Time to get a new bike???
05-09-09, 09:57 PM
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Time to get a new bike???
I have a low-end hybrid bike, a 21 speed Giant Cypress from around 2000.
I use it for commuting on a daily basis, usually short distances of a few miles. I had it for many years and in prior years I just used it for leisurely riding. I never used it for commuting before this February.
I have become much more competitive in my biking this year and now find I am almost always in the hardest gear. I stand up to pedal most of the time, especially going up hills. Early in the year, it wasn't shifting well and I paid for a tune up. A month later it's shifting got worse and then the shifting didn't work at all. The bike shop said the back shifter was broken and apparently this occurred due to the sharp angle of the chain between the front and back with me always in the hardest gear. I got the shifter replaced and it worked okay for a few weeks, and now I find again that the shifting is getting worse. When I put a lot of pressure on the pedals, the bike skips down a gear - this happens almost continuously and occurs more frequently when in the harder gears. I hate the constant "giving way" feeling.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
I use it for commuting on a daily basis, usually short distances of a few miles. I had it for many years and in prior years I just used it for leisurely riding. I never used it for commuting before this February.
I have become much more competitive in my biking this year and now find I am almost always in the hardest gear. I stand up to pedal most of the time, especially going up hills. Early in the year, it wasn't shifting well and I paid for a tune up. A month later it's shifting got worse and then the shifting didn't work at all. The bike shop said the back shifter was broken and apparently this occurred due to the sharp angle of the chain between the front and back with me always in the hardest gear. I got the shifter replaced and it worked okay for a few weeks, and now I find again that the shifting is getting worse. When I put a lot of pressure on the pedals, the bike skips down a gear - this happens almost continuously and occurs more frequently when in the harder gears. I hate the constant "giving way" feeling.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
05-10-09, 12:06 AM
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I have a low-end hybrid bike, a 21 speed Giant Cypress from around 2000.
I use it for commuting on a daily basis, usually short distances of a few miles. I had it for many years and in prior years I just used it for leisurely riding. I never used it for commuting before this February.
I have become much more competitive in my biking this year and now find I am almost always in the hardest gear. I stand up to pedal most of the time, especially going up hills. Early in the year, it wasn't shifting well and I paid for a tune up. A month later it's shifting got worse and then the shifting didn't work at all.
Please be more specific: in what way did the shifting get worse, and when it stopped working all together, how did that manifest itself?
The bike shop said the back shifter
shifter, or derailer?
was broken and apparently this occurred due to the sharp angle of the chain between the front and back with me always in the hardest gear. I got the shifter replaced and it worked okay for a few weeks, and now I find again that the shifting is getting worse. When I put a lot of pressure on the pedals, the bike skips down a gear
to an easier gear? or harder one? then does it stay there once you let off on the pressure, or does the chain return to its original cog?
- this happens almost continuously and occurs more frequently when in the harder gears. I hate the constant "giving way" feeling.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
I use it for commuting on a daily basis, usually short distances of a few miles. I had it for many years and in prior years I just used it for leisurely riding. I never used it for commuting before this February.
I have become much more competitive in my biking this year and now find I am almost always in the hardest gear. I stand up to pedal most of the time, especially going up hills. Early in the year, it wasn't shifting well and I paid for a tune up. A month later it's shifting got worse and then the shifting didn't work at all.
Please be more specific: in what way did the shifting get worse, and when it stopped working all together, how did that manifest itself?
The bike shop said the back shifter
shifter, or derailer?
was broken and apparently this occurred due to the sharp angle of the chain between the front and back with me always in the hardest gear. I got the shifter replaced and it worked okay for a few weeks, and now I find again that the shifting is getting worse. When I put a lot of pressure on the pedals, the bike skips down a gear
to an easier gear? or harder one? then does it stay there once you let off on the pressure, or does the chain return to its original cog?
