I bought a Giant Sedona with Shimano gears off a girl at work. I can get it into gear no problem, but once I stop pedaling the chain goes slack and I have to pedal like mad to get it to tighten up again or I crash. I'm pretty new at the whole bike thing, and if I can fix this myself, I'd LOVE to... Any ideas?
2006-09-24 10:07:15 · 4 answers · asked by sokkermum 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
I'm not understanding how your chain is going slack unless your dropping from one gear to another on the front chain rings, or a bunch of gears on the cassette.
I also can't believe your chain can be stretched enough to go slack like you describe and even work.
So that leaves me to say you have issues with the derailleur and from your description it sounds like you need to replace the rear derailleur.
Put your bike in a stand so you can pedal it with your hand and shift with the other and watch the gears to see what happens.
I do have a question, does this happen in just one gear or all gears. Give us some more information.
Next best thing would be to take it to a good bike shop and let them lube and do an adjustment of the drive-train.
2006-09-24 12:33:03 · answer #1 · answered by Ric 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to a local bike shop and have them put it on a trainer with you on it and pedal. They'll have you go through all of the gears and see if the chain is to loose or to tight, or if it's stretched. Any of these are easily fixable. Or it may be a simple adjustment of either of your derailleurs.
2006-09-24 10:13:05 · answer #2 · answered by Dorkboy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's lots of reasons this might happen - most of them would be cured by a lube and adjustment of the drivetrain.
Dorkboy is right - take it to a shop. If you're tight on cash, just let them know up front, most shops will accommodate you.
Good luck.
2006-09-24 12:13:19 · answer #3 · answered by scott.braden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to change gears, for the chain to react proper.
2006-09-24 10:11:26 · answer #4 · answered by Rather be dead than red... 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