Specialized Allez Sport, Tiagra problems

PascUK

Hi there guys.

I picked up an Allez sport '09 about 4 weeks ago as my first road bike. Unfortunately, about a week before picking it up I fractured my fibula so I havnt been able to ride it until now. I had put the deposit down and all so it made sense to just go pick it up and then wait it out.

My leg is about healed enough to go out for a ride and from the short cycles im pleased I went for a roadie instead of a Hybrid. I am having some problems with the gears though but this could just be a bike setup problem as I havnt ridden it until now. I went for the Allez sport for the Tiagra groupset thinking the gear changes would be easier and more smooth than Sora. At the moment the chain will jump between gears on the rear derailleur when im not changing gears and just putting more pressure on the pedals (at least I think thats whats happening). This will jar the pedals while im cycling which, among other things, is not a good think seeing as my leg is still not 100%.

Also, I think that the front derailleur might be slightly out because I can hear the chain catching it when I am on the smaller cog when im cycling.

Am I right in thinking I should be expecting it to be smooth with no problems like this? Sorry guys, this is my first road bike, and first new bike for 10 or so years. Should I be taking it back to the LBS to get adjusted, or is there anything I can do at home to try and diagnose the problem.

I trust there are people out there with fully working Allez's without this kind of problem.

Cheers.
Pasc

nicklouse

sounds like cable tension and set up. time for the free service from the supplying shop or have a go your self. how toos are available on Parktools. Linky in sig.

PascUK

Hey Nick.

Thanks for the info, that website looks like it could be one for the Favourites.

I shall probably take it back to the bike shop and get them to take a look. I just wasnt sure if I was expecting too much from the kit, glad thats not the cast.

Pasc

simon_e

Sounds like cable adjustment on both front and rear mech.

The shop should have told you that all new bikes are expected to require adjustment, re-tightening checks etc once 'bedded in'. This should be free. My LBS says six weeks but it depends how often you ride it. A colleague has just had his done on his MTB/commuting bike and they sorted a couple of stiff chain links and got his rear mech shifting as it should.

I think yours needs setting up correctly to start with, then you ride it a bit and only after a while you should take it for a checkup.

AndyOgy

PascUK wrote:

Hey Nick.

Thanks for the info, that website looks like it could be one for the Favourites.

I shall probably take it back to the bike shop and get them to take a look. I just wasnt sure if I was expecting too much from the kit, glad thats not the cast.

Pasc

Nope, you're not especting too much at all. I've got the Allez and the Tiagra rear mech shifts like a dream. It went a little bit off in the first few weeks due to the initial cable stretch but this was sorted in the 6 week service and it's good as gold over a thousand miles later.

keef66

Yup, nothing more than cable stretch. Almost certain to happen in the first couple of weeks with any new bike. I was adjusting my rear mech only last night, and watching the chain moving from sprocket to sprocket it's clear with todays 10 speed stuff the clearances are quite small. The outer plates of the chain are very close to the adjacent sprockets, so it doesn't take much to upset the otherwise very smooth and precise shifting.

Just have a twiddle with the cable adjuster at the mech (or possibly an inline one near the shifter or on the downtube? I'm not familiar with Spesh / Tiagra)

PascUK

Cheers for the reassurance guys.

I im not sure it can even be cable stretch, because I havnt ridden it enough to bed the cables in (it was happening on the first ride). So I shall take it to get checked out and tweaked.

The LBS did say about a free 4-6 week service, but seeing as I have only just been able to jump on it I shall try get it adjusted now and then go back for a proper service when I have been able to get some good rides out of it.

Thanks.

AndyOgy

Cable stretch can occur, even when the bike isn't being ridden. It will be minimised if you leave it on the smallest sprocket but it still happens a bit. It won't stretch as much as regular gear changes so you may well have some stretch left to go.

If you ask in the bike shop, they will show you how to adjust the cable at the rear mech. It's really easy when you know how. There are loads of websites that show you how to do it but nothing beats a real life demonstration.

Rich Hcp

Cable stretch, take it back and they'll fix it and you'll be fine

PascUK

Hey guys.

I ran it back to the shop and they sorted it out. I took it for a ride earlier and its seems to be all good now. There is a slight tickle on the chain on the front derailleur in some gears, but nothing a slight tweak wont fix.

Thanks for the info.

Rich Hcp

You'll get a little of that because of the angle of the chain across the sprokets

If it gets worse or selection of any gear gets difficult , a decent LBS will sort it FOC

Now go enjoy!

Rezillo

Tiagra on my bike took quite careful adjustment of the front derailleur to get the trimming mechanism working properly. Trimming slightly shifts the front derailleur to stop the chain rubbing on it in the highest and lowest gears

The red indicator bar should be either in the lefthand side or the righthand side of each of its its boxes in the shifter. A slight tap on the levers can switch between the two positions for each cog (top two only, if a triple, I think).

I spent ages trying to adjust this from scratch through trial and error without much success then ended up following Shimano's setup instructions and that worked perfectly. There's a lesson there somewhere.......

John