[fishboy316]

Been having trouble with my rival FD shifting properly. Had it back to the shop 2 times and they can't duplicate on the rack or riding around the parking lot. Well on friday the thing threw the chain and gouged the carbon frame! Not to happy about that. I did not realize there was a device that could have prevented that. Now I do and have one! The trouble is mostly Large to small ring. The shifter seems hard and won't shift. Only had this bike about 3.5 weeks and was not looking to have it gouged!!!LOL Probably would not have angered me so bad if I had not had the bike in for the issue 2 times.

First guy I talked to said "Unfortunately It's a bike and these things happen." We came to an understanding and he had the mechanic look at it. Seems to be better now but man I am still worried about it. The guy at the shop is a good guy but that comment sent me up the wall! the thing is 3.5 weeks old for pete sake!

So advice on trying to fix the gouge. Looks like just the outer resin/paint has gotten ripped out. Will the frame wick up water? Really looks like hell to me. Can it be painted or gel coated or what? Luckily it is mostly behind the crank but I know it is there.

 

[ruckus]

Your FD shouldn't be like that. It could be the cable. Something is causing the cable to not shift smoothly. And also the limit should be adjusted. No matter what I do on my bike, how fast or smooth I shift the FD, my chain will not fall off. Even shifting quickly under stress on a hill from large to small, not issue. Your Rival costs considerably more than my Tiagra FD. So there has to be something wrong.

 

[cxwrench]

Your FD shouldn't be like that. It could be the cable. Something is causing the cable to not shift smoothly. And also the limit should be adjusted. No matter what I do on my bike, how fast or smooth I shift the FD, my chain will not fall off. Even shifting quickly under stress on a hill from large to small, not issue. Your Rival costs considerably more than my Tiagra FD. So there has to be something wrong.

So front derailleurs should never drop chains? You might want to let all the companies that make chain catchers know they're wasting their time and their products aren't needed.

 

[ruckus]

So front derailleurs should never drop chains? You might want to let all the companies that make chain catchers know they're wasting their time and their products aren't needed.

In normal use I don't see why chain should be jumping off. If I was cyclo-cross or if I was in an accident or fall. Of if I was a pro racer. But otherwise yeah...

The OP is just using his bike normally and the chain is falling off, there is something wrong. It doesn't matter if the chain catcher is worth it or not, his FD should NOT be doing that. Unless you're implying he's Boonen outputting 1000 watt of power on the cobblestones of Roubaix?

For $20 maybe it is a good idea, but that still doesn't solve his problem. His FD is not shifting right, chain catcher isn't the solution. He shouldn't have to have one for just normal riding. Chain catcher is for the few one out of a 1,000 shifts it may possibly, just maybe jump off.

 

[Camilo]

Sometimes it's very difficult to adjust a FD so that it doesn't throw chains. Yea, people can say it should never happen if adjusted properly, but that's just not true in real life - and /or sometimes it's very difficult (seemingly impossible sometimes) to "properly adjust" a front derailleur. The width of the cassette on modern bikes makes the chainline change pretty extreme - one example is if you're on the inner sprocket of the cassette and outer chainwheel in front. That's an extremely angled chainline. If you then shift to the inner chainring, the chain line changes pretty radically and pretty abruptly and the momentum of the chain can toss it over the inner chainring and onto the frame. It just happens even when a lot of effort is made to adjust it properly.

Professional, very well respected mechanics I know recommend chain catchers, sometimes routinely, sometimes as a simple solution to a situation in which the FD just can't be adjusted "perfectly" all the time.

As for the damage- I'd recommend that you ask the shop what to do with it and complain to them because from your story, it's really their fault, since it's a new bike (which I assume you bought from them?).

If you'd like advice from people here, you'll really have to post good, sharp pictures of the damage. Usually superficial scratches can be touched up with clear autobody touchup paint (or matching the color of the frame), or just ignored. A normally used bike will gather scratches and pretty soon we don't get obsessed with them. In the area yours is scratched, if it were my bike, it would be dirty down there anyway and no minor scratches would be visible.

But I'd go ahead and have the shop install a chain catcher and keep after them until they adjust the FD satisfactorily. (or take it to a different shop).

 

[mikerp]

The OP is just using his bike normally and the chain is falling off

And you know this how?
Based on his post we have zero info on when and how it happened other than it can't be replicated in the lot or on a rack.
If you do a post search on the OP you'll find that he is still relatively new to things.

FWIW, I dumped the chain off one of my bikes a few weeks back and onto the Fang, with some fast shifting and a rough patch of road.

