New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.

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2009-07-07 8:27 AM

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Subject: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
Hello All,

I completed my first try June 21st. Yeeeeaaahhhhh! (800yd/15mi/4.4mi).  For my training and race I borrowed a bike.  I plan on tri'ing a couple more races this season so I bought a road bike, 09 Schwinn Fastback Elite.  I have never owned a road bike and my experience with wrenching has only come in the form of changing a flat or two as a kid on single speed bmx bikes.  So here is my question....(sorry, long winded....must be what I ate Embarassed).....

Can someone point me to or explain in complete newbie terms/steps/guide on how to properly setup and adjust the rear and front derailleurs?  I have used the barrel adjusters but I think it is beyond a minor tweak.  Lots of chain noise, slow shifting (in the rear) and the front often jumps onto the crank set when shifting from the large chainring to the small one.  The bike came straight out of the box and I put on the wheels, bars etc.....so I'm sure it needs to be setup...

Many thanks in advance for the help.

2009-07-07 8:41 AM
in reply to: #2266839

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Champion
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Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
Couple of options

Purchase Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.

and/or

http://www.parktool.com/repair/
(click on front and rear derraileurs to get instructions)

and/or
http://www.bicycletutor.com and again click on the front/rear derrailerus in the picture for a good video about adjusting them.
2009-07-07 9:14 AM
in reply to: #2266839

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Veteran
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Charlestown
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
I would suggest bringing it to your LBS to have them set it up correctly.  If you don't have any experience with bike mechanics, it may be difficult/frustrating for you.  The derailleurs are sensitive and minor adjustments should go a long way...without proper experience, you may end up doing more harm/causing more frustration then it's worth.  Then, if you want to learn, you can read the references and check out what they did, figure out how it all works, etc.

I got my bike used but it had never been properly set up.  I was having all sorts of problems with the chain jumping/jamming/rubbing/etc.  I brought it to my LBS, they did a tune up, fixed everything and now it works great!  Just my .02

Good luck this season!
2009-07-07 9:20 AM
in reply to: #2267051

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Champion
9060
5000200020002525
Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
whynot-tri - 2009-07-07 10:14 AM I would suggest bringing it to your LBS to have them set it up correctly.  If you don't have any experience with bike mechanics, it may be difficult/frustrating for you.  The derailleurs are sensitive and minor adjustments should go a long way...without proper experience, you may end up doing more harm/causing more frustration then it's worth.  Then, if you want to learn, you can read the references and check out what they did, figure out how it all works, etc.

I got my bike used but it had never been properly set up.  I was having all sorts of problems with the chain jumping/jamming/rubbing/etc.  I brought it to my LBS, they did a tune up, fixed everything and now it works great!  Just my .02

Good luck this season!


Thats a good idea also.
2009-07-07 9:21 AM
in reply to: #2266839

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Expert
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Burnaby, BC
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.

+1 for getting your LBS to do a setup on the bike.  For setting up your derailleurs you can see the BT video here:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1731

2009-07-07 9:44 AM
in reply to: #2266839

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Regular
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Novi, MI
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
Google Sheldon Brown and derailleurs.

2009-07-07 11:39 AM
in reply to: #2266839

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Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
+1 on http://www.parktool.com/repair/The Park website is always my quick reference for bike repair.

Edited by Straz 2009-07-07 11:51 AM
2009-07-07 1:08 PM
in reply to: #2266839

Extreme Veteran
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Minneapolis
Subject: RE: New Bike....Need some help with Derailleurs.
+1 for the LBS.  The online resources mentioned are all great (love Sheldon and Park!), but if you don't know where you are starting from, then you can easily make a bad problem much, much worse. 

I know it's not rocket science, but I recommend you take it to the LBS, let them tune it to the 99% solution, and then familiarze yourself with those online resources - they will help you fine-tune any further adjustments (due to cable stretch, etc), and that's a great way to learn derailluer adjustments (a little bit at a a time).  If the derailleurs are a mess starting out, you can pretty quickly dig yourself in a deeper hole if you aren't exactly sure what you are doing.

Cheers, Chris
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