Bicycle Mechanics - Rear Derailer Issue (I think)

Hey, new to the forums and I thought I would pick the collective brain of the members to see if anyone had any suggestions to help me and my issue.

For some reason, while riding my bicycle and I am not pedaling, I do not hear the normal "click click click" while coasting. What does happen, in most cases, while I coast is my chain will derail. In addition, while I am off my cycle, and I roll it backwards, normally the pedals do not move, however, now mine do rotate in "reverse". This is an odd thing. If I can not fix it myself with the help of this forum, I will definitely take it to my regular shop, but I thought I would try myself first.

Any ideas??

Without having the opportunity to look at your bike I suspect you have a sticky freewheel or freehub body rather than a derailleur issue.

Take the rear wheel off of your bike and try to spin the cogs backwards with your fingers. If you feel a significant amount of resistance, that's your problem. Set your wheel horizontally over a trash receptacle. Look for the seam where the fixed and moving part of the freewheel meet and spray a little WD40 in there. When the cogs spin freely, it's fixed.

Freehub/freewheel problem more than derailleur like retro grouch says, altho the WD40 solvent shot may not be a permanent fix.

What kind of bike and drivetrain? Freewheel/freehub bikes SHOULD spin your pedal backwards when you push the bike backwards.

Freewheel/freehub needs service/replacement as needed.

I had a similar problem that was solved with a new chain. If its not the freewheel or derailer, make sure your chain is in good shape.