iplayatari

So on my old road bike it was common for my chain to slip a cog or jump a gear when I was "struggling" my 210lb. body up a hill. I figured I was too damn heavy for my chain, derraileur, or crank (etc...)

Now this is an expensive "old" bike..........but now that I've experienced the same thing on a newer "modern" road bike..........and not just uphill but also once on a straightaway.........now I think I should look into this.

Any advice? I'd like to have an idea of what's wrong before I hit the LBS (as it has been bought out by a big company and I don't know the new mechanics).

Thanks.

peterbarson

if it ws just the old bike I would have guessed a streched chain or hooked gear teeth, or a combination, mabye old gears and new chain ect.ect.
Are the wheels as far back in the stays as possible?

iplayatari

Hmmmm......dunno........I'll go take a look at my bike later when I get home, thanks.

sewupnut

Common causes:

* Worn cog teeth
* Stretched chain
* Or both
* Check the rear quick release. They do wear out and thus the
back wheel gets out of alignment.
* Assume chain tension is ok.

sun

ps: Older chains such as Sedis (5,6,7 speed) and decent knock-offs lasted 1200 - 1500 miles if the drive train was kept clean. Suntour freewheel cogs seemed to wear out pretty fast. Not sure on Shimano. Regina's lasted way longer if kept clean.

Just my experience in the last 30 years or so.

sun

peterbarson

Good point
I had a terrible time with my rear quick release, it was slipping on climbs or when taking off at intersections, the whole wheel would lock up. I had to swich it out with a new axle and nut/bolts since I'm to cheap to just run to LBS and buy new when I could salvage off junk that was lying around.

Robert Gardner

Iplayatari: What brand components do you have? I have Shimano Ultegra Triple with an11X32 cassette. In going from a small cassette gear to a larger one as I approach an up hill, the shift is sometimes not perfect and will end between gears. When I put pressure on it, it will jump gears which feels just like chain skip.

iplayatari

Thanks to all for the comments..........

R.Gardner: I have Shimano Ultegra too but mine plays cd's not cassette's. (sorry for the bad joke but it's early). Actually, what you wrote sounds pretty dead on........BUT........the same thing used to happen on my old bike and that had Campy components. Although w/the campy I just had two gears up front and w/the Shimano it's 3 (yeah, yeah I have weak legs )

Thanks again for the replies.

eubi

Check for free play between the chain links. You'll have to move them one at a time.

A tight link may cause skipping. Use your chain tool to free up the link.

iplayatari

....dude.....chain tool?

....can i use the vice-grip for that too?

I guess I have to learn how to diagnose my own bike sooner or later........thanks for the tip, I'll try it out.