On my last couple of rides I've had a bit of an issue with my rear mech, once in the cold, which didn't last long and once in the snow, which kept happening. It seems fine around the bigger rings but when I go to 5 to 8 the cable goes slack and I have to get off and move the mech by hand to get it working. Not the end of the world obviously but still a pain in the hole.
Before both rides I gave everything a good skoosh with TF2. Is there a possibility that cheap lube is the problem? If so what works better at low temperatures? Or am I better not lubing just as I'm going out? Any ideas?
The mech's a reasonably new x7 btw.
maybe look at replacing your gear inners/outers.
can't say I've had mechs freeze, just fill up with gunk and stop working.
Pee on it, it's traditional 😉
@ DT78 - Dunno, these all went on new with the mech. I would have though that would affect shifting in both directions.
@ dunstick - It crossed my mind but I thought it might be of a bit short term fix. 🙂
had this a lot last weekend & you're correct it is an absolute pain in the balls, but nowt you can do about it really. having a pee on it is great for all of 3 minutes until your pee freezes then you're back in the same boat.
i remember doing a ride a couple of years ago in below freezing temperatures and my freehub froze up on top of the moors. consumed 2L of water quickly and had a good source of warm water for the next couple of hours to free it up for a few minutes/metres in order to get me back to civilisation.
regarding frozen gears though...SS FTW.
I had to unfreeze mine this morning before setting out, the jockey wheels were frozen, once moving it wasn't an issue though.
In this weather its more likely the cables that are causing you issues once you are up and running
DT78 - it's water between the linkages on a mech that freeze up. comes from a build up of snow/ice/moisture from the ground (puddles etc).
It's my cables that freeze up.
richmtb reminds me of something else that happened this weekend. when we stopped we noticed on my bike that the ice had formed around the jockeywheels - the bottom one had transformed into a large, smooth disc, similar size to a coke can but the top looked like an oversized jockeywheel with properly formed teeth and everything. wish i had a camera with me to make this story more interesting!!
Only ever had this with an X9 mech never with shimano. We will see this weekend if that is still the case. But to be honest I am more worried about my shock getting stuck down.
not had a problem with rear mech, but front is frozen, though i guess it could be the front ring shifters frozen, the cable etc...
rear mech/bach cogs shifts fine and dandy and has been used in anger in the snow.....
the main thing ive struggled with is peadals, they keep getting clumps of snow in and freezing as well as getting clumps of snow in the cleats, making it pretty impossible to get clipped in, which when climbing in snow IS NOT GOOD!
so keep trying to bash the pedals every so often just to get rid of snow build up before it freezes 🙁
The winter bike has XT so maybe that's why I've not come across it, I also use GT85 on chain/mech before a bit of lube in winter so maybe that helps too. Haven't been out in much less than -5/6 on it though.
I've had sticky cables before and it only affected the performance in one direction (shifting away from the spring) I swapped to gore rideons and haven't had any issues since.
Can the outers shrink in the very cold weather leading to friction on the inners as mine as a bit sluggish in teh cold weather?
That post's been up over an hour and no-one has suggested Singlespeed yet. Poor show guys.
andrewh - that's because it mentions gears in the title so they will just be laughing anyway 😆
andrewh - Member
That post's been up over an hour and no-one has suggested Singlespeed yet. Poor show guys.
Fifth post in 😉
always had issues with my bikes freezing in subzero temps, the front mech usually freezes up first mind even after dowsing in gt85/wd40/lube before setting off - it looks like it's just the amount of slush/wet snow being chucked up by the tyres building up ice around pivots etc. i've got used to it now and accept it's part of winter riding - just make sure it's in a suitable/ss equivalent gear when it does freeze up so it's still ridable!
thats the key thing as gazc says
i now make sure im in second ring at the front, and dont even bother to tap the shifters as i know they wont work....done it a few tiems where my gears have been trying to change throughout the ride, as part of its frozen and part not, so its trying to jump to 3rd ring at front, but not actually moving, then found it impossible to get the cage back down to 2nd ring on the front as it had frozen the cables 🙁
so key is to try and stay in desired front ring straight away and leave well alone 😆
fortunately its just the front mech, as its hilly where i am so im lucky my rear mech doesnt do the same..
Pee on it but remember when you next tinker with it, wearing your gloves, then use your teeth to pull your gloves off, you get wee in your mouth.
What you need is a trail dog to run along side you and pee on it and set intervals
no cos then you get dog wee in your mouth
Both my mechs froze solid on saturday mornings ride. I had to use my car key to chip the ice from around the jockey wheels and from the body of the front mech after every stop.
One of the lads didn't check his before he set off down a hill.....rolled a couple of hundred yards, tried to change gear and ripped his mech hanger in two. Took us ten minutes to bodge a single speed.....my hands were frickin freezin!!!
almost had similar thing happen to me too - on a brand new cassette and chain...
was froze in the top front ring, and i stupidly changed back down to middle front ring with the shifter, part of it moved (but jammed, the chain got caught in the frozen front mech cage, and the back of the chain dislodged into the hub 🙁 instantly heard a crunch but fortunately was rolling on a flat mega slow, so as soon as i heard it i immediately threw myself off.....very very lucky, chain was completely jammed up and if id have pedalled just a rotation more im convinced it would have snapped spokes, ripped mech and done some damage to the freehub ......as it was i managed to yank the chain out and some how get it all running back on second front cog and was as smooth as could be after 😆 lucky escape i tell theee! instantly as soon as i got going again, the whole front mech completley froze so its staying in that middle ring until it thaws out....
Alfine hubs = the answer
no cos then you get dog wee in your mouth
Only if you lie with your mouth open 🙂
