Newbie with gear change problems!

Schoie81

Hi guys,

All new to the world of road bikes, although i've had a MTB for almost two years now. I guess the gear mechs aren't that vastly different... Anyway, having problems with the gear change on my rear cassette. Its fine at the top and bottom of the range, but in the middle section it tends to jump about between two and very occasionally between three gears when I'm doing nothing with the levers. Is this an adjustment issue - and if so, what should I adjust? Or is it my lack of experience and i'm trying to ride in the wrong combination of chainring and rear gear?

If you need to know, the chainring is a 50/34 and the cassette is an 8 speed 11 x 28. Shimano 2300 derailleurs.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

flasher

You just need to tighten or slacken the cable tension a touch. Adjustment points are on the derailleur where the cable enters and possibly on the down tube and shifter. Put it on the big ring at the front and the third smallest on the cassette, get it running nice and smooth from there and you should be good to go.

Plenty of videos on youtube.

Schoie81

Thanks flasher - will give that a go tonight.

doug5_10

+1 cable tension issue (I would also check chain wear if its done enough mileage, a worn chain makes for crappy shifting)

I start by releasing all barrel adjusters so cable is slack. Big ring and smallest cog on cassette. Set H-Limit screw. Then increase tension quarter turn at a time until it shifts up one cog smoothly. Fine tune with jumping between these two smallest cogs and then check shifting up and down the cassette. You want the cable tight enough that it shifts up the cassette smoothly and slack enough that it releases to go down smoothly. Then small ring and biggest cog and set your L-limit screw. Finito!

Schoie81

Thanks Doug - when I said 'newbie' I MEANT 'newbie' - chain (and bike, and rider) has done about 25miles so far - so think it should have a few miles left in it yet!! ;-)

Will let you know tomorrow how it goes tonight. Thank you!!

Schoie81

Thanks guys,

Bit of adjustment last night and all seems ok now. Haven't taken it out on any distance, but took it around the village and didn't seem to have any problems shifting and staying in gear.

Thanks once again.