A bunch of useless crap
Finally Got Around To Adjusting The Derailleurs On My Bike
Published on May 16, 2005 By MasonM In Blogging
I finally got motivated and worked on my bicycle this morning. The last time I rode it the front derailleur would't shift from low range to high and the rear one would only shift between 4 of the 5 gears, effectively rendering my 10 speed a 4 speed.

This morning I broke out a screwdriver and a wrench, set the bike in front of the porch swing, and set to work making the adjustments needed to tune up my bike. (Yes, bikes need tune-ups too).

After about 15 minutes of tinkering with the shifting and adjusting the cable tensions and high/low limit screws I now have a full 10 speed again. I was worried that the rear derailleur may have been bent but it turns out it was fine, just out of adjustment. Cool. This makes a huge speed and rideability difference. Now I have a bike that can do about 25mph instead of 10mph. After lunch I'm going for a ride.

Comments
on May 16, 2005

I use to strip those things down to the bare bones and rebuild them.  I made my sister a Puegot (mostly) 10 speed out of spare parts for Christmas one year.

Been a long time since I played with them tho.  I miss playing with them.

on May 16, 2005
LOL I know how that is Guy. When I was a kid and through my teens I was a serious bike builder/customizer. I guess I never outgrew that.
on May 16, 2005
Been a long time since I played with them tho. I miss playing with them.


I play with my spare parts all the time
on May 16, 2005
I was a serious bike builder


I was a serious bike wrecker
on May 16, 2005
I was a serious bike wrecker

That was the fun part.
on May 16, 2005
You don't wear them silly spandex shorts when you ride,do ya?

Creepy, anorexic lookin' pods of bikers swarm thru here on the weekends appearing to offer themselves as roadside targets....
on May 16, 2005

I was a serious bike wrecker

That was the fun part.

Yea, learned how to straighten a rim by adjusting spokes that way!

on May 16, 2005
You don't wear them silly spandex shorts when you ride,do ya?

No way no how I'm not built for those shorts

I'm a comfort rider, not a racer. I'm built for comfort not for speed

Yea, learned how to straighten a rim by adjusting spokes that way!

Yep, handy skills to learn.
on May 16, 2005
I just returned from my ride. I only rode about 2 1/2 miles total. Not exactly a long ride but for now it was plenty long enough. I can see it's going to take a while to get the strength back in my legs. They started getting tired at about the 1 mile mark.

While the bike now has 10 working gears, I have about 7 gear legs .

The ride was enjoyable though, fresh air, sunshine, and a bicycle. What more can you ask? Now I just need to rest a bit. It's going to be a while before I'm ready for a 50 mile road ride.
on May 16, 2005
on May 16, 2005
That's great Mason, you're able to actually ride now. Sounds like you're healing great!


You don't wear them silly spandex shorts when you ride,do ya?

Creepy, anorexic lookin' pods of bikers swarm thru here on the weekends appearing to offer themselves as roadside targets....


Dyno you're soooo funny! Nice visual - I love to see guys in tights - ouch!




While the bike now has 10 working gears, I have about 7 gear legs .

The ride was enjoyable though, fresh air, sunshine, and a bicycle. What more can you ask? Now I just need to rest a bit. It's going to be a while before I'm ready for a 50 mile road ride.


Good for you M. I'm glad you had a good day biking! Love the joke about your gears, er, legs!
on May 16, 2005
Thanks foreverserenity. I always did enjoy bike rides and it's really good therapy for my busted hip.