Bicycle Mechanics - Need Help to fix my road bike!! HELP!!!!

Ok when I ride in almost any gear as I pedal the chain seems to Slip! Now I don't know if it really slipping but its like I lose traction and its sucks. I would like to fix this on my own. Any suggestions.
Everything else on the bike is perfect. Is my chain lose? If it is how to I fix it? is it something else

I have a bianci varata. A great bike

take off the chain and check to see if the cassette or crank is wobbling

Things to check: Cable tension- if it isn't set right the indexing gets all fouled up and it is never really "in" a gear. Check this by elevating the rear wheel and sighting along the top of the cassette while pedaling forward. The chain should be firmly seated on the teeth of a cog, if not, use the barrel adjuster on the back of the rear derailleur to get it to seat correctly. Chain and cassette wear, cleanliness- a gunked up or worn out chain / cassette can cause all sorts of shifting problems. To check for chain wear (stretch), measure the chain. 12 links from one pin on the first link to the same pin on the 12th link should be 12 inches. If it is more than 1/16 over, the chain is done. For the cassette, check to see if the teeth are square on both front and back corners. As for cleanliness, if the chain is caked with gunk, clan it in a good solvent and relube with a LIGHT application of a chain specific lube like Pro Link or Finish Line. DO NOT USE WD40 TO LUBE YOUR CHAIN. It makes a good solvent but NOT a lubricant.

Good Luck!

(1) i doubt he uses wd40
(2) wd40 is hardly the problem here.

sd

i'm not sure if this is your problem since you didn't go into details or describe your parts, but the "lose traction" part sounds similar to something that happened to my old roadie a couple of months ago. when i'd be cranking up a hill, i'd suddenly lose all resistance for a second or two. turned out to be the freewheel finally giving out.

Ok when I ride in almost any gear as I pedal the chain seems to Slip! Now I don't know if it really slipping but its like I lose traction and its sucks. I would like to fix this on my own. Any suggestions.
Everything else on the bike is perfect. Is my chain lose? If it is how to I fix it? is it something else

I have a bianci varata. A great bike



MORE DETAILS

The bike has been transported and stored for over 3 years. The slipping feels like how someone else described in a post "not really 100% in gear". I'm afraid of "grinding the gears every time the chain or grip slips.

Will I ruin the gears? I only road it today to find out what needs to be fix and any help from people in the forum would help alot. I want to fix it my self because it will cost about 50$ to 75$ it have even looked at where I live. Thank you everyone!

Wasn't saying that WD40 was part of the problem, just reminding him to use a real lubricant.

Try a half to full turn counter clock wise on your barrel adjuster on your rear der. If that doesn't work then you can try more complicated fixes.


"If you hear hoof beats think horse, not zebra."

Isn't that what I said???

it was, but strangely enough in will's reply he didn't mention any fiddling with the brake stretch..
sd

Try a half to full turn counter clock wise on your barrel adjuster on your rear der. If that doesn't work then you can try more complicated fixes.


"If you hear hoof beats think horse, not zebra."



What is the barrel adjuster? Is it the knob located on the cable? I have 2 one with notches and the other looks is a knob that turnes like a screw. Adjusting this would help my problem?

Thank you for your advice

Could be a stiff link (waiting for the Freudian remarks here) in your chain. If you don't know what that is I'm sure someone here will explain it.

What is the barrel adjuster? Is it the knob located on the cable? I have 2 one with notches and the other looks is a knob that turnes like a screw. Adjusting this would help my problem?

Thank you for your advice

yes, the knob is the right one. stand behind the rear wheel and face teh front of the bike, and turn the knob counter-clockwise.

sd

Could be a stiff link (waiting for the Freudian remarks here) in your chain. If you don't know what that is I'm sure someone here will explain it.



You're right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I flipped the bike and saw a link not move. What is the best for this problem? Lube? Oil? Do I need a new chain?

Try lubing it first. Also just twist and flex the chain "sideways" (perpendicular to the direction in which it wraps around the cogs) using just your hands (okay, you can use rags to keep your hands from getting greasy). Sometimes that frees it up. If that doesn't do it, put the stiff link in the "other" channel on a chain tool (the one you don't use to open/close the chain), and nudge the drive pin up against the hinge pin a bit. Turn the chain over and do the same thing. Make sure you leave the chain pin centered between the two plates.

Try lubing it first. Also just twist and flex the chain "sideways" (perpendicular to the direction in which it wraps around the cogs) using just your hands (okay, you can use rags to keep your hands from getting greasy). Sometimes that frees it up. If that doesn't do it, put the stiff link in the "other" channel on a chain tool (the one you don't use to open/close the chain), and nudge the drive pin up against the hinge pin a bit. Turn the chain over and do the same thing. Make sure you leave the chain pin centered between the two plates.


Ok I tried lubing it still very stiff. I don't have a chain tool how else can I losen the chain link?

Thank You for your help!!

this link has the all the info

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQtchan.shtml

Ok I tried lubing it still very stiff. I don't have a chain tool how else can I losen the chain link?

Thank You for your help!!

alright, loosen the chain the brute force method. take a pair of long-nosed pliers, and slide it in between the sides of the chain, clamping one side with the pliers. then, with force, pull on the pliers and twist it, as if you wanted to pull that side off the chain. with a little bit of work the chain link will be looser.

most peeps probalby wouldn't recommend this, but i've done it and it works and if you do it right isn't catastrophic at all. after all, the chain is currently too tight, and you're just loosening it.

sd