Bradtx, I certainly appreciate that. However, I'll be quite frank, I took the bike to the LBS. I was told it would be a quick adjustment, a matter of a couple of minutes. 2 and a half hours later I was leaving. This might initially sound like it irritated me. It did not. I ended up with a new cable for my front derailleur, I had a couple of links knocked out of my chain. I took a test spin and the bike shifted smoothly. However, the chatter or chain purring in the big ring and small cog, remained, albeit not quite as pronounced.

I honestly get along with these guys well enough and had been glad to learn something at the shop. I was also glad for the service and the price was right.

What frustrated me was getting it home and realizing it no longer shifted well on the rings. I messed with it and messed with and messed with it some more...nothing.

As to the cassette...well, the chain purring was back in full force and shifting was a difficulty.

Now, is where things take a turn for the weird....my tires are virtually new...but I noticed in the shop that one seemed to be rotating a bit oddly. The mechanic noticed this as well. The molding didn't look right to him. In the last month, I've had a flat, two broken tire belts, and several broken spokes. The sorts of things that can just happen. But, this tire didn't have a broken belt, it looks to me as if someone tried to actively twist it or wring it like a rag. Bear in mind it wasn't always like this.

Here comes the next bit: After jacking around for two hours at home, with a front derailleur that is either so tight it won't shift down, or so loose it won't shift up....I get desperate.

I look at the front derailleur and realize although there is no apparent damage or ding, it looks "wide," meaning, that if I adjust it one way, it isn't narrow enough to go the other. So, I get out a crescent wrench and squeeze it in....suddenly my front derailleur issues are resolved. I can actually adjust it so that it works.

Since, I've done everything I can to work the rear derailleur, and a bike mechanic also tried...it makes me wonder if something has been bent or done to the rear derailleur causing it to have "chain purr," on that small cog.

My point in bringing up the tire, as well as the front derailleur, at this point is, this is the sort of damage that seems pretty specific, not likely to happen given my riding habits, but so low level that vandalism seems stupid. Meaning a real vandal would just screw it up. This is the sort of thing that seems very unlikely to naturally occur, but causes real headaches trying to address.

I do believe I've irritated someone who has some knowledge of how bikes work...but, I can't swear to it, and making accusations would be ridiculous.


At any rate....chains been shortened, mechanic at lbs took a look. I was supremely frustrated upon arrival at home, but some what grateful I could at least address the front derailleur issues.