MikeDVB

Adjusted front and rear derailleurs. Both were a smidge off. Was rubbing chain a bit in back when on the fifth smallest cog and rubbing the derailleur a bit in the front when in the largest on the front smallest on the back.

Fixed the rear with the barrel adjustment on the derailleur and the front needed it's cable tightened a smidge. Working beautifully on the stand now I just gotta put some power on it and see how it handles. I checked and adjusted the high and low limits as they were also a little off. I have my multi tool with me so I can make fine adjustments to the high and low limits if I have issues getting into top or bottom gears.

I set the upper and lower limits a little conservatively to avoid throwing a chain as I can always loosen them up a bit if it's too tight but if it's too loose I could toss the chain.

Any suggestions of things I should check for or double check to be sure? I've not adjusted such nice derailleurs before. Overall the process was pretty easy but I'm just concerned my inexperience may cause me to overlook something important.

seymour1910

don't go off how it works on the stand, ride and and go through the gears. that will give you the feedback you need. Isn't this a brand new bike? The shop should be responsible for those first few adjustments unless of course you are one to be self sufficient and learn to do your own wrenching.

Anyway, get back out there and don't forget to watch you foot placement when unclipping from now on

MikeDVB

Aye - that's the idea I just want to make sure that when I do this I won't throw the chain [i.e. I'd rather have issues shifting than shift beautifully right off the end of the casette].

It is, and they are - but it's about an hour drive and I would prefer not to roll up there for something so simple .

That too. My wife came out this morning and was like, 'Why are you doing that it's a brand new bike? You should go to the shop!' and I was like, 'Would you go to the car dealership if your tail light burnt out or your steering wheel was adjusted a little too high?' I tried to explain to her that this wasn't anything complicated and was fully within my capability to handle but she made it out like I should be doing other things instead of spending time working on my bike but couldn't tell me what those things were... It was a losing battle on my end.

At some point I'm either going to have to know how to do this or I'm going to have to pay somebody else and there's no reason I can't do it as it just requires basic hand tools and a bit of attention to detail .

Har har har. Yes - Unclip the one I am going to put down at 12 o'clock and leave the other clipped in [but be prepared to unclip it if needed]. I'm also reducing the clip force a bit - even on the lightest setting it's no issue while pedaling but it's a bit easier to get out of them if I have to.

So the basic adjustment on the stand should get me close but what should I be watching for / listening for in the test ride after adjustment? In short - what generally needs adjusted further after the road ride from your experiences?

dstrong 

Wut. Put the foot you're going to unclip at 12 o'clock, with weight on the other foot that's down at 6 o'clock. When you unclip your 12 o'clock foot, let it hang so it's well past the open pedal. At least that's how I do it.

MikeDVB

Yeah that's what I meant to say... Damn posting mobile.