Hello I've got a trek 7200 23 speed with grip shift. 3 - 8

I typically stay on gear 1 sprockets 1-5 and seem to have issues when shifting in 4 or 5, if that makes sense lol. It seems when I go into these gears (usually for straightaways) there is a lot of "noise" and it almost seems go through a few different gears before finally making it up it's mind. It's very distracting and makes me not want to shift into it.

It will also sometimes shift automatically when I'm 4 or 5 which is also very disturbing. It seem gears 1-3 are perfectly fine, and I use them for going uphill.

I've described it the best I can, which isn't very well unfortunately. Any idea whats going on and what I can do to fix it?

If you're in the smallest front chainring (1), chain noise as you move over to the middle or further on the rear cogs is to be expected from cross-chaining. Try riding with the chain on the middle front chainring most of the time. Shift on the smallest chainring only for going up hills.
Your rear and/or front derailleurs may need to be adjusted, too.
Do it yourself with the help of Park Tool https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...illeur-systems
Or take it to a bike shop.

+1. IMO if you have a triple, you should get a cassette that allows you to use the granny ring for going uphill, and the big ring for downhill and stiff tailwinds. Your middle ring should be good for any other conditions on the flat.

So I went riding today taking the advice I was given here. At first I tried staying on big gear 2 but the gears would keep popping in and out. So I rode today using again, 1 1-3 and everything worked great, until toward the end where I was going up a slight hill and shifted into 1-4 for that extra boost (it was on the way home and I was feeling pretty good, this was my best ride yet). Unfortunately I heard a bunch of noise and it kept slipping in and out of gear. I checked my other gears and gear 1-2 is doing it now too!! That's the gear I'm in the most!!

What do I do now? I'm really bummed. It seems the only gear that doesn't slip is gear 1-3 and it's a little rough for hills (at least in my shape).

I guess these are symptoms of a derailleur or gear cable that needs adjustment? And maybe when I was going uphill and switched gears I put excess stress on it that could have knocked it out of whack even farther?

help me! =(

thanks

By gear 1-2 do you mean the smallest front ring and the second biggest rear cog? The same numbers that are on your gripshifts??

You need to have someone check/adjust your shifting system.

Yeah, I believe so. 1 (1-3 at the peddles) and 2 (1-8 at the rear wheel). Same numbers on the gripshifts =)

I'd like to try and repair it myself before spending the money at a LBS =/ any ideas? Maybe I should take some close ups of my shifting system?

Park Tools offers repair help. https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...illeur-systems

Thanks for that link, but I really don't even know what needs adjusting =p

From what I've described is it likely the rear derailleur? the shift lever?

thanks!

Neither. Cable, barrel adjustment, chain or cassette wear, or bent derailleur hanger. How old is the bike? Any ideas on miles? Pictures? Diagnosing over the internet is sketchy at best.

Start with the barrel adjustment, very easy.

It's a 2008 model I got off ebay, barely used =(

The bike was in excellent condition (it could have passed as new) I certainly hope no parts need replacing. I'll get some pictures up this afternoon.

thanks!

I've uploaded some pics =)

https://imageshack.us/g/4/dscn2897w.jpg/

Any opinions of how my cassette + chain looks? I've been doing a lot of reading and will try and repair it tomorrow. I'm thinking I will start with barrel adjustment (which is also known as index, correct?). If that doesn't do it....I don't know =[

I Would really appreciate some timely feedback =)

thanks!!

Hard to tell much from the pictures except that everything looks clean and not noticeably beat up.
The Park Tools repair link above includes Rear Derailleur adjustment, including rear indexing adjustment, which is what you mention trying first. Read through the Park information before doing anything, unless you understand what to do and why.

I'd like to exclude physical damage before I try repairing it. Can you think of a better angle for me to take the pictures at? Is there anything in particular I can do to identify a worn chain/cassette or bent derailleur?

I do plan on using the park tools guide, thanks for linking it, it's very descriptive =)

thanks!

Fixed it!! very simple all I needed to do was loosen the index screw a little. now it's shifting better than ever! step 3 on the park tools site and i was done.

thanks for the help everyone! I now understand derailleurs much better because of it =p