Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Autoshifting out of the saddle

Yesterday I finally decided to change my chain after around 2k mi, stretch wise was decent but it was a little stiff. Cassette looked nothing like the picture of a worn cassette so I didn't change it.

So, after 2 rides with the new chain, I've noticed that when out of the saddle, or even on the saddle powering through a hill pulling hard on the handlebars the RD will auto shift 2-3 cogs to the left. First time it happened I almost fell. Would this have anything to do with my new chain? Should I change the cassette or just readjust the RD?

If it didn't do this before I would say that it has to do with changing the chain. It is probably skipping on the worn cassette.

Chains tend to wear together with cassette/freewheel, so it is typically recommended that when you change one, you should change the other as well.

1. Make sure that your rear wheel is correctly aligned in the dropouts.
2. Adjust your rear derailleur.

+1 on the cassette change. Have your LBS check it out if you are not sure.

Good Luck.

Chains tend to wear together with cassette/freewheel, so it is typically recommended that when you change one, you should change the other as well.

Seriously. Who changes their cassette after only 2000 miles (except for pros, who get their stuff for free.)?


Adjust the RD, and you should be fine. I've gone over 10,000 miles on a cassette and used at least 5 chains on it in that amount of time. If you're keeping your drivetrain reasonably clean, there shouldn't be that much wear on the cassette inside of 2000 miles to warrant replacing it.

(If I had to replace my cassette every 2000 miles, I'd be spending almost $300 a year on cassettes alone!)

Seriously. Who changes their cassette after only 2000 miles (except for pros, who get their stuff for free.)?


Adjust the RD, and you should be fine. I've gone over 10,000 miles on a cassette and used at least 5 chains on it in that amount of time. If you're keeping your drivetrain reasonably clean, there shouldn't be that much wear on the cassette inside of 2000 miles to warrant replacing it.

(If I had to replace my cassette every 2000 miles, I'd be spending almost $300 a year on cassettes alone!)


The cassette shows absolutely no signs of wear. Chain was kept fairly cleaned and lubricated every week and every time it got wet. Chain started to get a little stiff (rode about 2 weeks like that), and decided to change the chain before it wore down the cassette.

This is the only change I've made (the chain), and it used to shift perfectly before. Going to work on the tension of the RD as soon as I get home. Thanks all for the responses.

Definately check your rear wheel to make sure it is aligned and all the way in the dropout as already mentioned. Make sure the chain is routed through the RD properly. Silly but I have done it more then once where I screwed it up somehow.

Did you get the same chain you had before? If it is a wipperman did you put the connecting link on right if it was one that was put in with a pin make sure you don't have a stiff link.

Hi kache 98, +1 with evblazer

Definately check your rear wheel to make sure it is aligned and all the way in the dropout as already mentioned. Make sure the chain is routed through the RD properly. Silly but I have done it more then once where I screwed it up somehow
If the chain was just skipping on a worn cassette it would not likely jump 2-3 gears left, it would likely stay on the same gear.

Make sure the chain is routed through the RD properly. Silly but I have done it more then once where I screwed it up somehow.

LOL. I did that once too, after I drove the link pin home in the chain I stood back to admire my work and saw that I had taken a weird route through the jockey wheels. I had to break the chain again and do it right. Man I felt like a dope! :lol:

This is the only change I've made (the chain), and it used to shift perfectly before. Going to work on the tension of the RD as soon as I get home. Thanks all for the responses.

Sounds like a silly oversight to make (but we all make 'em sometime): Did you break the new chain at the same length as the old one?
Not that it would cause random shifting of that extreme, but it would screw up the RD tension.

I did cut it the same length. After further troubleshooting during today's long ride I've found that it only autoshifts (upshifts, instead of downshifts as I mentioned before) on the 2 middle sprockets and only on the 32 chainring, not on the 50. I'm definitely going to the lbs with it, although I'd love to fix it myself. My guess now would be a bent RD hanger?

My trike was doing something kinda like that...not quite, but kinda. When I'd shift from 4 to 5, it'd often shift itself into 6 after a short time. Other shifts worked fine. It was just a matter of tweaking the adjustment barrel on the cable at the shifter to fix it. You could very well simply have an adjustment problem.