Bicycle Mechanics - New bike quirks?

Hi,
I am fairly new to road cycling, and Have a couple of questions. I just got a new cannondale r800 and I have been riding about 4-5 days a week 15-20 mile rides. I noticed when my chain is in middle position on my crank and about middle on the rear if I get up to accelerate somthing slips the crank forward and nearly throws me off the bike. It only occurs in that gear so I have been riding avoiding that one, however I know this is not normal.

Is there somthing I can tweak or adjust to make this stop?

Also I noticed on hill climbs when dancing out of the seat I think my rear wheel may be rubbing my break pad. I only happens when I am out of the seat. These seem like small things but the bike had under 500 miles on it and it should still be perfect right?

If this is not enough information to properly diagnose the problems I apologize any advice would be helpfull as I am getting very serious in to the sport of road cycling.

-Ryan

Have you gotten your 30 day check up? The shifting is going to be cable tension/bent derailleur hanger, I say that with 99% certainty. Brake pad may be wheel flex, but take it in and have it check. Probably needs to be trued.

Thanks I will take it in to my lbs for a tune up. I hope it's a tunning/adjustment problem.

-Ryan

Get them to check the spoke tension. I think the spokes tend to lose tension in the first few days of riding as the spoke bed down in the hub. If tension is too low the rim can flex under load.

"These seem like small things but the bike had under 500 miles on it and it should still be perfect right?"

R800, this is a extremely common assumption, but untrue. As the other posters have noted for the individual problems, a few adjustments will get you back on the road, but what hasn't been discussed is why you need so many of them. A "new" bicycle really has to go through a break-in period. Steel and Aluminum are malleable to different degrees. As you put your body weight and the pressures and forces developed by riding on a new bike everything will seat, stretch, settle and basically come out of adjustment. Ask yourself why a bike shop provides you with a free check up after the bike has been ridden. They wouldn't do this if they did not have to as it is expensive and time-consuming. If the shop you bought it from is a good one they will not rely on you exclusively to tell them what problems you have experienced, rather, they will indeed check the bike over and re-adjust areas that are likely to come out of adjustment due to your intial 500 miles of riding.

enjoy!

"These seem like small things but the bike had under 500 miles on it and it should still be perfect right?"

R800, this is a extremely common assumption, but untrue. As the other posters have noted for the individual problems, a few adjustments will get you back on the road, but what hasn't been discussed is why you need so many of them. A "new" bicycle really has to go through a break-in period. Steel and Aluminum are malleable to different degrees. As you put your body weight and the pressures and forces developed by riding on a new bike everything will seat, stretch, settle and basically come out of adjustment. Ask yourself why a bike shop provides you with a free check up after the bike has been ridden. They wouldn't do this if they did not have to as it is expensive and time-consuming. If the shop you bought it from is a good one they will not rely on you exclusively to tell them what problems you have experienced, rather, they will indeed check the bike over and re-adjust areas that are likely to come out of adjustment due to your intial 500 miles of riding.

enjoy!

Wise words.


I'd ask them about the chain tension, too. If the chain's improperly tensioned, it may not seat on the crank cog properly, and may slide backwards when under load.

Also, if the rear wheel's not fastened securely in place, very heavy loads could cause it to shift, twist, and rub the brake pads.