Yin_Yang

So i finally got a chance to ride my bike for a long time this morning...and thought it rode smooth, when i would shift gears it would take a while for it to switch (the rear gears) and when it finally did, sometimes it sounded kinda loud with the clicking. Granted it's been a while since I have ridden a bike, but I don't remember it being that loud.

Does this sound like just an adjustment thats off maybe due to the mcbike-assembler my target had put these together? I had read somewhere that this might be a common problem w/ new bikes, that it may be as simple as tightening a cable. This sound true?

btw its a schwinn trail way hybrid. 21 speed shimano shifters.

Mondoman

It might be rear derailleur adjustment. Try flipping the bike upside down so you can turn the pedals and rear wheel freely, then watch the rear gears/derailleur as you "pedal" with your hand to see what exactly is rubbing/making noise. If the rear derailleur pulley closest to the gears is not perfectly lined up with the gear, the chain can rub against the adjacent gears and the rear derailleur needs some adjusting.
You may be able to just adjust the "barrel adjuster" up front, right where the cable housing meets the (plastic?) shifter body. For full details, check out a site like parktool.com
It might also be that your rear derailleur and chain need to be lubed.

Yin_Yang

thanks man, appreciate the info.

Bikewer

I second the diagnosis. Cables stretch, the adjustment gets sloppy. The chain will "try" to catch the next gear,but not quite make it....Resulting in noise.

AndrewP

Only turn the adjusting barrel 1/4 turn before checking again how it runs.

Mondoman

^+1 good point! Thanks!