Bike Question - tune up?

[tuggyruns]

So I rode my bike about 19 miles last night on a kind of hilly route, and I noticed some funny sounds. 

First- brakes- should they make a sound? I'm afraid of going to fast because when I pull my brakes hard they make a funny sound I can't describe. It's not grinding, but some kind of pulling

Second- some kind of clicking- from the gears, like when I switch to the lowest gear on the right gear (sorry this is SO NOT technical) I hear a kind of catching/clicking sound. 

Again, I know this is so not technical, but my question is- what kind of "tune up" do you ask for or do you just go to your LBS and give them my ridiculous description?

TIA ladies!

[Susie]

Brake sound - is it just the pad rubbing on the wheel rim? Is there any dirt in there on the rim, under the pad, etc.?  Is the caliper centered?  That may be normal, or might just need a quick check/wipe.

Clicking sound - are you cross chaning when this happens?  Or does it happen all the time?  If it's only when you're cross chaining, just don't do that.  Mine makes a clicking sound if I accidentally do it; it reminds me not to.

Cross chaining:


I generally take my bike in for a tuneup when it is not shifting cleanly - like I shift and nothing happens right away.

[tuggyruns]

Jul 24, 2013 9:16:48 GMT -5 Susie said:

Brake sound - is it just the pad rubbing on the wheel rim? That may be normal.

Clicking sound - are you cross chaning when this happens?  Or does it happen all the time?  If it's only when you're cross chaining, just don't do that.  Mine makes a clicking sound if I accidentally do it; it reminds me not to.

Cross chaining:


I generally take my bike in for a tuneup when it is not shifting cleanly - like I shift and nothing happens right away.

I'm so dense when it comes to bike stuff. I have been staring at this, and from what I can tell I don't think I am cross chaining- but I don't really know. Right now, I am just shifting with my gears on the right-is it possible to cross chain when doing this?

ETA: The brake sound I THINK is just the pad rubbing on the rim- it's just so loud. Also, I seem to get a lot of debris caught in my pads.

[Susie]

Jul 24, 2013 9:21:11 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Jul 24, 2013 9:16:48 GMT -5 Susie said:

Brake sound - is it just the pad rubbing on the wheel rim? That may be normal.

Clicking sound - are you cross chaning when this happens?  Or does it happen all the time?  If it's only when you're cross chaining, just don't do that.  Mine makes a clicking sound if I accidentally do it; it reminds me not to.

Cross chaining:


I generally take my bike in for a tuneup when it is not shifting cleanly - like I shift and nothing happens right away.

I'm so dense when it comes to bike stuff. I have been staring at this, and from what I can tell I don't think I am cross chaining- but I don't really know. Right now, I am just shifting with my gears on the right-is it possible to cross chain when doing this?

Yep, it is possible.  Do you have 2 (compact double) or 3 (triple) chain rings?  The pictures above show a triple, but a lot of people these days have compact doubles.  Either way, you can be cross chaining if you only shift w/ your right hand (i.e. through the cogs on your rear wheel cassette), and you leave your chain ring on the biggest or smallest ring.  You could really only avoid doing it if you have a triple & leave it on the middle ring, or you don't use your highest or lowest gear cassette cog.

Here's where I found the image:  www.bicyclechainrings.com/crosschaining.html

Their explanation is pretty good/common sense.

[joenali]

Get a tune up at least once a year!!

[tuggyruns]

Thanks Susie ! I am going to go stare at my bike at lunch and figure this out. There is so much to learn!

[tuggyruns]

Jul 24, 2013 9:32:42 GMT -5 joenali said:

Get a tune up at least once a year!!

This too. I think I might drop it off tomorrow- our LBS is really honest and won't work on something that it doesn't need. 

[sadlebred]

LMK what the LBS says. Who are you taking it to?

FWIW, if your brake pads get really grimy, take the wheel off. Get a Scotchbrite or other scrubby pad and wet it. Scrub the brake pads just a bit til the grime comes off. Check to make sure there are no aluminum bits from the rim caught in the brake pads. If there are, use tweezers to remove them. They aren't a big deal but can make a nasty sound. Then use the scrubby pad to clean your rims. Just wet it, and lightly scour the rims with one or two passes of the scrubby; no need to press too hard. Rinse off the rims.

[tuggyruns]

Thanks @sadle !I'll check out the pad tonight. Stella nearly killed me last night.

[sadlebred]

Jul 24, 2013 10:16:02 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Thanks @sadle !I'll check out the pad tonight. Stella nearly killed me last night.

Stella sucks..........I really hate Stella..........

[katinthehat]

When you're shifting, do you have to click twice to get it to shift all the way? It could just be that you need a little adjustment. You shift by actually pulling wire cables and sometimes they get loose, causing what Susie was talking about. Sometimes your cogs get dirty and can cause funny noises. And yes, just take your bike in and tell them what you told us. And have them show you how to check your brakes because that's something you should check every ride. Sometimes mine get knocked just pulling it in and out of the car and so I like to be in the habit of always checking mine for alignment.