Gears not shifting...help!!

[hobbitonabike]

Hubby away with work so am cleaning his bike. Giving the cogs a once over and shift front from big cog to small like I have done loads of times but it didn't shift and now won't do anything! The cable is very taught but am not sure what to do with it...someone please help lol before I get in trouble lol

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Hubby away with work so am cleaning his bike.

If all else fail smear dirt back on, put on innocent face when he gets back...

There can be numerous reasons. Assuming you are talking about a rear derailleur I assume you have been lifting the rear wheel off the ground and turning the crank? Which rear cog the chain is on? Has it got flat bars or drop bars? Is the chain jammed in any way and if you rotate the crank anti-clockwise will it freewheel?

 

[hobbitonabike]

Phew sorted with a bit of brute force lol lol. It was the front and seems to be fine now. Thanks though