I'm an Idiot
06-27-07, 08:25 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm an Idiot
Well, for the past couple months (3-4 or more), my bike has had strange noises, clickings, or indiscriminate vibrations. It felt as if something was loose...down there 
I never could pinpoint it. At first, I thought it was my carbon frame cracking. Then, my cassette wasn't on tight enough (it wasn't...but the noises continued). Maybe my rear derailleur was out of alignment (I re-installed and adjusted it tonight). Maybe my entire crankset was loose? (I cleaned and re-installed that a couple weeks ago.)
Last night, the noises got worse. My chain started skipping from the large chainring (53-tooth) to the small (39) and back again, never really staying put. Made for an interesting training race. Maybe a broke a tooth on the chainring, or something is majorly loose down there. So, desperately, I took it in to the LBS tonight.
Chain was worn out...way out...way, way out. New Ultegra 10-sp chain, tested on a local 12-14% hill, no noise, no problems. I'm an idiot. So simple.
(I had been checking for chain wear using the ruler method, but that doesn't work if it's not too precise. I didn't know that. Shop manager put my old chain on floor next to a new one. Older one was a good 1/2-inch longer. . Luckily, my cassette only has about 1,000 miles on it, and I couldn't get any chain-jumping testing it out on that hill. So hopefully, it'll be good to go at Manhattan Beach.)
I never could pinpoint it. At first, I thought it was my carbon frame cracking. Then, my cassette wasn't on tight enough (it wasn't...but the noises continued). Maybe my rear derailleur was out of alignment (I re-installed and adjusted it tonight). Maybe my entire crankset was loose? (I cleaned and re-installed that a couple weeks ago.)Last night, the noises got worse. My chain started skipping from the large chainring (53-tooth) to the small (39) and back again, never really staying put. Made for an interesting training race. Maybe a broke a tooth on the chainring, or something is majorly loose down there. So, desperately, I took it in to the LBS tonight.
Chain was worn out...way out...way, way out. New Ultegra 10-sp chain, tested on a local 12-14% hill, no noise, no problems. I'm an idiot. So simple.
(I had been checking for chain wear using the ruler method, but that doesn't work if it's not too precise. I didn't know that. Shop manager put my old chain on floor next to a new one. Older one was a good 1/2-inch longer.
. Luckily, my cassette only has about 1,000 miles on it, and I couldn't get any chain-jumping testing it out on that hill. So hopefully, it'll be good to go at Manhattan Beach.)
06-27-07, 09:18 PM
#2
Queen of France
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It's still not the chain. It really is your frame cracking. Give it to me for further analysis.
06-27-07, 09:58 PM
#3
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At least a new chainis cheaper than a new CF frame.
I too will be more than happy to use..... I mean test that frame for you
what size did you say?
pmc
I too will be more than happy to use..... I mean test that frame for you
what size did you say?pmc
06-27-07, 10:17 PM
#4
Body by Guinness
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Always good to have another idiot around. Welcome to the club.
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Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you...but don't ever take sides, with anyone, against the family again...ever.
Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you...but don't ever take sides, with anyone, against the family again...ever.
06-27-07, 10:19 PM
#5
Over the hill
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All that matters is you found the problem before it caused a problem. I have always used one of those chain guages. I'm sure a ruler is fine, and maybe even more accurate IF you do it properly, but this tool leaves no guessing.
edit: and you're not an idiot. An idiot would have refused to give in and let an LBS look at it, then would be posting a week later "So my chain snapped in the middle of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and I took out 20 riders"
edit: and you're not an idiot. An idiot would have refused to give in and let an LBS look at it, then would be posting a week later "So my chain snapped in the middle of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and I took out 20 riders"
