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Brand new bike, chain/gear noise?

Old 05-01-13, 06:50 PM
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Brand new bike, chain/gear noise?

Excuse me in advance for the following. I am an inexperienced rider who just got his first "nice" bike and I don't know the terms very well, so hopefully I can explain it.

I just picked up my new Trek 7.2 FX today (they assembled it out of the box for me, so no test rides on it). I took it home and rode it around for a bit. After about ten minutes, I noticed that whenever I shifted into my 2nd gear on my (crankset?) front gears seemed to make a crunching noise as if they were in between gears. If I shift out (to 1st or 3rd) and back into 2nd, it will fix that problem. For this particular issue, maybe I'm shifting incorrectly...I don't know, but after it goes away, then it sounds like the chain is almost rubbing up against something. I looked down and I didn't see it rubbing or anything but it appeared as if the chain wasn't perfectly straight...like a very slight sway to left and right.

Any ideas?
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Old 05-01-13, 07:00 PM
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There's not enough detail to confirm whether what you're seeing is normal, a mechanical problem, or a user problem. Since the bike is brand new bring it back to the shop, and let a mechanic take a look and test ride and see if you can manifest the issue in front of him, so he can either fix or explain it.
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Old 05-01-13, 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
There's not enough detail to confirm whether what you're seeing is normal, a mechanical problem, or a user problem. Since the bike is brand new bring it back to the shop, and let a mechanic take a look and test ride and see if you can manifest the issue in front of him, so he can either fix or explain it.
Alright, I'll take it to my LBS tomorrow after work then. Just wanted to rule out something that might perhaps be obvious that I'm screwing up with.
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Old 05-01-13, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by cicatrize
Alright, I'll take it to my LBS tomorrow after work then. Just wanted to rule out something that might perhaps be obvious that I'm screwing up with.
The key to getting reliable help on the forum, is to be able to describe the problem precisely. Otherwise it's like they say in the computer trade -- GIGO -- and we're just guessing.
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Old 05-01-13, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
The key to getting reliable help on the forum, is to be able to describe the problem precisely. Otherwise it's like they say in the computer trade -- GIGO -- and we're just guessing.
This ^, plus we will make fun of you for being a noob.
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Old 05-01-13, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by kenji666
This ^, plus we will make fun of you for being a noob.
I hope that's a joke; I got a different first impression from these forums.

Anyway, I doubt my knowledge of bikes could help describe the sounds it was making, so yes, I'll take it to my LBS.
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Old 05-01-13, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by cicatrize
I hope that's a joke; I got a different first impression from these forums.

.
I'm sure it was. There are a few who dump on newbies, but they don't make jokes about it. If you bike weren't brand new, people would have pursued this with you, trying to get more info until there wear actual clues. But with an obvious remedy available, it doesn't make sense to guess.

BTW- there are plenty of good tutorials available on the internet, which you can search by topic, ie. how to adjust a front derailleur. Also many shops offer repair courses, from the basic fix a flat to all of the common repairs. While you're at the dealer,ask them if they offer this. If not check for a bicycle co-op, sometimes known as a bike kitchen in your town, since these teach courses, and also have work spaces where you can work on your own bike, with a mechanic available if you get to a roadblock. IMO, that's the best way to improve your skills.

Lastly, update your profile to include where you live, so that folks may be able to give you specific local advice next time around.
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Old 05-01-13, 08:12 PM
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Since it as fine for the first few minutes, it's probably something your store mechanic needs to check out. They should be glad you brought it back to keep you happy. Those kind of problems with cables happen to the best of us.

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Old 05-01-13, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
BTW- there are plenty of good tutorials available on the internet, which you can search by topic, ie. how to adjust a front derailleur. Also many shops offer repair courses, from the basic fix a flat to all of the common repairs. While you're at the dealer,ask them if they offer this. If not check for a bicycle co-op, sometimes known as a bike kitchen in your town, since these teach courses, and also have work spaces where you can work on your own bike, with a mechanic available if you get to a roadblock. IMO, that's the best way to improve your skills.

Lastly, update your profile to include where you live, so that folks may be able to give you specific local advice next time around.
Wow, that's awesome! I'll have to look into that, thanks. I've watched a bunch of videos online about how to do emergency type things and learn basic information (change a tube, parts and what they do, etc), but I'll have to check around to see if there are any classes.

I'll update my profile as well.
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Old 05-01-13, 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by cicatrize
Excuse me in advance for the following. I am an inexperienced rider who just got his first "nice" bike and I don't know the terms very well, so hopefully I can explain it.

I just picked up my new Trek 7.2 FX today (they assembled it out of the box for me, so no test rides on it). I took it home and rode it around for a bit. After about ten minutes, I noticed that whenever I shifted into my 2nd gear on my (crankset?) front gears seemed to make a crunching noise as if they were in between gears. If I shift out (to 1st or 3rd) and back into 2nd, it will fix that problem. For this particular issue, maybe I'm shifting incorrectly...I don't know, but after it goes away, then it sounds like the chain is almost rubbing up against something. I looked down and I didn't see it rubbing or anything but it appeared as if the chain wasn't perfectly straight...like a very slight sway to left and right.

Any ideas?
First thought that come to me is your comment about no test ride. I sure hope the shop did one. You should have done one as well. Sometimes the desire to ride away with a new bike overcomes the need to bed in a new bike with actual use. Since the customer is waving the money in front of the shop it's hard for some shops to take, no inist that, the time to do the assembly and delivery right.

Still there will be some continuing breaking in on all the systems as the riding adds up. Return to the shop and give them time to do the right follow up. Do this again after a month or two, EVEN if you don't think the bike needs it. Andy.
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