Do I need a new chain?

[pinkbeekeeper]

I have a 2010 Giant Suede 21 speed bike. I took it in about 2 weeks ago to my LBS for a tune up. I hadn't ridden the bike much at all this year (or honestly last year of no fault of the bike) before taking it in for the tune up. I did notice that when I was going slow and up a hill it did "skip" a bit under pressure in second chain ring and fourth gear only. I hadn't noticed any other issues.

So I get the bike back and wasn't able to take it out for a spin for a few days. When I did to my shock, the chain skipped under normal cadence and in many gears and went into other gears as well. I have 2 other bikes I enjoy riding and havent been very motivated to get it fixed. I am wondering what I should do? Also from reading about the symptoms I at some point may have stretched the chain??? A side question though is why getting a tune up would make this worse?

[redlude97]

unless they replace the chain, the skipping isn't related necessarily to chain wear. Take it back and replicate it for the shop

[benbrangwyn]

That's a really crappy job. Make sure they make it right for no charge.

[bikeman715]

They (the shop ) adjusted the derailer in the repair stand and all was good and return it ,without test riding it first . What may work in the stand maynot always work on the road . Take it back and have them do it again ,and this time have them test ride it.

[FBinNY]

I have a 2010 Giant Suede 21 speed bike. I took it in about 2 weeks ago to my LBS for a tune up. I hadn't ridden the bike much at all this year (or honestly last year of no fault of the bike) before taking it in for the tune up. I did notice that when I was going slow and up a hill it did "skip" a bit under pressure in second chain ring and fourth gear only. I hadn't noticed any other issues.

So I get the bike back and wasn't able to take it out for a spin for a few days. When I did to my shock, the chain skipped under normal cadence and in many gears and went into other gears as well. I have 2 other bikes I enjoy riding and havent been very motivated to get it fixed. I am wondering what I should do? Also from reading about the symptoms I at some point may have stretched the chain??? A side question though is why getting a tune up would make this worse?

If the problem is caused by chain stretch (which I suspect it may not be), you can't necessarily blame the mechanic, since it won't manifest except under load, and is hard to see on a workstand.

Chain wear is fairly easy to rule out, by either measuring the chain for stretch (more than 12+1/16" over 24 links that should measure 12") or by using a pointed object to lift the chain out from the chainring at 3 o'clock (the halfway wrapped position). New chains bare lift away at all, and it shouldn't skip unless you can lift it far enough for more than 3/16" daylight between the chain and root of the teeth.

I suspect your issue may be more one of poor RD trim, and if so I agree that the mechanic did a poor job. When you bring it back to correct the problem, make sure he test rides it in front of you, then you test ride in front of him, so you're both on the same page as to whether it's up to par or not.

[Al1943]

the chain skipped under normal cadence and in many gears and went into other gears as well.

This sounds like what Sheldon Brown calls "auto-shifting" and may mean that you simply need to adjust the shift cable. This is usually done with the barrel adjuster found where the cable housing enters the rear derailleur.
Other possibilities are a bent derailleur hanger or worn out cogs. A chain that is ridden after being stretched more than 1/16 inch per foot will cause excessive wear on the cog teeth and then when the chain is replaced with a new one it does not mesh correctly with the worn out cogs and skipping occurs.

[spinbackle]

What about a stiff link?

[FBinNY]

What about a stiff link?

It's always possible, but the signs don't match.

Stiff links usually manifest in a steady rhythm of roughly once in every 3 pedal revolutions, rather than slipping when torque is applied.

[Kimmo]

Do I need a new chain?

Short answer: if you're asking, probably.

[brandini]

a bent derailleur hanger

I have a Giant Seek 3 that's less than a month old and I'm having this same problem. A LBS (not the dealer of the bike) eyeballed it and said this. It's relatively easy to check and correct if they have the right tools. I just have too much fun riding and have to borrow a car to get to the original shop for warranty service.

Good luck!

[wphamilton]

It's been mentioned in passing, but inspect the cogs for wear.

[brandini]

I have a Giant Seek 3 that's less than a month old and I'm having this same problem. A LBS (not the dealer of the bike) eyeballed it and said this. It's relatively easy to check and correct if they have the right tools. I just have too much fun riding and have to borrow a car to get to the original shop for warranty service.

Good luck!

And just an update, I haven't had an issue since I've started wiping my chain after riding. I think it just got seriously gunked up. My tires, Maxxis Detonators, are known to grab anything and everything and throw it. That and on the bike's FIRST RIDE EVER I think it ate a bird. There were feathers all in the chain. I think i may have had a stiff link and it's worked itself free/broken in since then.

Try a good chain cleaning/lube and then ride it a bunch and do a backpedal with a rag wipedown of the chain after each ride. It should 'sweat' the excess each time. My issues were in the exact same gears and it seems to have worked it's way out.

[fietsbob]

Short answer: if you're asking, probably.

and a new cassette, they wear in and so out, together.