de-stress derailleurs

I store my bikes with the front derailleur on the small chainwheel and the rear
on one of the smallest cogs. This relieves tension on the derailleurs'
springs. I'm not convinced this is really necessary, but have always done it
this way and enjoyed good component life. It can't hurt.

Mike Yankee

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MikeYankee said:

I store my bikes with the front derailleur on the small chainwheel and the
rear on one of the smallest cogs. This relieves tension on the
derailleurs' springs. I'm not convinced this is really necessary, but
have always done it this way and enjoyed good component life. It can't
hurt.

I mix a little Valium into the oil I put on the derailleurs. They are
totally stress-free.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not
_`\(,_ | certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to
(_)/ (_) | reality. -- Albert Einstein

[email hidden] (Ken) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hello there,

I remember I read somewhere the derailleurs should be adjusted
properly to minimize the stress while not in use. I forgot the
details. How do I adjust them?

TIA.

Ken

I've never heard of that. But if there is a case to be made I would
simply slip the chain of the front chainrings and that will take all
the "pressure" off the DR's.

(Ken) said:

Hello there,

I remember I read somewhere the derailleurs should be adjusted
properly to minimize the stress while not in use. I forgot the
details. How do I adjust them?

TIA.

Ken

Years ago there was talk of leaving the derailleurs in the smallest
rear and front gears because this left the least pressure on the
cables and reduced stretching. I don't know if this had any validity
then, but today's cables are much less prone to stretching.

Theoretically I guess leaving the derailleurs unstressed would be
good. Personally I'm not going to go out of my way to do it.

"gds" wrote: (clip) slip the chain of the front chainrings (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There are actually two different sets of springs--dropping the chain off the
front relaxes the chain tensioning in the rear derailer, but it does not
ease the cable tension to either deraileur.

This thinking is similar to the argument that one should never leave a gun
or a camera shutter cocked, because the springs will lose their tension
over time. Springs do not lose tension--they are designed to operate well
below the yield stress of the steel.

But, I do agree that Valium, properly applied, can lower any stress
associated with bicycle parts. :-)

Dan Daniel said:

Years ago there was talk of leaving the derailleurs in the smallest
rear and front gears because this left the least pressure on the
cables and reduced stretching. I don't know if this had any validity
then, but today's cables are much less prone to stretching.

Theoretically I guess leaving the derailleurs unstressed would be
good. Personally I'm not going to go out of my way to do it.

The benefit to the derailleurs would probably be offset by the
increased chain and sprocket wear caused by starting off in the
small/small combination.

--
Ray Heindl
(remove the Xs to reply to: [email hidden])

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MikeYankee said:

I store my bikes with the front derailleur on the small chainwheel and

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rear on one of the smallest cogs. This relieves tension on the
derailleurs' springs. I'm not convinced this is really necessary, but
have always done it this way and enjoyed good component life. It can't
hurt.

I mix a little Valium into the oil I put on the derailleurs. They are
totally stress-free.

I don't believe in using chemicals, which is why I promote bicycle
meditation for stress-free derailleurs.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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Home of the meditative cyclist:
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