The Cycling Chat Thread

[freshapple]

When I change gear my bike has started freewheeling - the gear doesn’t click in and I can turn the pedals but the wheel doesn’t react. I have to change gears again and hope it clicks into gear. Is this my chain being too stretched? I think it might be too loose. I noticed this happening and seems to have got worse, which I guess would fit with increasingly stretched chain. Hoping it’s nothing more serious.

I had that & I think it was the cassette had gotten worn and needed replacing.

Or the gears needed adjusting

Or the chain needed replacing, or both!

Sorry not much use

 

[pbsmooth]

I had that & I think it was the cassette had gotten worn and needed replacing.

Or the gears needed adjusting

Or the chain needed replacing, or both!

Sorry not much use

Yeah might have to take it in and double check. Can imagine changing the chain and nothing changing…

 

[spitfire]

Yeah might have to take it in and double check. Can imagine changing the chain and nothing changing…

Sounds like the derailleur settings need redoing, defo a job for the shop.

But if the whole lot is getting on then you may be looking at a new cassette and chain anyway.

 

[pbsmooth]

Ouchy. Only had a service in November

 

[spitfire]

Chainset may be ok then if they didn’t flag it up at the time.

Might just be a new cable and readjustment?

But IANABM….

 

[Almor]

I'd suggest take that to a bike shop, can't think of a way that the gear would change to free wheeling, the chain shouldn't fit between the gears
You could jump off and have a look next time it does it?

 

[gentlegreen]

Pretty sure I had it briefly happen in the past.
I suppose the ratchet pawl springs had a funny moment...
Do you pressure wash your bike ?
(Not that I ever cleaned mine...in those days I used to lube my chain with car engine oil !)

 

[Pgd]

Agree with gentlegreen it sounds like a recurring issue I had back in ~2013 (How was your cycle commute?). Not the chain or gears, but the wheel itself.

 

[pbsmooth]

I have had the wheel off to redo the tubeless sealant. Will see if I can tighten it up and have a proper look next time it happens.

 

[pbsmooth]

well they changed one part and fixed it and it was all under warranty, so that was a result. I think it was the freewheel in the cassette but of course I walked out not really having committed to memory exactly what it was that they changed

 

[Whagwan]

Did my biggest ride yet today...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

One of my regular freelance techs is a cyclist, he’s asked me if I fancy going for a ride with him sometime. Naturally, I looked at his Strava…



Errr, think I’ll pass on that kind offer

 

[DJWrongspeed]

One of my regular freelance techs is a cyclist, he’s asked me if I fancy going for a ride with him sometime. Naturally, I looked at his Strava…

View attachment 429066

Errr, think I’ll pass on that kind offer

Gulp, the road surfaces in Surrey & Kent where I ride would make that impossible.

 

[weepiper]

One of my regular freelance techs is a cyclist, he’s asked me if I fancy going for a ride with him sometime. Naturally, I looked at his Strava…

View attachment 429066

Errr, think I’ll pass on that kind offer

3000-odd feet in a hundred miles is not very much (I'd easily do that in forty round here) but nonetheless that is an intimidating average speed.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

3000-odd feet in a hundred miles is not very much (I'd easily do that in forty round here) but nonetheless that is an intimidating average speed.

Yeah, a nice flat route, but considering that’s on normal roads - having to stop at junctions and lights sometimes… I am not going to try riding with him

 

[Gromit]

Which cyclist are you?

 

[Idaho]

Depends on the junction. A bicycle is a less formal vehicle than a car/ motorbike/ van etc. There are frequent instances where no organised road layout provision has been made. Or where it has been made up until a point and there is a gap until it restarts. Sometimes you are riding on road and come to a large traffic lighted junction with a red light, and the crossings are both pedestrian and cycle.

 

[magneze]

That was a pedestrian crossing though.

 

[spitfire]

BMX Nationals 7 and 8 Manchester again.

 

[Idaho]

That was a pedestrian crossing though.

Yeah in that particular instance I would slow right down, and if there were no people crossing, I'd coast through.

 

[Gromit]

Yeah in that particular instance I would slow right down, and if there were no people crossing, I'd coast through.

Can cars do that too?
Pelican crossing, no one crossing so just drive straight through.

 

[Idaho]

Can cars do that too?
Pelican crossing, no one crossing so just drive straight through.

Can they do that? Please be more specific in your question.

 

[pbsmooth]

Meh. Slow down and cross if it’s safe to do so. Get over it - we’re on a bike going pretty slow with no protection, you’re in a massive heap of metal.

 

[Leafster]

I have hydraulic disc brakes on my e-bike. When I went out for a ride yesterday, I noticed at the start that I needed to pull the lever for the rear brake further for it to actually work. I initially thought that, as the e-bike is heavy, the pads had worn down. I had a quick look and although they are worn, there's still (I think) some life in them. Further along on my ride, I noticed that the travel on the lever got even further before it worked. Eventually, there was no stopping power at all. I checked for leaks on the hydraulic lines but couldn't see anything. If I pumped the lever a few times, it worked. The rest of my ride was a little tentative as I had to remember to pump the brake before I actually needed it - not much fun on my bit of the North Downs.

So, as a newbie to this sort of problem, does that mean I have air in the lines? Do I need to buy a bleed kit, if that's what they're called? If I do, is there anything I should consider when buying one? My bike is a fairly cheapo e-bike and it has Star-Union hydraulic brakes, if that makes a difference.

Any advice, gratefully received!

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

That does sound like you’ve got some air in there, weepiper is the expert on all this sort of stuff…

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Which cyclist are you?

I stop at red lights to support cycling infrastructure and not give drivers more reason to hate cyclists.
With the rise in hire ebikes and escooters good behaviour has deteriorated, in London anyway.

 

[Saul Goodman]

I have hydraulic disc brakes on my e-bike. When I went out for a ride yesterday, I noticed at the start that I needed to pull the lever for the rear brake further for it to actually work. I initially thought that, as the e-bike is heavy, the pads had worn down. I had a quick look and although they are worn, there's still (I think) some life in them. Further along on my ride, I noticed that the travel on the lever got even further before it worked. Eventually, there was no stopping power at all. I checked for leaks on the hydraulic lines but couldn't see anything. If I pumped the lever a few times, it worked. The rest of my ride was a little tentative as I had to remember to pump the brake before I actually needed it - not much fun on my bit of the North Downs.

So, as a newbie to this sort of problem, does that mean I have air in the lines? Do I need to buy a bleed kit, if that's what they're called? If I do, is there anything I should consider when buying one? My bike is a fairly cheapo e-bike and it has Star-Union hydraulic brakes, if that makes a difference.

Any advice, gratefully received!

Did you check the fluid level?

 

[TopCat]

Did you check the fluid level?

Tiny little reservoirs

 

[spitfire]

I stop at red lights to support cycling infrastructure and not give drivers more reason to hate cyclists.
With the rise in hire ebikes and escooters good behaviour has deteriorated, in London anyway.

Same.

 

[Leafster]

Did you check the fluid level?

I didn't, but like TC says, the reservoir is almost non-existent. It's just a small chamber on the brake lever mechanism and there's no way to check it without a bit of tinkering.