Bicycle Mechanics - require confirmatino

ok, so i bought a cyclocross bike a while back (august 2nd) and the guy told me i should come back in 2 weeks to tighten the cables as they stretch. i live far so i wont be going there for another two weeks.

however, recently the rear mech has been changing gears on its own, and whenever i do a trackstand at a red light and power out in a hard gear to maximise acceleration the chain slips over the cogs. this is annoying as i cant even cycle over 50 kph because the pressure causes lots of slippage.

so i need confirmation - is this the cause of loose cables? i have a book that has illustrated step by step fixing and i wanna fix the bike here and now. (or i could go to my lbs that only sells mtb's and try there..)

A loose cable is a loose cable. Any LBS can tighten it and make the adjustments. The thing is the LBS you bought it from may do it for free. Other places will most likely charge you.

You can also do it yourself, too.

Mr. Skullder......If you can do trackstands, you're more than capable of adjusting a loose derailleur cable which is most likely causing your shifting problem. Adjust by simply turning cable adjustment nut.

ok thanks guys. my lbs (245km's away...) said i get free lifetime service so it would be better than getting a minimum charge of 25$ at the local bike store.

as for trackstands i still need to learn to do em better..but getting there. the majority of the time i unclip but if the conditions are right....

Originally posted by Skullder
ok thanks guys. my lbs (245km's away...) said i get free lifetime service so it would be better than getting a minimum charge of 25$ at the local bike store.

So its either $25 at the local shop or $25 in gas to drive to the other shop?:D

Originally posted by KleinMp99
So its either $25 at the local shop or $25 in gas to drive to the other shop?:D

nope 50$ gas to get to the shop :D (245km each way)

but i really want to get a new saddle..my painfull one is becoming the norm so im guessing its either breaking in or my nerves are killed... :S

anyway ive fiddled around with the nut and the chain doesnt skip over the sprockets teeth anymore but the chain jumps over the 2nd gear to 1st - 3rd, and i dont have a workstand so i cant pedal and change gears at the same time.

Search this forum (or check out Sheldon Brown's site) for info on adjusting the rear derailleur... sounds like the adjustment isn't quite dialed in yet.

Originally posted by Skullder
nope 50$ gas to get to the shop :D (245km each way)


anyway ive fiddled around with the nut and the chain doesnt skip over the sprockets teeth anymore but the chain jumps over the 2nd gear to 1st - 3rd, and i dont have a workstand so i cant pedal and change gears at the same time.

You really don't need a work-stand to work on your dérailleurs, you need to be able to keep the rear wheel off the ground. A clever person would be able to come up with something.

Here is a very helpful site that will teach you how to adjust you dérailleurs. Follow the directions, in order, and you will have you bike running fine in no time!

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml scroll down to the section on dérailleurs.

Bookmark this site. Park Tools has a huge amount of very helpful info. Because of your extreme distance from the LBS, you should probably buy some of the necessary tools and learn how to work on your own bike. It's not hard.

Originally posted by Skullder
i dont have a workstand so i cant pedal and change gears at the same time.

Flip the bike over and rest it on its handlebars and saddle.

You can do the adjustment while your riding. You cyclocross bike should have a threaded adjuster on the downtube where the cable housing is. While your riding shift into the cog one away from high gear. As your pedaling turn the adjuster counterclockwise untill your chain starts to make noise against the next cog. When you hear noise back off on the adjuster untill the noise disappears. If you run out of threads on the adjuster screw it back in all the way then back out the adjuster on your derailleur a turn or two then re-adjust with the one on the downtube. When you run out of threads on both adjusters the cable will need to tighted up on the derailleurs pinch bolt.