Rear derallier into wheel carnage

[Yellow Saddle]

Out of interest, when did you last check things like rear mech alignment?

Big to big is not a good idea, and you know why.

It gets checked each time you change gear. It is not something that goes out without you knowing about it.

 

[screenman]

It gets checked each time you change gear. It is not something that goes out without you knowing about it.

Do people really notice a very slight difference over a period of time?

Seems that every bike I have checked so far are out of alignment, even those that were checked 1,000 miles ago.

I respect your views though.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Wheels with too few spokes can do this if the spoke orientation is not perfect. With hard pedaling such as when honking up a hill, the spoke windup causes the spokes on the right hand side to either move towards the RD or away from it, depending on how they're oriented.
In order to know whether they're right way round, check that "pulling spokes" are interleaved so that they go over the pushing spokes i.e. pass over the pushing spoke when viewed from the right.

Also, carefully check the bottom part of your RD cage, on the inside, for signs of the spoke catching there. No amount of cross-chaining should pull your RD into the spokes.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Do people really notice a very slight difference over a period of time?

Seems that every bike I have checked so far are out of alignment, even those that were checked 1,000 miles ago.

I respect your views though.

No need to respect my views, understanding them is better. I'll explain.
If a derailer hanger is bent, the gears won't change properly. They will change OK-ish going up (or down) but change really poorly in the other direction. The chain will run noisily in some of the sprockets (not all) but an observant rider will notice that all's not well in all gears. In worse case scenarios such as when it is so bent that the RD goes into the spokes, an astute rider will not even pedal 10 meters before stopping to check what's wrong.
A bent derailer hanger that's bent enough to do damage does not go unnoticed. Derailer hangers don't bend over time. They bend from a single incident that doesn't go unnoticed.

 

[screenman]

I would disagree with your last point, and would also say lot of cyclist do not realise how badly set up their gears are.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I would disagree with your last point, and would also say lot of cyclist do not realise how badly set up their gears are.

No problem with that. I suppose there are plenty of people who don't pay attention to their machines of all kinds and don't notice new noises and nuances.

They deserve what they get. People who cannot appreciate that machinery gives you constant feedback about its health and happiness don't deserve machines.

 

[raleighnut]

If the hanger wasn't bent before it probably is now. Tell the guy who's fitting it to check it, even tape a note onto the bike explaining what happened. DO NOT just expect a new mech to sort it.

 

[screenman]

We certainly agree on that one.

 

[Andy_R]

No problem with that. I suppose there are plenty of people who don't pay attention to their machines of all kinds and don't notice new noises and nuances.

They deserve what they get. People who cannot appreciate that machinery gives you constant feedback about its health and happiness don't deserve machines.

What a load of...... Everyone deserves to have a bike, and enjoy it

 

[Justinslow]

If the hanger wasn't bent before it probably is now. Tell the guy who's fitting it to check it, even tape a note onto the bike explaining what happened. DO NOT just expect a new mech to sort it.

The hanger is snapped off!!

 

[raleighnut]

The hanger is snapped off!!

Fine, but a new hanger still needs to be aligned correctly when fitted.

 

[Justinslow]

Wheels with too few spokes can do this if the spoke orientation is not perfect. With hard pedaling such as when honking up a hill, the spoke windup causes the spokes on the right hand side to either move towards the RD or away from it, depending on how they're oriented.
In order to know whether they're right way round, check that "pulling spokes" are interleaved so that they go over the pushing spokes i.e. pass over the pushing spoke when viewed from the right.

Also, carefully check the bottom part of your RD cage, on the inside, for signs of the spoke catching there. No amount of cross-chaining should pull your RD into the spokes.

Maybe it's my superstar wheels fault then?
Like I said I've been up plenty of hills in the 53/23 combo and not had any problems untill now?
Whatever happened...........it happened!
I tried cutting the chain and riding on one gear home, but the chain was bent and wouldn't run, a nice gent was passing and gave me and my bike a lift home.

 

[Justinslow]

Maybe it's my superstar wheels fault then?
Like I said I've been up plenty of hills in the 53/23 combo and not had any problems untill now?
Whatever happened...........it happened!
I tried cutting the chain and riding on one gear home, but the chain was bent and wouldn't run, a nice gent was passing and gave me and my bike a lift home.

That last post sounded confrontational, it wasn't supposed to sound like that, I'm interested in your knowledge of this as I have very little!

 

[raleighnut]

Maybe it's my superstar wheels fault then?
Like I said I've been up plenty of hills in the 53/23 combo and not had any problems untill now?
Whatever happened...........it happened!
I tried cutting the chain and riding on one gear home, but the chain was bent and wouldn't run, a nice gent was passing and gave me and my bike a lift home.

You could have actually partly broken the chain (side plate separated) which caused the 'carnage' by running it in big-big,that'd cause the bottom jockey wheel to telescope up and send the lot into the spokes.

 

[Andrew_P]

This is what I was getting at, will probably pay full rrp at lbs, but if it's properly set up and done well then that's fine before anybody shoots me down, I'm inclined to use lbs anyway because they are good and I've got an open 10 TT on Saturday!

Buy it and fit it, use YouTube and here for advice.