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Bike Randomly Shifting Gears

Mai-KeroMai-Kero Registered User regular
edited September 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
So I just got an old cheapo bike from a friend, and there are a variety of places within biking distance that I want to visit. Now, the bike is ridable, but every 25-30 feet or so it feels like the gears are shifting randomly.

Anyone know what might be causing this or how I could fix it?

Mai-Kero on

Posts

  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Mai-Kero wrote: »
    So I just got an old cheapo bike from a friend, and there are a variety of places within biking distance that I want to visit. Now, the bike is ridable, but every 25-30 feet or so it feels like the gears are shifting randomly.

    Anyone know what might be causing this or how I could fix it?

    It sounds like you need to tighten up the shift lever. There should be a screw in the side.

    Metalbourne on
  • ueanuean Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Mai-Kero wrote: »
    So I just got an old cheapo bike from a friend, and there are a variety of places within biking distance that I want to visit. Now, the bike is ridable, but every 25-30 feet or so it feels like the gears are shifting randomly.

    Anyone know what might be causing this or how I could fix it?

    old cheapo bike would be your first clue :)

    otherwise check the gear lever and adjust the cable tension so that the deraileur is sitting correctly. Likely it;d be a real easy fix if you took into your local bike shop

    uean on
    Guys? Hay guys?
    PSN - sumowot
  • Seaborn111Seaborn111 Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    it's definitely either a cable tension issue (which could be traced to a loose shifter) or a misaligned deraileur.


    makes me wonder why positron shifters never picked up, my commuter bike has a positron shifter and it's glorious =)

    Seaborn111 on
    </bush>
    It's impossible for us to without a doubt prove the non-existence of God. We just have to take it on faith that he's imaginary..
  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    The easiest thing would be for you to take it to a bike shop and have them tune it. If you have no idea what you're doing, you could fart around for a bit, but the chances that you'll get it are slim, and you could even make it worse.

    Figgy on
    XBL : Figment3 · SteamID : Figment
  • japanjapan Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    If you're at all mechanically inclined, or just don't want to sink money into it, you need these two guides:

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64
    http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

    The rest of that site has similar how-tos for just about any bike service job.

    japan on
  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    depends is it the front gear shifting or the back?

    if its the front check your bottom bracket and see if its loose.
    if its the rear it could jst be a busted shifter.. likey not a derailleur as that would likely involve issues with shifting like a chain pop.

    mts on
    camo_sig.png
  • saltinesssaltiness Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Could be a lot of things but you might just need to turn the barrel adjuster a little.

    Here's another good place to learn maintenance. http://bicycletutor.com/guide/

    saltiness on
    XBL: heavenkils
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