the workstand, or on rolling trail. It could be that I'm not throwing the shift lever far enough to totally engage the derailleur is the problem, but it has also been suggested to me that my timing, and what I'm doing with crank/pedal torque is what's messing me up. Typically your basic up one gear on the trail is fine, or up one chain ring is fine, I'm running into problems when in tighter situations is where I'm having trouble.. of course. Any constructive tips on improving my shifting would be really appreciated.
