Bicycle Mechanics - Help!

I had an issue with my bike. I'm sure how to explain it or what is happening but it won't really work. Most of the time when I pedal, it will be like I'm pedaling backwards (no resistance). Every now and then, it will catch and I will actually be pedaling my bike forward. This will be okay until I stop pedaling. Then it will lose its grip and go back to no resistance. Any ideas?

You might at least explain what kind of chain ring(s) & rear cog(s) you have.
Use Google and post a picture of something similar if you can't expalin.
Do you know the brand and/or model of the bike?

It is a roadmaster ridge rider. I can't find any kind of pictures on the internet.

When I was a young kid I had the exact same problem with a single speed Huffy. I'm assuming you've got a coaster brake hub. You might try taking it apart and cleaning and lubing it. It's probably just gummed up and sticking. If I remember correctly there's not too many parts inside the hub but I never got mine fixed. I was only 6 years old.

When I was a young kid I had the exact same problem with a single speed Huffy. I'm assuming you've got a coaster brake hub. You might try taking it apart and cleaning and lubing it. It's probably just gummed up and sticking. If I remember correctly there's not too many parts inside the hub but I never got mine fixed. I was only 6 years old.

When I took my Schwinn coaster single speed apart when I was a kid there were about a hundred parts. Would have never got it back together without the help of my motorcycle riding neighbor.

Judging by what you are saying and your apparent level of bicycle/mechanical knowledge, i think you should take it to a bike shop and have them look at it.

Judging by what you are saying and your apparent level of bicycle/mechanical knowledge, i think you should take it to a bike shop and have them look at it.

Gee, thanks...

It does sound like a internal hub gear, the Sturmey Archer type...

Does it look like this?

http://ecadfael.fu8.com/saam.jpg

Lets be a little more understanding guys.. we are supposed to be encouraging cycling and cyclist, the OP is a cyclist who needs help.. so he did not know the type of gear he has, nor the technical term for them... he still needs help.

But.. Robo's advice is still apt... these hub gears can be very tricky, especially for 'newbies'.

No it looks more like this,

http://www.singletrackworld.com/mod/submit/images/1588-4.jpg

Okay... does the 'no resistance' thing happen when cycling down hill? And it comes back when cycling uphill?:D

No, it just happens at random times. If I can get it to pedal, it usually keeps pedaling until I stop, then I have to get it to try and catch again.

Hmmm... maybe you should get a Honda....

Guys... I take it all back...:D

Whats that supposed to mean?

Okay... does the 'no resistance' thing happen when cycling down hill? And it comes back when cycling uphill?:D

Hey, thats the problem my girlfriend had.

Whats that supposed to mean?

Somebody thought "bikeforums" meant motorcycle forums in another post.

Somebody thought "bikeforums" meant motorcycle forums in another post.

Or we are being spammed... who knows?

Or we are being spammed... who knows?

Darn spammers.. they are taking over the world.

I could be wrong mind you... it has been known! But the Honda post and this OP basically have the same issues, loss of power..
To suss for me.

Is there anyway a derailiur gear could slip and 'go backwards'.. and shimmy forward??

Think about it...I read this thread and assumed like everyone else it was a hub gear, as we were supposed to assume. I fell for it hook line and sinker.. there is ONLY one gear system that CAN do this.. the hub gear...

... and we then get a pic of a derailier gear.. tis not possible.

Played... I was played!
Also... a lot of newbies today?

Is there anyway a derailiur gear could slip and 'go backwards'.. and shimmy forward??

Not that I know of - the first thing I thought of was maybe the chain running down into the granny gear, which has happened to me on hard log crosses, and it feels like you have no resistance.

Also... a lot of newbies today?

I wouldn't know about that. I come here (bikeforums) once a week or so, but when I do I come in force.

So we have the same terminology----
Front gears are called chain rings
Rear gears are called cogs. The complete set of cogs is called a Free Wheel. (FW for short)

When the problem occurs, is the FW spinning faster then the rear wheel?

IF it is, there could be a couple different things wrong.
FW is broken internally
Internal parts have thick, hard grease that doesn't allow things to function properly.
Internal parts are rusty "that doesn't......."
My guess is that it is one of the last 2. If it was broken, it'd probably be broken all the time.

Try this- From Sheldons pages-
"The bike should be held with the rear wheel off the ground, and leaning to the left at about a 45 degree angle. An assistant may be helpful for this. Turn the pedals around a couple of times to get the wheel spinning fast, then let it coast (helps to be in high gear for this.)

Look inside the smallest sprocket. The sprocket will be stationary, since the wheel is coasting, but you'll see an inner part of the freewheel that is spinning with the wheel. Drip oil onto the crack between the turning part and the stationary part. Gravity and capillary action will help work oil into the freewheel.


Repeat this a few times, until you hear a change in the sound of the clicking pawls (they'll generally get quieter when the oil reaches them.)

I think the ratchet thingy in the rear sprocket is either gummed up or has a broken spring inside. Try running some THIN oil into the gap (this is hard to explain - here goes): Lay the bike on the ground with the chain on the top side, look near the axle, turn the pedals backwards, OK - the crack where the turning sprocket meets the not-turning bit.........put oil over that crack and let a lot run inside. If it is gummed up, the oil will loosen it and make it work. If that fails, get someone to have a look because it is a tricky repair job!

I think the ratchet thingy in the rear sprocket is either gummed up or has a broken spring inside. Try running some THIN oil into the gap (this is hard to explain - here goes): Lay the bike on the ground with the chain on the top side, look near the axle, turn the pedals backwards, OK - the crack where the turning sprocket meets the not-turning bit.........put oil over that crack and let a lot run inside. If it is gummed up, the oil will loosen it and make it work. If that fails, get someone to have a look because it is a tricky repair job!

+1 This would be my guess. Us newbies like to use the wrong (and TOO much) lubricant, which gums up the works. I think the "ratchet thingies" are called pawls. If they don't ratchet correctly, they won't engage the gear inside the hub properly.