This is something of a newbie question, so apologies, and thanks in advance for any help you can give!
I recently decided to try to bike to work, and so I bought a used bike cheaply (a 21-speed Bianchi). One of the gear shifts was broken, and so I brought it to a bike shop, and they changed the gear shifts, and then told me I also needed a new back derailler, new pedals, and a new housing for the chain.
Since getting the repaired bike (and paying over $200), I have frequently (every twenty minutes or so) had the problem that the chain would fall off. I tried to make little adjustments to the screws on the derailleurs, but I kept having the problem. I took it back to the bike shop that made the initial repairs, and they made some further adjustments, but then I still had the same problems. The repairman then told me that I was probably applying the wrong pedaling technique, and pushing too hard while changing gears (downshifting from 2 to 1 on the front gears).
That helped to some extent, but even when I'm focused on being fairly gentle in pedaling while shifting gears, I've had the chain fall off occasionally. This happens especially if I'm going very slowly (for example, because I have to make a sharp 180 degree turn at the bottom of a hill). Sometimes, I find it hard to pedal as gently as necessary while shifting gears, because I'm trying to push my way up a hill.
I should also note that sometimes changing gears doesn't seem to take. If I'm upshifting from 1 to 2, this isn't a big problem -- I just push a little bit harder and then it works. But when I'm downshifting from 2 to 1, it's quite annoying when the gear stays in 2 -- and then I have to try shifting back to 2 and then trying again.
So, now I'm trying to figure out what to do. Should I (1) replace the front derailleur (will that better tolerate pushing on the pedals with some strength while downshifting?); (2) replace something else; (3) get a new bike; or (4) learn to deal with it and improve my technique.
Underlying all these questions is the broader question of whether one should have to pedal especially gently to avoid having the chain come off. I used to have another bike some years ago and never had the chain fell off, but I suppose that my gear shifting technique might have deteriorated. On the other hand, it seems to me that a well-made bike should be somewhat tolerant of my pushing hard on the pedal.
I recently decided to try to bike to work, and so I bought a used bike cheaply (a 21-speed Bianchi). One of the gear shifts was broken, and so I brought it to a bike shop, and they changed the gear shifts, and then told me I also needed a new back derailler, new pedals, and a new housing for the chain.
Since getting the repaired bike (and paying over $200), I have frequently (every twenty minutes or so) had the problem that the chain would fall off. I tried to make little adjustments to the screws on the derailleurs, but I kept having the problem. I took it back to the bike shop that made the initial repairs, and they made some further adjustments, but then I still had the same problems. The repairman then told me that I was probably applying the wrong pedaling technique, and pushing too hard while changing gears (downshifting from 2 to 1 on the front gears).
That helped to some extent, but even when I'm focused on being fairly gentle in pedaling while shifting gears, I've had the chain fall off occasionally. This happens especially if I'm going very slowly (for example, because I have to make a sharp 180 degree turn at the bottom of a hill). Sometimes, I find it hard to pedal as gently as necessary while shifting gears, because I'm trying to push my way up a hill.
I should also note that sometimes changing gears doesn't seem to take. If I'm upshifting from 1 to 2, this isn't a big problem -- I just push a little bit harder and then it works. But when I'm downshifting from 2 to 1, it's quite annoying when the gear stays in 2 -- and then I have to try shifting back to 2 and then trying again.
So, now I'm trying to figure out what to do. Should I (1) replace the front derailleur (will that better tolerate pushing on the pedals with some strength while downshifting?); (2) replace something else; (3) get a new bike; or (4) learn to deal with it and improve my technique.
Underlying all these questions is the broader question of whether one should have to pedal especially gently to avoid having the chain come off. I used to have another bike some years ago and never had the chain fell off, but I suppose that my gear shifting technique might have deteriorated. On the other hand, it seems to me that a well-made bike should be somewhat tolerant of my pushing hard on the pedal.