30
votes
Are there real-life alternatives to the chain+derailleur combo?
Belt drive + Internally Geared Hub is a popular combination.
Existing systems are based around a gates carbon belt drive. See the Breezer Beltway series bikes. Also Reeb Cycles began offering belt ...
- 18.1k
30
votes
Accepted
Is it worth buying a high end light bike (8.5 kg) from 80' vs recent mid range bike (10kg)
Although I support keeping older bikes in circulation in general, this particular bike comes with some caveats. One of my riding buddies had a very similar bike.
The Vitus 979 is a bonded aluminum ...
- 29.2k
22
votes
Accepted
Chain is loose and rubs the upper part of the chain stay
Proper way of dealing with this
If the bike is new, take it back to the shop that sold it to you and ask them to fix it.
My thoughts on what is actually wrong with the bike
On the picture it looks ...
- 2,254
20
votes
What options do I have if my rear derailleur breaks when I'm out on a trail?
If you carry a multi-tool which happens to include a chain tool, you could also convert your bike to a single speed. If you do so, you would have to replace the chain afterwards as well (since you ...
- 615
19
votes
Is it worth buying a high end light bike (8.5 kg) from 80' vs recent mid range bike (10kg)
Depends what is your goal, but personally, I'd go for the modern one. Maybe for this budget, you can find something second hand with Shimano 105, that would be also an option.
The reasons are:
weight ...
- 17.6k
19
votes
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Does anyone make dummy batteries for eTap AXS derailleurs?
Talk to the bike shop where you got the bike. The bike should have come with this as part of a kit that includes the charger and 2 little plastic battery protectors. The color is red, of course. ...
- 306
18
votes
Accepted
Is it common for derailleur limit screws to drift over time?
They absolutely can vibrate loose. Derailleurs vary in how good they are at resisting it. Ones with no plastic retention element and where the screws turn with almost no resistance are the worst about ...
- 81.9k
17
votes
Beginner breaks rear derailleur, what might have gone wrong?
You didn't break the bike. The problem is poor configuration or maintenance.
Big-big can break the derailleur if the chain is too short. That's not your fault. You said you didn't do that so we'll ...
- 311
16
votes
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Bike chain slips in a strange way
You can see in the video how the teeth on the cassette rotate quickly at the moment it slips(at :05 seconds), while the spokes of the wheel actually stay slow, then jolt forwards to catch up. This ...
- 12.7k
16
votes
Are the Shimano derailleurs sold on Ali Express genuine or fake?
You pays your moneys and you takes your chance
Answer Maybe genuine, but just as likely not.
Essentially by buying discount, you're circumventing any quality and control process from the brand owner....
- 121k
15
votes
How efficient is string bike? Is this really a revolutionary bike?
The general idea of "lever drive," or a reciprocating pedal motion instead of a rotary pedal motion precedes even the invention of the modern diamond-frame bicycle--consider the Special Star from 1886....
- 29.2k
15
votes
Beginner breaks rear derailleur, what might have gone wrong?
The rear derailleur generally doesn't break there - often it is strong enough to act as a lever to bend the bike's frame itself.
I suspect that the root cause of your problem is:
For the past two ...
- 121k
14
votes
What options do I have if my rear derailleur breaks when I'm out on a trail?
Another suggestion: Scooter it.
The bike is functional but the drive train cannot transmit power.
So one solution is to scooter along with one foot on the opposite pedal, and your other foot ...
- 121k
14
votes
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New bike is making rattling noise
The noise happens every time your foot is in the same point of rotating the pedal. It sounds to me like the chain is catching on the front derailleur once per rotation. Not unusual and not difficult ...
- 12.7k
14
votes
Does anyone make dummy batteries for eTap AXS derailleurs?
I've never handled one of these, but it looks like you could take the battery off, put a small piece of electrical tape over the contacts, and put it back on.
If you have to cut the tape in a fiddly ...
