gilespargiter
Veteran
- Location
- N Wales
It is such a shame to hear that you are having so much trouble with your bike. Especially when you are so new to using it and just want to get to work. I'am sure you have a busy life and did not expect to have so much trouble just using your bike. You have got a model of bike that is reasonably well made and should work well. So it is worth being patient and persisting to this aim.
Another good thing for you to know is that you have actually got about the most complicated type of gear system to use that a bike can have. When it is finally adjusted properly and you have learn't to use it fully you will be able to ride just about any bike out there.
It is also a type of bike that you will be able to ride comfortably pretty much anywhere that any bike can go. So you have chosen well in that respect.
I think the trouble we are having here is understanding just exactly what you are describing. This makes it difficult to help meaningfully. People have different variations in the way that they describe the same parts but bearing that in mind, lets establish a way to describe some of the critical parts so that you can explain to us clearly. I'am sure you can see quite a lot of this already - but we need a clear way to explain to each other (and the shop).
At the front by your pedals you have three "chainrings" - a big one on the outside, a medium one in the middle, and a small one on the inside.
Next to them fastened to the "seat tube" you have a mechanism to make the "chain" de - rail from one to another this is the "front derailleur"
When the chain is going round the SMALL "chainring" it makes it easier to push the bike but the pedals spin very fast, and you don't go very far this is a "low" gear. Conversely the BIG "chainring" makes the bike difficult to push and the bike goes a long way each time the pedals go round, this is a "high" gear.
At the back in the middle of the wheel you have a "cluster" of eight "sprockets" that the chain goes round to drive the wheel. You have a big "sprocket" close to the wheel. When the chain is going round the BIG "sprocket" it makes the bike easier to push and the pedals go quickly, but the bike doesn't go very far each time they go round, again this is a "low" gear. Conversely (as with the "chainrings") when the chain goes round the SMALL "sprocket" you have a "high" gear.
This might be a little confusing because the "high" gear is when you are on the smaller "sprockets" and the "low" gear is when you are on the bigger "sprockets" - the opposite to what happens when the chain is on a big "chainring" or a little "chainring"
Little "chainring" big "sprocket" "low" gear
Big "chainring" little "sprocket" "High" gear.
The mechanism near the back wheel that the chain passes through to get to the "sprockets", de-rails the chain to select a "sprocket". This is the "rear derailleur".
Here are some other points about how to operate the gear changing mechanisms (mechs) the "derailleurs".
Never operate them when the bike is stationary. - It can cause damage to them if forced towards a bigger "sprocket" or "chainring". It may also make the pedals suddenly spin as you try to start moving.
Only change one "derailleur" at a time - when it is properly engaged - then you can change the other if you want to.
Only operate the "derailleurs" with hardly any push on the pedals. This is especially important when changing the "front derailleur" - It causes undue strain on there mechanisms and can also result in the pedals suddenly spinning. To start with this is sometimes not very easy, so you need to predict what is going to happen in front of you and give yourself plenty of distance to change gear. To start with you might slow down quite a lot while you do this. With practice you will get better and become quicker at it but concentrate on doing it properly - the speed will eventually come without you even noticing. Take no notice of what some other cyclist might be doing - they may have had a great deal more practice or even be wearing their gears out very fast.
I hope this helps you to be able to enjoy your nice new bike better.
To anyone else on here - this person is in Birmingham (apparently) - there must be someone here who could meet him and run him through this? After all the single best thing you can do to make your own cycling easier and safer is encourage someone else to ride a bike - so it is not alltruism!
Another good thing for you to know is that you have actually got about the most complicated type of gear system to use that a bike can have. When it is finally adjusted properly and you have learn't to use it fully you will be able to ride just about any bike out there.
It is also a type of bike that you will be able to ride comfortably pretty much anywhere that any bike can go. So you have chosen well in that respect.
I think the trouble we are having here is understanding just exactly what you are describing. This makes it difficult to help meaningfully. People have different variations in the way that they describe the same parts but bearing that in mind, lets establish a way to describe some of the critical parts so that you can explain to us clearly. I'am sure you can see quite a lot of this already - but we need a clear way to explain to each other (and the shop).
At the front by your pedals you have three "chainrings" - a big one on the outside, a medium one in the middle, and a small one on the inside.
Next to them fastened to the "seat tube" you have a mechanism to make the "chain" de - rail from one to another this is the "front derailleur"
When the chain is going round the SMALL "chainring" it makes it easier to push the bike but the pedals spin very fast, and you don't go very far this is a "low" gear. Conversely the BIG "chainring" makes the bike difficult to push and the bike goes a long way each time the pedals go round, this is a "high" gear.
At the back in the middle of the wheel you have a "cluster" of eight "sprockets" that the chain goes round to drive the wheel. You have a big "sprocket" close to the wheel. When the chain is going round the BIG "sprocket" it makes the bike easier to push and the pedals go quickly, but the bike doesn't go very far each time they go round, again this is a "low" gear. Conversely (as with the "chainrings") when the chain goes round the SMALL "sprocket" you have a "high" gear.
This might be a little confusing because the "high" gear is when you are on the smaller "sprockets" and the "low" gear is when you are on the bigger "sprockets" - the opposite to what happens when the chain is on a big "chainring" or a little "chainring"
Little "chainring" big "sprocket" "low" gear
Big "chainring" little "sprocket" "High" gear.
The mechanism near the back wheel that the chain passes through to get to the "sprockets", de-rails the chain to select a "sprocket". This is the "rear derailleur".
Here are some other points about how to operate the gear changing mechanisms (mechs) the "derailleurs".
Never operate them when the bike is stationary. - It can cause damage to them if forced towards a bigger "sprocket" or "chainring". It may also make the pedals suddenly spin as you try to start moving.
Only change one "derailleur" at a time - when it is properly engaged - then you can change the other if you want to.
Only operate the "derailleurs" with hardly any push on the pedals. This is especially important when changing the "front derailleur" - It causes undue strain on there mechanisms and can also result in the pedals suddenly spinning. To start with this is sometimes not very easy, so you need to predict what is going to happen in front of you and give yourself plenty of distance to change gear. To start with you might slow down quite a lot while you do this. With practice you will get better and become quicker at it but concentrate on doing it properly - the speed will eventually come without you even noticing. Take no notice of what some other cyclist might be doing - they may have had a great deal more practice or even be wearing their gears out very fast.
I hope this helps you to be able to enjoy your nice new bike better.
To anyone else on here - this person is in Birmingham (apparently) - there must be someone here who could meet him and run him through this? After all the single best thing you can do to make your own cycling easier and safer is encourage someone else to ride a bike - so it is not alltruism!
