Bicycle puncture repair on the roadside
From flat tyre to riding again in about 15 minutes, with a patch kit or a spare tube.
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Bicycle chain slipping: roadside and home fixes
Find out whether the chain, the cogs or the gears are the problem, and fix what you can before you ride on.
Find the pattern (4)
- Note when it slips: only under hard pedalling, only in one gear, or in every gearOnly under load in one gear usually means worn cogs; every gear usually means a worn chain.
- Stop pedalling hard on a slipping chain: it can throw you off the pedals
- Look at the chain: rust, dry and squeaky, or a stiff link that does not bend
- Spin the pedals backwards with the rear wheel off the ground and watch for a link that jumps or sticks
Quick roadside fixes (5)
- Shift to an easier gear and pedal gently to get home
- Wipe the chain with a cloth, then add one drop of chain oil per link and wipe the extra off
- Find a stiff link and flex it side to side with your fingers until it moves freely
- Check the rear wheel is seated straight and the quick-release or axle nuts are tight
- Check the rear derailleur hanger is not bent: it should sit straight in line with the cogs
Check the wear at home (4)
- Measure the chain with a ruler: 12 full links should measure 12 inches (304.8 mm)At 12 1/16 inches (about 306 mm) the chain is worn; replace it before it wears the cogs.
- Look at the teeth of the rear cogs: shark-fin shaped teeth mean worn cogs
- Check the chain is the right width for your number of gears (7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 speed)
- Check the gear cable is not frayed, sticky or loose and turn the barrel adjuster a half turn if shifting is off
Fix and test (5)
- Replace a worn chain first: a new chain on badly worn cogs may still slip
- Replace the cassette too if a new chain still slips under load
- Clean the chain with degreaser, rinse, dry and lube before every few rides
- Test ride in every gear on a quiet road and out of the saddle on a short climb
- Take it to a bike shop if the hanger is bent or the freewheel is slipping
Written from www.sheldonbrown.com