Bicycle Mechanics - rear wheel calibration

hi,
okay so a while ago me and my friend were poping wheelies and somehow he landed on my rear spokes. the rim is shot and was very difficult to pedal. so i brought the wheel to the mechanic and he upgraded the rim to a stronger one instead of truing the spokes.

i dont know a lot about the physics of the bike gears but i know enough how to fix them. so anyways when i leaving the mecahanic said "make sure u set the high and low gear (or setting, i cant remember) or else you can damage the bike". so im like "what?" and hes like come back with ur bike and $10 and i can set it for you.

is he making this up or is there really a setting i have to do before riding the bike again?

thanks in advance

He's talking about your rear derailleur and he's telling you the truth.

Your new wheel might not locate the rear cogs exactly where they were before. If you don't check the rear shifting and adjust the limit stops if necessary, you might overshift the chain into your frame or into your brand new spokes.

okay, thanks.
where is this limit stops?

okay, thanks.
where is this limit stops?

They're little screws on the side of your rear derailleur that keep it from moving too far to the inside or outside. Sometimes the screws have a little "L" or "H" engraved next to them. The "H" screw keeps the derailleur from moving too far toward the dropout and the "L" keeps it from shifting into the spokes.

If you'll go to http://www.parktool.com you can find instruction for setting up and adjusting derailleurs.

Al

If the OP has to ask where the screws are, he is best off taking the bike back to the LBS and spending that $10 as insurance against another wheel rebuild to replace at least 8 or 9 spokes... or getting his chain jammed against the frame and damaging that.

If the OP has to ask where the screws are, he is best off taking the bike back to the LBS and spending that $10 as insurance against another wheel rebuild to replace at least 8 or 9 spokes... or getting his chain jammed against the frame and damaging that.

Well, you have a point but you have to do everything for the first time once. You don't learn very much letting the LBS do it. Just like you say, "Dream. Dare. Do."

Tthe park tool instructions are clear and easy to follow> if he learns how to do this now< it will be good to know as long as he rides a bike with deraillers

To OP: you can adjust this yourself as others have said, and good instructions are on the Parktool website. On the other hand, you can take it to the bike shop and have them do it for a minimal fee. But have them show you how to do it. Almost any mechanic would gladly show you how to do it while he's at it.

And be sure to follow all of the instructions in proper sequence leaving nothing out.

Al

cool
thanks guys.

If the hub and the sprockets are still the original ones, the limit screws shouldnt need adjusting. However no harm in checking.

If the hub and the sprockets are still the original ones, the limit screws shouldnt need adjusting. However no harm in checking.

That's a good point, the OP said the rim was replaced.