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Mountain Bike Workshop - How to Inspect your Mountain Bike Drivetrain
We know how it is, you’ve had a long, hard day at school, or the office, and all you want to do is get out and ride away the stress. We know you put in a long day, so let's keep this one simple. We are going to run through your bike's drivetrain to make sure it’s ready.
SPIN IT
Clamp your bike to a bike stand, hook it to a low-hanging branch or flip it upside down. (A last resort, because it is difficult to shift the bike in this position, if you have air in your hydraulic brakes the bubbles might go where they will diminish braking performance, and finally, you’re going to scrape your grips or shifters and saddle.) You want to be able to spin the cranks and have the chain and rear wheel rotate easily.
We are also assuming that you have correctly adjusted your derailleurs and the bike was shifting properly on your last ride.
Clean up the chain, chainrings and cassette using a toilet brush (gets in the nooks and crannies better than anything actually made for the job).
EYEBALL TRUING
Imagine looking down the drivetrain like you would look down the iron sights of a shotgun. The rear sight is where the chain leaves the cassette and the front sight is where the chainring picks up the chain. Run the bike through all its gears while sighting down the drivetrain in this manner. You are watching for wobbles or chain jumping.
REAR CLEAR
If the chain is doing a little dance off the cassette, don't rush out and buy a new cassette. First, take a thin screwdriver and clean out anything that might be packed in between the cogs. Nine-speed cassettes are notorious for being thrown off track by fairly small amounts of dirt or foliage.
SNUG IT UP
It is unlikely that your cogs are loose, because you would have heard a jangling sound while riding. If they are loose, you need to snug the cassette lockring with a lockring tool. Pull the wheel off. Slip the lockring tool into the lockring and snug it up.
WOBBLY RINGS
If there is a wobble where the chain contacts the chainring, check the mounting hardware to make sure it is all tight. If everything is tight and it still wobbles, there is a good chance that the rock you pegged (or riding with the hardware loose) bent the chainring (90 percent of the time it will be your big ring). If it is bent enough that you see it wobble or that it rubs on a perfectly adjusted derailleur, the chainring needs to be replaced.
CHAIN WEAR
Measure a one-foot length of your chain, placing an inch mark of the tape measure in the middle of one rivet. Look at the corresponding rivet 12 links away. On a new chain, this rivet will line up exactly with the six- inch mark. With a worn chain, the rivet will be past the inch mark. If the rivet is less than 1/16-inch past the mark, you should replace the chain.
FINAL TIP
If you do replace any component, don't immediately head out for a long ride. Do a short test ride, including a significant hill, to make sure that the new parts are compatible with the old parts. You'll know if there is a problem if the chain skips under maximum efforts.
About the Author
World of Dirt is the place to come if you want riding tips, how to articles, product reviews and training advice. Want to improve your riding and mountain bike knowledge? Of cause you do! For handy tips, advice and ideas sign up to our FREE NEWSLETTER at http://www.bdccycles.com/wod
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