- 57.3k
13
votes
Accepted
How efficient is string bike? Is this really a revolutionary bike?
I bought one of these on ebay a few months ago. I bought it there because the manufacturer was unresponsive to queries and I was able to get one for <$1000 which is much more affordable than the ...
- 346
13
votes
Accepted
I failed to replace my chain at the proper interval. Will I have to replace my whole drivetrain?
Yes - after that mileage you will need both a new chain and new cassette.
A new chain on the old cassette will not mesh right, and accelerate wear on the new chain.
Depending how much chain elongation ...
- 121k
13
votes
Accepted
Why do I constantly have to re-index gears?
The most likely causes are cable friction and derailleur hanger misalignment. Indexing adjustment has gotten more sensitive to both as the speed count has increased.
Derailleur hanger misalignment ...
- 81.9k
12
votes
Accepted
Derailleur On A Single Speed
The derailleur is there to act as chain tensioner. In a frame intended for derailleur the rear wheel can't be moved to tighten the chain, so a separate spring-loaded chain tensioner is needed. The ...
- 21.8k
12
votes
Accepted
10 speed rear derailleur only shifting 7 gears....losing my mind
I believe your problem is a mismatch of cable pull ratios between the shifter and derailleur.
The rear derailleur actuation ratio is how far the shifter cage moves for a unit length of cable pulled. ...
- 75.5k
12
votes
Accepted
Why is low sprocket minimum 28t for a Shimano 105-GS?
The key aspect of the GS cage is the length of the cage. The other key aspect of derailleurs is the geometry of the parallelogram.
Because the design has been adapted to suit more modern gearing ...
- 12.7k
12
votes
Shifting direction is different for front and rear shifters
The reason why shifting is arranged this way:
Shifting to a larger chainring at the front gives a higher gear ratio, shifting to a larger sprocket at the rear gives a lower gear ratio.
Shifting to ...
- 75.5k
12
votes
Can my belt drive frame be converted to a derailleur setup?
There is no good way. One could imagine ways of contriving a low-end claw-type derailleur on. Don't do that.
Nexus hubs are usually reliable. In some places in the world, there are lot running around ...
- 81.9k
12
votes
Which limit screw is which?
Quite often it’s possible to see the tip of the screw and if it’s making contact. The one which is making contact (or almost making contact) is the one which is relevant for the current shift position....
- 26k
12
votes
Is it okay for my rear derailleur to be as "compressed" as this when in the lowest gear on the bike?
There's no issue with it looking like that while in small-small. It's very normal.
The derailleur's total capacity number defines what large/large combination is supported while still allowing the ...
- 81.9k
12
votes
Accepted
Why aren't derailleur hangers made into standard shapes?
SRAM introduced the Universal Derailleur Hanger, which is a standard design. I'm not sure how much of a industry-standard it is right now but many bike brands and frame manufacturers have started to ...
- 3,359
11
votes
Accepted
Why are derailleur jockey wheels commonly made of nylon?
Caveat: I've only seen two or three sets of metal pulleys in my life. There are several reasons:
cost: plastic parts are cheaper to make than metal ones
weight: it's easier to make a lightweight ...
- 23.3k
11
votes
Change gear on a shimano Schwinn Ranger, not sure what Allen key size to use?
The allen is almost certainly metric. Both 2.5mm and 3mm are reasonably close to 7/64 inch. 3mm is a very common size on bikes. If you are going to do any work on a bike you need metric allen ...
- 2,708
11
votes
Accepted
Feasibility of coupling internal hub gear and derailleur
Given that most contemporary internal gear hubs are designed to take up the entire width of a normal rear hub (135mm), there isn't space to add a rear derailleur cassette unless you have an abnormally ...
- 29.1k
11
votes
Bike chain slips in a strange way
Confirming @Swifty's diagnosis. It's the freewheel mechanism. Take it back to where you purchased it and demand full refund or at least a complete new rear wheel.
Don't let them try to repair the ...
- 75.5k
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