Why are my gears so hard to change bike?
The most obvious and common causes for poor shifting are down to poor adjustment and the most common thing to go out of adjustment is cable tension. In the simplest of terms, sluggish upshifts can be caused by too little cable tension; while slow downshifts could be too much tension.
Is it okay to shift gears on a bike?
Actually, nothing you can do shifting a bicycle – no matter how many gears it has – will hurt it. So don’t worry, it’s okay to shift it as much as you want while learning, even if the gear changes aren’t easy and smooth yet.
Why does my bike make noise when I shift gears?
This causes too great an angle in your chain line, which can cause noise and shifting problems. A bicycle geek since early childhood, spent his twenties as a mechanic in bike shops. His passions include flatland BMX, unicycles, cycle touring, mountain biking and road riding.
Why is my derailleur bike shifting on its own?
Another cause of such problems is a bent rear DR “hanger”, the part that the DR attaches to. Some of these are very soft aluminum and can be easily bent. Make sure the DR cage is exactly parallel to the cogs and the hanger is not visibly bent. If you can’t find anything else, try crossing the gear cables under your down tube.
Where do you Put Your Chain when shifting gears?
For most everday riding, you’ll want to keep your chain on the middle ring on the front, or number 2 on your left shifter. This allows you to use the full range of rear gears.
Why are the gears on my bike not shifting?
The gear refusing to shift is the most common problem with a very simple solution – indexing. When indexed properly, the gears shift one after the other with ease. If you are skipping gears and facing problems, the indexing is to blame.
How can I get the hang of shifting my bike?
Shift into a bigger gear in the front. Shift into a smaller gear in the back. Practice shifting up and down in a flat area. A good way to get the hang of shifting is to simply start doing it! Go someplace safe and flat (like a park) and start pedaling forward. Try using one of the hand controls to shift up or down.
Which is harder to shift gears left or right?
Shifting into the larger gears with your LEFT hand will make it HARDER. Small lever*: The smaller of the two shifter levers will move the chain into smaller rings. So, small=small. Shifting into smaller rings with your RIGHT hand will make the pedaling HARDER. Shifting into the smaller gears with your LEFT hand will make the pedaling EASIER.
How does a derailleur shift gears on a bike?
When you use the left-hand controls, a metal loop called a derailleur (“de-railer”) shifts the chain from side to side to make it catch on a new front gear. The front gears makes a large shift in your gear ratio.