Mountain bikes are designed as off-road bicycles that can ride over rocks, dirt trails, logging roads and other unpaved surfaces. To handle these various riding conditions, mountain bikes have various specialized components, including the gears. While riding in such adverse conditions, however, the components and gears can experience problems and affect your ability to ride.
Types
Derailleur gears are the most common type of gear system on mountain bikes. These gears use a combination of different sized front and rear chain rings that allow you to change gears while riding on the various terrain and inclines. When shifting gears, you may experience problems such as undershifting, sluggish shifting or overshifting. Undershifting results in the bike not shifting; overshifting results in the bike skipping gears; and sluggish shifting occurs when the gears don't immediately shift.
Causes
Mountain bike gear problems are commonly caused by improper cable tension or debris in the chain system. If the tension on the cable is too loose or too tight, the rear derailleur won't operate correctly when shifting gears because it won't release off the cable. Other tension-related gear problems include phantom shifting that results in up-shifts or down-shifts without touching the shifters. The chain and cables can stretch due to regular wear and tear.
Adjustments
To adjust the gear tension, you need a few basic bike tools, including Allen wrenches and screwdrivers. Adjust the back derailleur with the set screw located near the cable housing or the barrel adjuster on the handlebar. Make quarter-turn clockwise adjustments to increase the tension, or counterclockwise to decrease the tension.
Maintenance
A proper mountain bike maintenance schedule can prevent gear problems and improve the overall performance of your mountain bike. Clean the bike regularly to remove dirt, mud and other debris from the gear system and chain. Afterward, lubricate the chain with a degreaser or special cleaning product to allow the chain to shift properly and reduce the potential for gear problems.
Member Comments