Gear shift question

[Jim H]

My appologies if this has been covered or is just plain obvious. My problem is I have been away from cycling for 20 years and things have changed a fair bit in that time!. I have just bought a Wilier Mortirolo road bike on my cycle to work scheme, I have been out on it a few times now and I am hearing what I think is the chain slightly dragging on the front mech when I am in tenth gear ie bottom cog rear cassette.Should I be on the top cog front sprocket in this configuration? It is going back to the dealer this weekend for its first checks and I don't want to look a clown!

[pdV6]

In general, you should avoid forcing the chain to cross at extreme angles as it puts the links under a lot more strain than usual, so you shouldn't really use smallest-to-smallest and largest-to-largest combinations of gears.

And yes, because of the angle the chain will be at, you're likely to hear it rubbing on the mech.

[trickywoo]

I've also found that if the shift allows for 3 chain rings when you only have 2 the alignment is very hard to get right and some degree of light rubbing is to be expected for some gears.

As above with a 10 speed rear I'd be looking to use the first five on the small front ring and the last five on the big ring.

[Jim H]

Thanks for the advice folks, I know it may have been obvious to some but my last bike was a Raleigh Team Cadet and it only had five cogs on the rear cassette!

I've just checked the front mech and it is not marked at all and I will make sure I avoid that type of shift in future.

You also have to appreciate every time I ride the bike I am preoccupied with the thought of getting my feet off the pedals rather than correct gear shifting at the moment.What was wrong with ye good ole toe clips