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any women cyclists around ?

I am doing my first triathlon in september and due to my knackered old bike being stolen out of the train station, I decided to go the whole hog and buy a proper racing bike for my new one.



I have got a dolce specialised bike which is lovely, but the problem is try as I might i cannot get the gears to work. I feel like a right muppet because I am sure I must be failing to do something obvious. No matter how hard I press down on the levers, or how fast or slow I am riding, the chain just will not shift up onto a bigger cog. It always stays on the smallest cog.



I would really apreciate if anyone has the same bike, and could give me some helfpul advice.

Comments

  • rpopper65rpopper65 Posts: 171
    I don't have the same bike, but maybe I can shed some light on the problem:



    - When you bought the bike, did they check everything and tighten everything up for you? Maybe they forgot to tighten up your gear cables. Anyway, it sounds like a problem with your gear cables. Even if they did tighten up the cables for you, all cables loosen up over time and will need to be tightened up at some point. Same thing goes for brake cables.



    - If you look at the derailleur that is not shifting (I am not clear from your post if the problem is with the front or rear or both), then look at the cable attached to that derailleur and see if the cable appears to be very loose (a tight cable would only have enough slack on it to allow you to slip a finger underneath, so if you can fit several fingers underneath, then it may need some tightening). If it is a little bit loose, you may be able to use the tension-tightening screws that are part of the derailleur (I think the 105s have screws that are part of the derailleur) and tighten it up until there is less slack in the cable. If it is very loose or using the tightening screw doesn't do the trick, then you need to get someone to tighten the cable for you (or you can tackle it yourself if you have the right sized allen tool and maybe a third-hand-cable-grip tool to keep the cable really tight while you make the adjustment).



    - If much of the above makes no sense to you, I work in East/Central London, in Clerkenwell, Brick Lane, Hackney and Islington on different days, so if it is convenient for you, I can have a look and maybe do the adjustment very quickly. I imagine that most bike shops could do it for you, too, if those areas of London are not on your way.
  • hey thanks for the advice.



    I actually bought the bike from the internet, so I put it together myself, but the gears and back wheel were already in place. It sounds like the cable could be slightly loose so I am going to have a go at it., but actually i do live in east london, so if I cant fix it, it would be great if you could have a look at it.

  • rpopper65rpopper65 Posts: 171
    Aaah, the old "I bought it on the Internet and had to put it together myself" chestnut. Well, the offer is there to have a look at your bike if you need it.



    I first looked at your message because I have a female client (I am a photographer and a triathlon coach - that last bit is the relevant part) who is looking for someone to cycle and/or run with in East London, and I am also helping her to buy a new bicycle. So, any feedback you have on the process of buying a bike on the Internet would be helpful. And if you are looking for someone to ride and/or run with, she lives near Victoria Park and likes to go out early in the morning (but not by herself).
  • myself, as a beginner I wouldnt buy it off the internet again. I decided to because I saved £80 on the shop price of the bike, and the man said, "oh its no problem to put it together dont worry its easy, all you have to do is screww on the pedals, and screw in the seat," : when it arrived it was in a small box, and I didnt have any idea what to do, and took me about a day to put it all togehter. But having said that if you know basic bike maintenance, I definitely would buy off the internet becuase £80 is a big saving. @ rpopper I emailed u regarding your clinet
  • rpopper65rpopper65 Posts: 171
    Well, you got a double-discount, because you also learned at least £80 worth of valuable lessons about buying stuff on the Internet. And, let this be a warning to any other beginners out there who are told that "it will be easy, you can set it up yourself" (of course, not if you want to have brakes and gears that actually work when you get a brand-new, shiny bike in the mail).



    Also, it's a good idea to get someone to help you with the seat post, saddle and handlebar positioning, to make sure you are totally comfortable on the bike. Another thing they don't always mention when you buy a bike on the Internet.



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