SHIFTER: Attached to the handlebar, a shifter pulls or releases a cable attached to the derailleur, making it move the chain between cogs. If a chain falls between the cassette and spokes, the chain or wheel can get damaged.ī LIMIT SCREW: This adjusts how far below the cassette the derailleur hangs.
![mountain bike chain too long mountain bike chain too long](https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb8053135/p4pb8053135.jpg)
They need to be properly set, otherwise, the derailleur will push the chain too far or not far enough. LIMIT SCREWS: These screws decide how far the derailleur can move. If you are unfamiliar with the different components, have a look at the explanation below of each of the parts that make up your bike’s gears.ĬHAINRING: The cog or cogs attached to the cranks.ĬASSETTE: The nest of cogs on your back wheel.ĭERAILLEUR: This is the moving part that pushes the chain from one cog or chainring to another. Here at The Adventure Junkies, we want you to be able to carry out minor maintenance tasks on your bike so we have written this guide to help you adjust your gears the next time they need some attention.įortunately, once you have gotten your head around what each of the screws on a derailleur does, adjusting your gears is not as hard as it might sound.
Mountain bike chain too long how to#
By learning how to adjust mountain bike gears, you can ensure that your shifting is always perfect and you will not have to rely on your local bike shop making adjustments for you. When you start to go uphill and need to shift down, you want the shift to happen instantly instead of the chain skipping around or making a horrible grinding noise as it doesn’t quite reach the next cog.
![mountain bike chain too long mountain bike chain too long](https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/004/440/686/non_2x/close-up-of-a-rear-set-of-gear-shifting-sprockets-on-the-rear-wheel-of-a-modern-mountain-bike-with-chain-bicycle-repair-photo.jpg)
Nothing is more frustrating than poorly indexed or sticky gears.