- Right, well welcome back to the GCN Tech Clinic
where together with you, we're gonna
help solve a lucky, or unlucky,
depending on which way you look at it, member
of the GCN Tech community's bike problem.
Last week, we opened up the clinic door
and we put to you a very simple question.
And that was, "How to stop handlebar
end plugs falling out."
We had loads and loads of replies.
Some of them weird, some of them wonderful.
I'm just going to read out
a couple of them to you quickly.
We had one from Nick B: "Let's have Jon
"open up a bottle of shampers" champagne,
"down it", presumably in one,
"and then attempt to shove
"the cork up the bar end."
He'd buy that for a dollar.
Sorry, Nick, not going to go there.
Probably going to make too much mess,
for me anyway.
Rob King, he suggested chewing gum
in the bar end plug.
"Shove it in.
"It won't be pleasant, but it will stick."
Yeah, that's kind of a bodge, really.
I wouldn't advise that one either.
However, the winning solution for me
was actually Nathan Green.
I'll read out Nathan's quickly.
"The best way to solve a loose bar end plug
"is to use some masking or painter's tape.
"Yes, electrical tape is the saviour
"of the cycling world,
"but for loose bar end plugs,
"electrical tape is too slick.
"Masking tape is more grip
"and will hold the plug more securely."
I 100% agree with you on that one, Nathan.
I use that method myself and I have to say,
I have found it more successful
than using electrical tape.
So masking tape or painter's tape, do that.
Definitely.
Right, onto the main subject.
We've had lots come in.
We've been scrolling through
and we found this one from Mark Sato
which is probably quite a common problem,
judging by the responses.
And we're going to try and tackle
that one today.
So, the problem is: "My front derailleur
"often rubs on my chain and sometimes it makes
"it hard to change from the big chain ring
"to the small one and vise versa.
"This problem occurs more when sprinting.
"Why?"
Okay, right. First up, I wouldn't actually
recommend trying to change chain rings
while sprinting.
Reason being, the cadence difference
is going to be pretty huge
and that's not potentially even that safe.
So try and avoid that.
Also, try and use your cadence actually
as a clutch mechanism.
That will help shift the chain,
but I do understand your problem
and that you want to have all your gears
working all the time.
I'm exactly the same, perfectionist,
and you just want that to be spot-on.
So, let's have a look in the comments
and let's see the solutions.
Right, well without knowing exactly
what bike you've got, Mark,
it's hard to give you a perfect solution.
But that's part of the challenge
and fun of this, right?
So first solution is from Daniel Czirjak,
who thinks you've got chain ring wobble.
What's chain ring wobble?
I hear you ask.
Well, providing your chain ring's not bent,
and when your pedalling it's when your outer
chain ring just moves slightly off of line.
What you can do is use your derailleur cage
as a guide to actually monitor that.
So pedal around and see where it's moving.
Then, if you've got
a square tapered bottom bracket,
so again Mark, don't know what bike you've got,
but if you do have
a square-tapered bottom bracket,
remove your right-hand chain set
and then just rotate it 90 degrees.
Re-fit onto the bottom bracket axle
and then check again using
the derailleur cage as a guide.
If it's not running smooth or straight,
then move it another 90 degrees, recheck,
and then you've got final 90 degrees
where you can see.
Hopefully, that solved it.
If not, we've got another solution coming up.
Hmm, still not solved though, Mark.
Well, John Downey thinks that you need
a new bottom bracket,
that your bearings are worn.
How are you going to check for that?
Simple, grab each side of the chain set
and rock it from side to side.
If there's any play or movement there,
new bottom bracket time.
That could well be the solution.
Still not solved that problem,
have we Mark?
Well, Lop Three thinks they've got a solution.
They actually fitted a narrower chain
because they have the same problem as you.
What did they do?
They fitted a Shram chain because it was
not point one millimetres narrower
than the Shimano one that they had.
So I've actually just measured
some 11-speed chains.
So if you're using 11-speed, listen carefully.
I measured Shram
and that was 5.54 millimetres across.
Shimano and KMC, 5.58.
And Campagnolo, 5.46 millimetres.
So the Campagnolo was the narrowest.
Of course, those measurements are
from one plate to the other on the outside.
So maybe, that's your solution, a narrower chain.
Now I've actually used all three
of those chains across all three group sets.
So Shimano, Shram, and Campagnolo
and they've worked.
So maybe that is your solution.
Well Mark, the most common response
to your question was actually
that the front derailleur itself
needs some looking at.
So, my advice to you.
Un-clamp the cable and start afresh.
So, re-clamp it and then play around
with the screws.
Of course, don't actually play around with them.
We've got a link in the description below
for a video on how to adjust
your front derailleur, or just up here.
And hopefully, yep hopefully,
that'll be your
problem solved. (bike clicking)
And soon, your front derailleur
will be working like that again.
However, I still don't advise trying to change
from one chain ring to another while sprinting.
The load you're going to be putting through it
and the change in cadence, if your chain
was to derail, the consequences
aren't necessarily going to be in your favour.
Right, Mark, I hope your problem solved.
If not, I've got one final tip,
or one final little thing for you to check.
Make sure that your chain rings
are actually fitted the correct way around.
Now with most modern-day chain rings,
it's pretty obvious because of
the way that they're designed.
Inside chain rings, though,
sometimes they can be a little pain.
I once had a bike that I was looking at
and someone had swapped the chain ring around
and it was just a little bit too big a gap
for the derailleur to cope with well.
So just make sure to check that one.
Now, remember, you can submit your problems
for us down below in the comments.
And I want everybody else to have
a look through there and try
and solve someone else's.
That way, we can try and solve,
or even definitely solve, someone's problem.
Now remember, like and share this video
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And for two more great videos,
how about down here: "How to Level Your Levers"
and down here: the latest GCN Tech Show.
(upbeat music)