SHIFTING PROBLEMS: WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE AND HOW TO FIX IT YOURSELF
Have you ever heard a strange rattling sound after shifting to another gear? Or does your bike skip a gear when you only shift once? Shifting problems are annoying, but they certainly don't always mean something is broken. Often, the cause is minor, and you can solve the problem yourself.
In this blog, we explain where shifting problems can come from and what you can check yourself before going to the bike mechanic.
The main components of your shifting system
On a bicycle with derailleur gears, various components work together to get the chain to the correct gear. The cassette consists of multiple sprockets on the rear wheel. The derailleur moves the chain between these sprockets, and the shift cable transmits the movement from your shifter to the derailleur.
At the front, there can be one, two, or three chainrings. On a bicycle with hub gears, it works differently: the gears are located in the hub of the rear wheel. The precise operation therefore differs per bicycle, but even there, for example, a wrongly adjusted or damaged cable can cause shifting problems.
Why isn't my bike shifting properly?
There are various signs that indicate your gears are not properly adjusted. Do you hear a rattling sound after shifting? Does the chain skip a gear? Or does it take a while for the chain to actually move to the next sprocket?
A common cause is that the shift cable does not have the correct tension. Fortunately, with a derailleur, you can often easily adjust this yourself.
Turn the adjustment screw
Near the derailleur or shifter, there is a small rotatable barrel: the adjustment screw, also called a barrel adjuster. With this, you can precisely adjust the tension of the shift cable. Is your chain not shifting smoothly to a larger sprocket? Then you can slightly increase the cable tension by turning the adjustment screw a small amount each time. If shifting to a smaller sprocket is difficult, the cable tension may be too high. Turn only a small amount each time and then try shifting again. Often, a small adjustment is enough to make shifting smooth again.
Also check the rest of your drivetrain
Not every shifting problem is solved with an adjustment screw. Therefore, also check the condition of your drivetrain.
- Is your chain very dirty? Then clean the chain, cassette, and derailleur. Dirt can cause shifting to be less smooth.
- Is your derailleur crooked? Then the derailleur hanger might be bent. Do not try to adjust this yourself if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Even a small deviation can affect shifting.
- Is your shift cable damaged or stiff? Then it makes little sense to keep adjusting the cable tension. A worn or damaged cable must be replaced.
- Are your chain or cassette worn? Wear can also cause your bike to shift less well. Especially when the problem has gradually worsened, it is wise to have the wear checked.
- When is it better to go to the workshop? You can often perform a small correction to the cable tension yourself. But sometimes there is more going on. Have your bike checked if the derailleur is visibly crooked, the chain regularly comes off the cassette or chainring, or the problem keeps recurring after adjustment.
Even with a hub gear, it is advisable to seek help if you are not sure what the problem is. The technology in the hub is more complex and requires a different adjustment than a derailleur.
A small adjustment can sometimes make all the difference. But are you unsure what to adjust? Then it's better not to endlessly turn the adjustment screws and have your bike checked. Feel free to visit a CUBE Store. In our workshop, we can check where the problem comes from and what is needed to make your bike shift smoothly again.