[Yak] Re: Yak Digest, Vol 51, Issue 5

[Linda Gryczan]

> Amy wrote:

> Gear shifting is an unpredictable event. Sometimes it is loud and  
> actually 'bumps' my daughter. I'm not sure if it's a vibration or  
> bump that startles her, but it's not pleasant for her.
>
> Life is reasonably good in the high end of gears. Like my NWT,  
> however, the bike itself often grumbles if its not in the gear it  
> wants to be in - which may not always be the same gear that I want  
> to be in!
>
> In the middle range of gears on the triple, the gears do slip. The  
> front chain slips the most, but it's quite unpredictable.
>
> We've had the triple on the road for about 3 weeks now, and it has  
> been happening from the moment I pedalled it away from the bike  
> shop who assembled it. At first, I was blaming my ignorance about  
> the gearing system. Yesterday I hopped from triple to NWT and back  
> again....and it was a delight to be back on my NWT where this  
> problem aboslutely does not happen.
>
> There's something funky going on. But unlike the rest of you, I  
> know bupkus about bikes!
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Amy
> Rochester NY
>
Dear Amy,
Bikes tend to be better behaved in front of a mechanic, & on a repair  
stand where they aren't dealing with rider weight & road friction.

New gear cables will stretch, especially the long ones needed for a  
tandem.  I suggest you return to the shop & ask the mechanic to go  
for a ride with you & adjust the cables on a test ride.  S/he can  
show you which adjusters to use when this happens again, and it will,  
probably several more times.  It takes a few miles for cables to set  
into their final stretched position.

Linda Gryczan
Alice B Toeclips Cyclery
Helena, MT  USA