Chain slipping

[Sheets Tabuer]

My bike is two months old now and I do 10/20 miles 5 days a week on it, over the last few rides I have noticed my chain slipping quite a bit on some of the steeper hills but only in 2 gears. It happens when I stand to pedal to get up the incline.

I've checked the gear alignment and adjusted where necessary, I've also cleaned and lubricated it every few days but it's still doing it.

I can't need a new cassette already can I? There seems to be a little wear but not enough for it to give out nearly making me plant my face in the bars as it slips.

It's an sram cassette with x5 gears if that helps.

[Mr Gear]

Are you riding on the smallest chainring (front cog) and the smallest rear sprocket at the same time? This might cause the chain to slacken off and slip...

[Sheets Tabuer]

No, middle ring gears 2-3

[IroningMan]

Chains don't 'slip'. What is possibly happening is that a stiff link in the chain is coming out of the jockey wheels with a kink in it, and not meshing with the sprocket as a result. As the kinked bit winds round the sprocket and comes under load it straightens out with a bang and a jolt that can make you feel like you're coming off the pedals.

Turn the pedals slowly and you might spot the stiff link: alternatively take the tension off the chain and bend each link in turn until you find one that won't straighten under its own weight.

To fix you need to open up the joint a little using a chain tool - best given to someone who knows what they're doing as a broken chain really will throw you over the bars.

HTH.

[trashbat]

Chains slip when worn, shirley. Shouldn't happen after what, 800 miles though unless it's all made of brie - at least I'm assuming it's a new bike. Get yourself a chain wear measurement tool in any case. I get about 3000 out of mine before it becomes noticeably poor, albeit much less if I go off road.

The wrong chain length could be a factor - too long may cause some issues. I don't suggest removing links at will though - bit like grenades in that you can't really put the pins back in.

Edit: chain wear tool:



A new chain shows 0.5ish. Replace at 0.75 or higher although I often wait 'til 1+. Regardless of what I do, I've never yet successfully re-used a cassette - I could do it I guess, but I'd be replacing nearly new chains to make it work.

Edited by trashbat on Thursday 28th July 23:03

[walm]

Don't get that expensive chain tool.
Get this one.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

However, it sounds to me more like your cassette is worn.
(Chain stretch means the gaps in the chain are bigger so more "grippy" IYSWIM, while worn teeth on a sprocket would be slippy.)

You can test this by moving onto other sprockets on the cassette and giving it full beans.
No slip on some sprockets and some slip on other sprockets means new cassette needed IMHO.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Cheers, I'll get a tool and give the other suggestions a try.

I'd be surprised if it is the cassette but I do choose a particularly hilly route to get the old ticker pumping.

[yellowjack]

walm said:

Don't get that expensive chain tool.
Get this one.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Amen to that brother. Picked one up last week for £9.99 from LBS. Found that 5 of the family's 6 bikes are OK, just the eldest needs a new chain, as the 1% side just drops straight into the chain. Crossing fingers that he won't need a new cassette too.