 

[cxwrench]

In normal use I don't see why chain should be jumping off. If I was cyclo-cross or if I was in an accident or fall. Of if I was a pro racer. But otherwise yeah...

The OP is just using his bike normally and the chain is falling off, there is something wrong. It doesn't matter if the chain catcher is worth it or not, his FD should NOT be doing that. Unless you're implying he's Boonen outputting 1000 watt of power on the cobblestones of Roubaix?

For $20 maybe it is a good idea, but that still doesn't solve his problem. His FD is not shifting right, chain catcher isn't the solution. He shouldn't have to have one for just normal riding. Chain catcher is for the few one out of a 1,000 shifts it may possibly, just maybe jump off.

In the few posts of yours that I've seen you seem to assume quite a lot. Only 'pro racers' or those that ride pavé should need to have chain catchers? Believe me, I know how to adjust derailleurs and sometimes chains drop. There is a rather large bike company by the name of Trek that is now equipping many of their road frames w/ built in chain catchers and they're not the only one doing it. Seems not everyone is ready to agree w/ you.

 

[fishboy316]

Ok I can give some more Info, sorry I did not give more the original post! When I first bought the bike I noticed it was a bit rough and reluctant to shift. They looked at it and said it is fine. Ok I ride normally 30 -50 miles when I get out. I do not race at this point and do not try to. Just a normal rider averaging 15mph. This was the first time it actually dropped the chain. Until this happened I did not even know a chain catcher existed. Maybe if they would have told me I would have gotten one! I was in a money spending mood!LOL

I don't think it is anything I am doing. When this happened I was if front of the house riding slow on flat ground and decided to drop to the small ring and it just went right off the thing and wedged in there. Rear was 3rd from the largest so shouldn't be a super radical angle. At times the shifter would get hard and would not move the derailer. It has happened on the big to little but mostly little to big ring. Speed does not matter it seems. Rear works great!

Yes I am new to the road bike thing and that may have been part of the problem here at the shop and to a point perhaps in here. "new guy doesn't know what he is talking about". Well I do know a problem when I see it, This is a problem! Have since read on some other sites that folks have had a lot of problems with the sram fd and have traded them out for shimano and life is good! some said they just could not get them to hold adjustment for any length of time. I just don't feel like I should have to buy a new fd for a 3.5week old bike! My daughters $275 schwinn is working better!
Anymore info I can give to solve this I will be happy to!
Thanks for your help!
Bill

here is a pic of the damage.

 

[cxwrench]

Not a great photo. Just to make sure, we're looking at the chain stay there, right? If so your problem is more likely "chainsuck" than dropping the chain...am I right?

 

[cycle mike]

yea get shimano fd and rd while you're at it, also check chainring, i had a chainring that was just a bit bent, and my chain would drop all the time. as for the repair, check youtube plenty of cf repairs. yours should be easier though since its a gouge not completely cracked. maybe all you need is some resin. but cf gets messy if you think you cant manage it, dont touch it at all.

 

[fishboy316]

Yea it isn't a great pic but it is where the chain stay meets the bb. Not sure I know what chain suck is but the chain had come off the rings and wedged in behind there. It did suck though!LOL It doesn't look like it has any real structural damage and I am taking it back to the shop and get the owner to look at it to see. It just makes me sick to look at.

Talked to my daughter that has a ruby they upgraded. She has a ultegra fd she took off her bike and possibly a ultegra rd. She is bringing what she has up in 2 weeks to give me for the S5. Will probably solve the problem. I do really like the shifting of the rival when it is working,but after this I don't know if I trust it. If I go with the rd also will the rival shifters work? Maybe just change all to shimano I don't know.Wait and see what she digs up.
Thanks for the help folks.
Bill

 

[cxwrench]

Yea it isn't a great pic but it is where the chain stay meets the bb. Not sure I know what chain suck is but the chain had come off the rings and wedged in behind there. It did suck though!LOL It doesn't look like it has any real structural damage and I am taking it back to the shop and get the owner to look at it to see. It just makes me sick to look at.

Talked to my daughter that has a ruby they upgraded. She has a ultegra fd she took off her bike and possibly a ultegra rd. She is bringing what she has up in 2 weeks to give me for the S5. Will probably solve the problem. I do really like the shifting of the rival when it is working,but after this I don't know if I trust it. If I go with the rd also will the rival shifters work? Maybe just change all to shimano I don't know.Wait and see what she digs up.
Thanks for the help folks.
Bill

Shimano RD will NOT work w/ SRAM shifters. Chains drop off the small ring in front of the bb. Chainsuck happens from the bottom, behind the bb.

