Bike Tune-Up?

[SilentJay]

Hey guys,
I have a bit of a problem with my bicycle. It's essentially brand new since I can't ride it properly, but it's about 4 years old. Whenever I try to ride it, it sounds like it hasn't quite switched gears (you hear the faint clicking like it's about to switch), and worst of all, it'll constantly suddenly switch gears on you without warning.

Imagine you're going up a hill and standing on the pedals to get some extra push, and the pedals give out under you because it's suddenly decided to go to another gear... Painful lesson.

I've brought it to SportChek (only because it supposedly had a warranty), and they've cleaned the chain and tried to adjust the gear selector cables, but it's still doing it. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? I'd like to start riding more but don't want another faceplant incident :chuckle

[Scottobot]

I'd suggest you take it to a dedicated bike shop for a tune-up. I have that issue as well and in my case it's due to cable stretch. Most basic tune up packages should be around $30-$50. I get my bikes done at least once a year.

[Noisy Crow]

How many gears does your bike have? When there are a lot of sprockets on both the freewheel and the crank (e.g. 18 or 21 speed) the gears that have the chain at one extreme on one sprocket (e.g. all the way to the left) and the other extreme on the other sprocket (e.g. all the way to the left) aren't really usable. If you have both to the left or both to right and it still tries to jump out of gear then you'll need to adjust things. Also make sure that the derailleurs aren't bent... the sprockets on the rear should be parallel to the freewheel sprockets, and the slot on the front one should be parallel with the crank sprockets.

[baymoe]

How many gears does your bike have? When there are a lot of sprockets on both the freewheel and the crank (e.g. 18 or 21 speed) the gears that have the chain at one extreme on one sprocket (e.g. all the way to the left) and the other extreme on the other sprocket (e.g. all the way to the left) aren't really usable. If you have both to the left or both to right and it still tries to jump out of gear then you'll need to adjust things. Also make sure that the derailleurs aren't bent... the sprockets on the rear should be parallel to the freewheel sprockets, and the slot on the front one should be parallel with the crank sprockets.

Only if the bike was bought from walmart. The top and bottom limits must be adjusted properly on the rear derailleur otherwise you'd come across that problem.

SilentJay, consider whether it's worthwhile to spend on a proper tune-up or to get a new bike altogether.

[SilentJay]

=/ It was a $350ish bike that i've rode "maybe" 5 times since its purchase, so tune up sounds good.

[Rob23]

they're pretty easy to tune yourself. but also not very expensive to have tuned by a shop. id advise not taking it to sportcheck and those places, because they do not really specialize in bikes. take it to a bike shop because obviously they specialize in bikes and know exactly what they're doing and will tune the bike to the way you need it / ride it.

[SilentJay]

LoL - i'm going to have to ride/hobble it over to a bike shop then since it doesn't fit in the 3 properly

[fini]

I need to get my bike tuned too and don't have the time or patience for it right now. can you guys suggest a place to go to in mississauga / brampton area with competent people?
how is skiis and biikes or cyclepath?

[Scottobot]

I need to get my bike tuned too and don't have the time or patience for it right now. can you guys suggest a place to go to in mississauga / brampton area with competent people?
how is skiis and biikes or cyclepath?

I used the Cyclepath in "downtown" Brampton before and they were fine. My next tune-up will be at Caledon Hills Cycling since I'm riding with the club up there these days.

[zoso]

SilentJay, consider whether it's worthwhile to spend on a proper tune-up or to get a new bike altogether.


I agree i got a bike from sportcheck ($400) at the time and it broke in less then a year with moderate riding and it wasn't covered by warranty. I ended up buying a used bike off of Kijiji for about $700 and it's well worth it. If you like to ride even casually get a proper bike from a real bike shop and make sure it's maintained properly.

[iconicrocket]

I brought a bike at SportChek and had a similar issue. I've made some minor adjustment, but mainly just rode it for a year and the issue just fixed itself. I think you need to wear it in alittle to get the gears meshing and running smoothly.

[SilentJay]

Cyclepath it is. I'd rather not have another faceplant incident, so $30 or $50 is well worth it :P

[HBP]

It's not too hard to tune your rear/front derailleur. Look it up online! Always good to know how to do these things.

[iconicrocket]

If you're downtown, you can look up a place called Bike Sauce. Its a non-profit DIY center, everything is free with optional donation.

[SilentJay]

If you're downtown, you can look up a place called Bike Sauce. Its a non-profit DIY center, everything is free with optional donation.

D'oh! I'm a suburbanite :P

[baymoe]

These are all great places to bring your bike to.

MEC - King/Spadina
Cyclepath - Danforth/Coxwell or Main/7
Skiis and Bikes - Don Mills/Eglinton
D'Ornellas - Lawrence/Birchmount

[PCLoadLetter]

Nobody mentioned Gears bike shop. It's like the Nextmod for bikes.

Friendly people and the techs are REALLY good since everyone there rides religiously.

If you want to try making some small adjustments, watch this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJfKO_tAo0

[sp3GT]

Cyclepath it is. I'd rather not have another faceplant incident, so $30 or $50 is well worth it :P

I've been to Cyclepath but only at the Markham location. The bike felt better then it was new after the tune.

I bought the bike from sportchek too, a Ironhorse.

[SilentJay]

The bike was a bday gift from my sister a few years back. Apparently it was originally a $499 bike on sale for $350.

I think i'm going to ride the bike to CyclePath @ Burnhamthorpe and Creditview... Do you guys know if they'd be able to fix it on the spot and let me ride it home?

[PCLoadLetter]

The bike was a bday gift from my sister a few years back. Apparently it was originally a $499 bike on sale for $350.

I think i'm going to ride the bike to CyclePath @ Burnhamthorpe and Creditview... Do you guys know if they'd be able to fix it on the spot and let me ride it home?
It may take them a few days to a week depending on how busy they are but that's just my guess.

Give them a call and ask :thumbsup

P.S. Holy shite, we're almost neighbours.

I've got a roof rack if you need haulin'.

[SilentJay]

It may take them a few days to a week depending on how busy they are but that's just my guess.
Give them a call and ask :thumbsup
P.S. Holy shite, we're almost neighbours.
I've got a roof rack if you need haulin'.

:whoa
You live near me? That's like 4 members that live in my neighbourhood :P

I'll give them a call a little later and see what the turnaround is. I just may take you up on your offer :)

[alhope34]

I've been riding and maintaining my own bikes since I was 10 years old... I can do anything short of a pro wheel build, though I have built wheels from scratch before. If you want me to have a look at it and tune it up and tighten/lube everything send me a PM. I love working on bikes, and mine hasn't been up for a while (need to put the fork back on the front). I'm gonna get it going soon and hopefully hit the trails once again in a couple days. Just let me know!


BTW, I fit a 56cm road bike in the back seat of my 2 door 95 Tercel just by taking the front wheel off. The 3 is a much larger car, you're just not trying to fit it in right. :P I have also put 2 bikes in my MS3 and could still close the hatch properly, and probably could have fit a third. Only problem to that would be there were only the two front seats left in the car, the back had to be folded.

[SilentJay]

^^ Awesome :) PMed

[zoso]

BTW, I fit a 56cm road bike in the back seat of my 2 door 95 Tercel just by taking the front wheel off. The 3 is a much larger car, you're just not trying to fit it in right. :P I have also put 2 bikes in my MS3 and could still close the hatch properly, and probably could have fit a third. Only problem to that would be there were only the two front seats left in the car, the back had to be folded.

I can fit two bulky Mountain bikes in my hatch without the front wheel, or my hybrid bike which has a slightly longer, and taller frame