Shimano Deore XT 48 thoughts - OR cycle repair shop in London or Middlesex

[mistresspea]

I have inherited a Griffan (or Griffon) (the brandname is script on the bike so not clear) hand-built bike with the above gears (from a once-upon-a-time cycling obsessive who can no longer cycle - so it will have been a good bike in its day).

When I ride it and change gear it's a bit clunky but i can get it in gear and it then cycles fine for me.

However, when my moany old cycling-reluctant boyfriend rides the same bike (not fast as I'm cycling slowly in front) we can both hear the gear slipping even though he's not changing the gear from the one I was using just fine. Its slightly large for me so i gave it to the BF in the hope he'd take to cycling with love and passion.

Any thoughts appreciated - it was suggested to me that "when you change gear and the chain is meant to jump onto the next cog - it's almost like it is too close to the frame" (not sure i've got that wording correctly).

OR otherwise if anyone has knowledge of any London/Middlesex/Surrey based cycle repair shops who have specialised knowledge. I would prefer someone who has good knowledge and experience of these gears to a cycle repair shop that doesn't - and have rung around locally so though i'd put it to this forum for ideas.

All thoughts appreciated. I hope this is the right place to ask.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Maybe it's a Bob Griffin.
But never mind that, any normal (ie high street or near high street) local bike shop will be able to identify any problem that exists and fix the gears. This is absolute bread and butter for them.
You might care to share with us how many rings it has at the front, how many sprockets at the rear, any markings or names on the derailleurs (front and rear which the chain goes through), where the gear change levers are, and what the shape of the handlebars is.

 

[mistresspea]

Belated thank you for your welcome and reply ... I had not set my account to receive notifications so thought my original post had gone into the ether. I lent the bike to my nephew to see whether he suffered the same issues ... and he did. But will get the bike back and find out that information.

 

[mistresspea]

Sorry re delayed response but I'd still be grateful for any clues
Here is the branding - which I can now see is definintely Griffon and I've found the Reid Griffon website but can't find the history of Griffon.

• There are 3 rings at the front
• There are 5 sprockets at the back
• The derailers say Shimano DEORE
• the outside visible front ring says Shimano Biopace 48

I have emailed Reid-Griffon for further info but if anyone knows anything I'd be interested.

Also since these gear rings are only available on ebay and not cheap ... possibly it's worth changing the gearset or would that cost an arm and leg.

Many thanks

 

[Ajax Bay]

Hello again. I too thought you'd just posted and disappeared into the ether!
This is almost certainly NOT a 'need to replace' issue - though I have got (probably exactly) the same 48-38-28 Biopace triple chainset waiting to go on another bike.
If you feel the need to replace the middle ring then it's a 110mm BCD (doesn't matter if the replacement is 'round' not elliptical).
The description of what's happening when you (or BF or nephew) try to change gear sounds like, as I said, this is a rear derailleur just not properly indexed. If you can't do it, your LBS can, quite quickly and cheaply.

 

[mistresspea]

Thank you so much Ajax ... will get it down to the LBS and see what they say.

 

[T4tomo]

agree with Ajax, sounds like a minor issue. Deore XT is decent equipment. It could just be a worn chain (or rear sprockets) or indexing issue that the lads greater power but lack of finesse is highlighting