Chain drop after LBS adjustment

SteUK

Hi all!

New to road cycling, done a virgin 60 miles on my new bike and found the gears needed some small adjustment. Took it to LBS who come are probably considered the best locally. They did the business, but on the way home the chain dropped on the inside of the front chain ring causing some (hopefully cosmetic) minor damage to the frame...which is carbon

Whilst the derailer doesn't look out of alignment, this has not happened in the handful of miles I have done out on the road and around town. Will be taking it back to them tomorrow to see what they say. What sort of tone should I be taking with them? What can I reasonably expect?

Thanks!

cougie

Chains do sometimes drop off. It even happens to the pros in the tour. Do you remember what gear you were in when you changed?

There won't be any real damage to your bike so be civil and see what they adjust.

When you say the gears were needing adjusting - were you having trouble getting on to the small ring?

SteUK

I was surely changing the front ring. And the rear was in 6 or 7 of 9. Nearer the outside.

They were rubbing a bit on the rear outer and the front when in certain combinations.

There is definitely visible damage. Paint has been taken back and you can see carbon (I assume thatvisnwhatbitnisnat least). Maybe I have read too many horror stories about carbon frames and damage :-S

mfin

I've seen 2 people drop chains on well setup bikes, both when playing with gears to see how they work, both dropping to the inner ring when they are not pedalling enough to create any drive and not under normal circumstances, almost free wheeling then doing it and messing about.

diamonddog

My experience differs from above, I have only ever dropped the chain when putting power on never when not pedalling.
If you are not happy with it take it back to the shop.

giropaul

That's why pro team mechanics fit chain catchers. Even perfectly set up front changers can drop the chain given a bump in the road or uneven pedalling etc.

imposter2.0

I can't help thinking you are posting in the wrong forum.

SteUK

You are right! I have no idea how it ended up in training :-S

Not sure I can delete the post. Maybe an admin would be so kind?

cycleclinic

I am a mechanic and my front mech are oroperly set up and i sometimes get a chain drop. Had all sort of weird things like a campag record 10 speed chain getting stuck between chain rings in the down shift but that has gone away with a kmc chain. Once had an overshift in a race even though for the previous few thousand km nothing of the sort happened and the same problem has not happened since.

Chains drop for no good reason. There does not have to be anything wrong. Having it checked wont harm though.

cougie

And I have had carbon bikes for years. Chains drop. Never damaged the bike apart from cosmetic.

They're tough.

SteUK

Thanks all. Really like the people and the shop so certainly not going to be an accusing confrontation! Not had a chain drop that I can remember in all my adult riding years (on MTB) so this came as quite a surprise, especially within a mile of having it adjusted :-S

Just praying it's only cosmetic. Itching to get back on the road ;(

SteUK

Just got back from LBS. they really are lovely in there!

Small adjustment to gearing and he took the chain set off so we could see the damage. He thinks it's nothing major, just paint and top coat. Here is a pic...

Didn't advise any more than covering with lacquer. Thinking maybe some epoxy resin then black car paint and clear car lacquer.

dodgy

I don't want to pour too much fuel on this, but that looks like a nasty gouge.

SteUK

He tapped it and said it sounded ok. That that area is over engineered/thicker than compared to other areas.

Semantik

SteUK wrote:

He tapped it and said it sounded ok. That that area is over engineered/thicker than compared to other areas.

Good luck!

dodgy

I'm glad he tapped it or we'd never know if it was structurally sound.

webboo

SteUK wrote:

I was surely changing the front ring. And the rear was in 6 or 7 of 9. Nearer the outside.

They were rubbing a bit on the rear outer and the front when in certain combinations.

There is definitely visible damage. Paint has been taken back and you can see carbon (I assume thatvisnwhatbitnisnat least). Maybe I have read too many horror stories about carbon frames and damage :-S

The rear was in 6 or 7 of 9 might indicate you haven't done a lot of cycling.
You really should have spent at least 10 years riding a shopping bike before you purchase a carbon framed bike .

stueys

Chains drop, irrespective of how well set up the gears are sadly. Always run a chain catcher and always have some form of frame protection around that area (clear plastic tape is good).

On a positive note the carbon layup around the bottom bracket is the strongest and thickest part of the bike, it needs to handle you standing up and stomping on the pedals without flexing. It woulkd be very, very unlikely that a chain taking skimming the top coat off will cause any damage other than cosmetic.

svetty

Still quite a nasty gouge. Several layers of paint should fill the void, then clear lacquer on top....

fat daddy

abrasions to carbon ALWAYS look worse than abrasions to steel or aluminium, .. probably because is tears and frays rather than just dents and scratches.

Its a bit like looking down after you cut yourself and thinking the worst as all this blood is everywhere .... after you have a shower you realise its a tiny nick.

that really is just a scratch, a fecking annoying one, but a scratch none the less, I would fill the scratch with paint, and stick one of those protective frame stickers over the area, that will (1) cover up your bad paint job ;-) (2) stop further damage the next time it happens

craigus89

I expect most on here would say you need it to be written off, as you never can be sure of the structural integrity again and the next time you are going 40mph it will disintegrate beneath you :roll: Ignore that, it's a scratch, bit of black paint and lacquer and jobs a good'un.

Learn to adjust the gears yourself, you'll save a lot of time and money in the long run by not having to go to the LBS everytime your chain rubs, it isn't that hard to learn and there are loads of helpful videos and guides online.

Ben6899

I thought I was going mad, sure I'd responded to this thread, but it's not there.

Then I see there are two identical threads. As I said in the other, I wouldn't lose sleep over the "gouge".

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