- this happens almost continuously and occurs more frequently when in the harder gears. I hate the constant "giving way" feeling.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
05-10-09, 05:28 AM
#3
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I have become much more competitive in my biking this year and now find I am almost always in the hardest gear. I stand up to pedal most of the time, especially going up hills. Early in the year, it wasn't shifting well and I paid for a tune up. A month later it's shifting got worse and then the shifting didn't work at all. The bike shop said the back shifter was broken and apparently this occurred due to the sharp angle of the chain between the front and back with me always in the hardest gear. I got the shifter replaced and it worked okay for a few weeks, and now I find again that the shifting is getting worse. When I put a lot of pressure on the pedals, the bike skips down a gear - this happens almost continuously and occurs more frequently when in the harder gears. I hate the constant "giving way" feeling.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
I have a few questions -
1) Should I just get it tuned up again? It seems like it shouldn't need a tune up so soon, and this problem seems to just keep coming back. Is there some reason why my bike would keep getting untuned so quickly? I am beginning to think that this bike is just too low-end in it's components to deal with the kind of use I am giving it.
2) Should I invest in better components? It has some sort of shimano shifter on it now, but I don't know if it is a good one.
3) Should I just get a new bike at this point? It would be nice to have something that more matched my abilities, but I am hesitant to do this because I am living in a neighborhood with bike theft, and I am afraid of having anything too nice.
Appreciate the advice.
Sounds like some or all of your drivetrain components may be shot. First, I would recommend taking the bike to a shop that knows how to properly diagnose problems. Simply replacing a "shifter" or derailleur and turning a customer loose doesn't really solve much. As you have seen.
At this point it's really hard to know what the problem is through the internet. Could be as simple as a proper adjustment or like I said, could need components replaced.
Make sure the chain is well lubed, and all derailleurs correctly adjusted.
Replacing the drivetrain components could get pricey. Considering the fact that you said you're getting more competitive in your riding it may indeed make more sense to shop around for a bike better suited to more aggressive riding than spending a lot of money on the old bike. A new bike doesn't always have to be "new". Often some great deals can be found on used bikes if you know what to look for.
Last edited by norwood; 05-10-09 at 05:29 AM. Reason: spelling
05-10-09, 07:42 AM
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C-102 rear derailleur - right? I hate those.
If that's the case, you probably need a new shift cable housing. When the housing ends start to fail, the housing gradually shortens itself. When that happens, the bike needs frequent derailleur readjustments to keep it shifting right.
A bigger problem for you is that you say that you are using the hardest gear so much of the time. Fixing the bike isn't going to solve that problem. I'm thinking that long term you'll be happier with a different bike that has faster gears.
If that's the case, you probably need a new shift cable housing. When the housing ends start to fail, the housing gradually shortens itself. When that happens, the bike needs frequent derailleur readjustments to keep it shifting right.
A bigger problem for you is that you say that you are using the hardest gear so much of the time. Fixing the bike isn't going to solve that problem. I'm thinking that long term you'll be happier with a different bike that has faster gears.
05-10-09, 11:24 AM
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Not if she's standing all the time. If she's standing all the time, she's in too high a gear.
What I think is going on here is that you're mashing in a high gear, which has worn it out, which makes your chain skip.
It sounds to me like you've both exceeded your bike's capabilities and worn out some parts.
I'd wager that:
• The little ("hard") sprocket is shot. You'll have to replace the cassette.
• Your chain is probably in pretty rough shape, too.
Fortunately, one of those is a standard maintenance thing — replacing a chain — and the other will fix two problems at once.
So, get a new chain and get a new, higher-geared ("harder", "smaller") cassette that fits your new, buffer biking abilities. Then shift often, keeping your pedals moving at no less than 60 RPM. You'll find that you'll accelerate faster, reach higher top speeds, hurt less, climb better, build smoother muscle (the kind that's good for distance), burn more fat, and wear out the bike more slowly.
[Edit: Like Retro says above, you should figure out if your cables and housings are shot, too. That's cheap and easy.]
What I think is going on here is that you're mashing in a high gear, which has worn it out, which makes your chain skip.
It sounds to me like you've both exceeded your bike's capabilities and worn out some parts.
I'd wager that:
• The little ("hard") sprocket is shot. You'll have to replace the cassette.
• Your chain is probably in pretty rough shape, too.
Fortunately, one of those is a standard maintenance thing — replacing a chain — and the other will fix two problems at once.
So, get a new chain and get a new, higher-geared ("harder", "smaller") cassette that fits your new, buffer biking abilities. Then shift often, keeping your pedals moving at no less than 60 RPM. You'll find that you'll accelerate faster, reach higher top speeds, hurt less, climb better, build smoother muscle (the kind that's good for distance), burn more fat, and wear out the bike more slowly.
[Edit: Like Retro says above, you should figure out if your cables and housings are shot, too. That's cheap and easy.]
