Road Cycling Essentials

willems · 1 Aug 2011 at 11:20

anyone got experience adjusting front mechs? my new sram apex doesnt shift to the small chain ring properly but i have no clue what im doing. looking at a few vids looks like just some screw adjustment?

Saundie · 1 Aug 2011 at 13:40

[DOD]Asprilla;19712999 said:
I will never again give someone advice on their bike fit and set up.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12792808&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Why, did you recommend that stem to him?

[DOD]Asprilla · 1 Aug 2011 at 13:57

No, it's the saddle position that carries all my hallmarks.....

It's a track stem so more oddjobs area than mine.

His hip angles must be so closed that he'd be delivering only a fraction of power at the topmof his stroke.

Jonny69 · 1 Aug 2011 at 13:58

willems said:
anyone got experience adjusting front mechs? my new sram apex doesnt shift to the small chain ring properly but i have no clue what im doing. looking at a few vids looks like just some screw adjustment?

On one of mine there's a pair of screws that limit the ends of the movement. Might need letting out a bit so the derailleur can move further. Otherwise I've had to do it by pulling hard on the cable while I nip the fastener up so that the shifter pulls it far enough.

Hamster · 1 Aug 2011 at 14:07

willems said:
anyone got experience adjusting front mechs? my new sram apex doesnt shift to the small chain ring properly but i have no clue what im doing. looking at a few vids looks like just some screw adjustment?

If you remove the tension from the cable going to the front mech by undoing the nut that fixes it to the mech and the chain doesn't drop into the small cog then you need to unscrew the low limit screw (marked L) little by little (whilst turning the pedals) until it drops into that ring.

touch · 1 Aug 2011 at 14:41

[DOD]Asprilla;19717112 said:
It's a track stem so more oddjobs area than mine.

It's even worse that that, it's a trials stem on upside down!

Usually found looking something like this:

Big angles and very long usually around 15cm.

willems · 1 Aug 2011 at 14:44

thanks for the replies. i'll look into that

jaybee · 1 Aug 2011 at 14:47

Probably been discussed on here already but my friend just brought his first road bike. An expensive Fuji thing with carbon forks and the works. He finds that his front wheel rubs on his trainer during low speed turns. Normal? Next frame up is too big for him.

[DOD]Asprilla · 1 Aug 2011 at 14:52

It's called toe overlap and it's pretty common and is dependent on frame geometry. Generally longer frames with shallower fork angles have no toe overlap and are more stable at low speed but less responsive as you get quicker, and vice versa.

willhub · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:06

[DOD]Asprilla;19717112 said:
No, it's the saddle position that carries all my hallmarks.....

It's a track stem so more oddjobs area than mine.

His hip angles must be so closed that he'd be delivering only a fraction of power at the topmof his stroke.

You ride with saddle pointing up? It's a very very bad saddle position.

[DOD]Asprilla · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:21

willhub said:
You ride with saddle pointing up? It's a very very bad saddle position.

No. I was taking the mick. My saddle is level and checked with a spirit level.

MTWest · 1 Aug 2011 at 20:02

Hey guys,

Following on my post from #2908 I went ahead and tried to give it a good clean, attacked it with some GT85 and left it a little while before having a more thorough test ride.

It seems the bike is finding it difficult to shift up, especially from 1 to 2. I can hear the chain grinding against the teeth when attempting to shift up and the only way to get it on to gear 2 is to shift from 1 to 3 and back down again... which I can't imagine can be good in the long term, let alone during a commute

What should I do here? Really appreciate your help guys, cheers.

6thElement · 1 Aug 2011 at 20:24

Read this or take it to a bike shop for them to look at.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/front-derailleur-adjustments

platypus · 2 Aug 2011 at 11:18

My wheel has been fixed \o/.

willhub · 2 Aug 2011 at 11:25

[DOD]Asprilla;19719876 said:
No. I was taking the mick. My saddle is level and checked with a spirit level.

Ah, I ride with mine pointing down slightly.

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:26

Started my new commute today; 42 mile round trip. I'm going to be tired come Friday.

Draeger · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:11

[DOD]Asprilla;19729530 said:
Started my new commute today; 42 mile round trip. I'm going to be tired come Friday.

Nice. Mine is a 36 mile round trip. Tiring after a few days but hugely enjoyable. Unfortunately I've picked up a hand injury at the weekend so will be off all three bikes for a good few weeks till it heals up........grrrrrrr!!!!.

[DOD]Asprilla · 3 Aug 2011 at 10:46

Draeger said:
Nice. Mine is a 36 mile round trip. Tiring after a few days but hugely enjoyable. Unfortunately I've picked up a hand injury at the weekend so will be off all three bikes for a good few weeks till it heals up........grrrrrrr!!!!.

Unlucky. Still, better to heal it properly than let it cause you problems in the future.

New commute is only 4 miles longer each way but it's more competitive and I'm having to step up the pace considerably.

Russinating · 3 Aug 2011 at 11:09

I do wish my commute was longer. I know I could just take a big looped detour but it's just not the same. It's also quite nice being able to get to work in 5 minutes

.

6thElement · 3 Aug 2011 at 12:08

The problem with my commute is that during the summer it's generally ~30C most days and I have no changing room or shower available at the office.

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