2013 Boardman hybrid comp gear problems

[Neilv]

I've just brought the Boardman 2013 hybrid comp bike off eBay, I love the bike and it's great for commuting to work but it's got an intermittent problem. When it's under load when I'm on the highest gear (by this I mean the hardest gear to pedal) it skips / jumps I've also found if I knock it down a gear or two it still does it. Now I know everyone is saying I know what that is, it only happens when I bring my right foot down/ never my left and always in the the same place. It's so intermittent one minute it will do it the next it won't.

I took it to a bike shop who very confidently said before looking at it, it's the rear cassette. He said you also have slight play in the rear bearing. Can I upgrade the gearing system and is it worth it or should I buy what's on there already.

 

[si_c]

When a cassette becomes worn, it is prone to skipping, especially if the chain has recently been replaced, as the two wear together.

If you post some photos of the rear cassette, then we can confirm this, it is also worth posting a couple of the front chainrings too, as these wear as well.

A new cassette is not expensive, around £15-£30 depending on what you get, and takes around 5 mins to replace. It's not really worth upgrading, I'd just go with something similar, the important thing is to get the range of the gears and number right. If you have an 8 speed with 12-30 (12 tooth high sprocket and 30 tooth low sprocket) then you want to get the same, don't let the shop put on an 11-23 for example, as that will make it much much harder to get up hills.

If you have a little play in the bearings, then I'd say most likely that can be fixed just by tightening the cones on the rear hub. Even if the bearings are worn, they can be replaced and then tightened up.

Anyway, like I said, post some photos and we can give you a bit better advice.