 

[Camilo]

Sram FD's work fine if adjusted properly. Find a better bike mechanic and have him/her adjust it properly and install a chain catcher while at it.

 

[ruckus]

Sram FD's work fine if adjusted properly. Find a better bike mechanic and have him/her adjust it properly and install a chain catcher while at it.

+1 Don't think this mechanic is competent. Chain should not be dropping out of your driveway cycling slow. I don't care what cxwrench says, that's just wrong, should not be happening, even out of 10,000 shifts. The FD is made to shift properly and not have chain drop. SRAM engineers did not say, let's make a FD that sucks that requires a chain catcher. Chain catcher is for emergency.

So far I've had Shimano 2300, Tiagra 4600 (current) and a Shimano 105 FD. Not one chain drop, zero. Nada, none. Under stress going up hills, descents, out of the parking lot etc, none, nada. And if I upgrade to the Ultrega 6800/upcoming 105 5700, supposedly FD shifting on those is even better!

 

[tihsepa]

+1 Don't think this mechanic is competent. Chain should not be dropping out of your driveway cycling slow. I don't care what cxwrench says, that's just wrong, should not be happening, even out of 10,000 shifts. The FD is made to shift properly and not have chain drop. SRAM engineers did not say, let's make a FD that sucks that requires a chain catcher. Chain catcher is for emergency.

Thank you for repeatedly proving how little you know about bike mechanics.

I would bet my middle testicle that CX has worked on more bikes than you have ever attempter an ill fated repair on.

Sram front derailuers now come with the chain catcher built in.

How long do you have to sit up at night and think up all these true stories?

 

[tlg]

SRAM engineers did not say, let's make a FD that sucks that requires a chain catcher.

Open mouth... insert foot.

•Integrated chain spotter protects your frame, installs and adjusts independently of the derailleur itself

 

[mikerp]

So far I've had Shimano 2300, Tiagra 4600 (current) and a Shimano 105 FD. Not one chain drop, zero. Nada, none. Under stress going up hills, descents, out of the parking lot etc, none, nada. And if I upgrade to the Ultrega 6800/upcoming 105 5700, supposedly FD shifting on those is even better!

LOL, with this logic the Pros would never need chain catchers, after all they are using the best of the best. Chain catchers it would only be required on crappy gear.

 

[mikerp]

yea get shimano fd and rd while you're at it, also check chainring, i had a chainring that was just a bit bent, and my chain would drop all the time. as for the repair, check youtube plenty of cf repairs. yours should be easier though since its a gouge not completely cracked. maybe all you need is some resin. but cf gets messy if you think you cant manage it, dont touch it at all.

Seriously? You are telling someone to replace their FD/RD on a new bike and offering suggestions on CF repair.

 

[cxwrench]

yea get shimano fd and rd while you're at it, also check chainring, i had a chainring that was just a bit bent, and my chain would drop all the time. as for the repair, check youtube plenty of cf repairs. yours should be easier though since its a gouge not completely cracked. maybe all you need is some resin. but cf gets messy if you think you cant manage it, dont touch it at all.

So you're telling the OP, who said his bike is Rival equipped, to put on Shimano derailleurs? This can work for the front, maybe you can explain how to make the rear work...take your time, we'll be waiting.

 

[ruckus]

Open mouth... insert foot.

Most certainly not. Find me a SRAM engineer that said let's create a FD that drops chains so it requires a chain catcher. If they added one for those situations when someone is racing and putting the chain under extreme stress and it drops, then I don't see how that is putting foot in my mouth in any way.

Your trolling sucks. No way in hell either SRAM or Shimano would think it's appropriate that their FD would drop chain riding without stress out of a driveway. Get a clue about what the OP is dealing with. He's dealing with a FD not working properly that dropped chain out his driveway and then gouged his CF frame. Whoever the mechanic was didn't do it right.

LOL, with this logic the Pros would never need chain catchers, after all they are using the best of the best. Chain catchers it would only be required on crappy gear.

The stress pros put on their bikes in another planet of magnitude of what the average rider does. Your point is ridiculous.

I guess you and cxwrench LOVES to drop chains. I don't and I LOVES that I don't drop chains. Keep dropping chains, I hope that chain catcher catches every dropped chain for you.

Chain catchers I understand their use, but I don't see how that has relevance to the OP dropping chain riding slowly out of his driveway.

Try trolling me harder.