Over the course of two weeks: Bike no longer pedals forward. How to fix?
06-04-21, 10:02 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Over the course of two weeks: Bike no longer pedals forward. How to fix?
Hello everyone, I'm a college student with an old road bike (hence the downtube shifters). I use it for cross-training when I'm injured (I'm a cross country/track athlete) and to get around campus or into town when need be. I live on a pretty small campus, so I only use it sparingly. Two weeks ago, I rode it across campus and it was fine. I tried to hop on it yesterday, and it wouldn't pedal forward, and the downtube shifters were incredibly "stiff" (they wouldn't move without a lot of force).
What could've caused this to happen during such a short period of time? I keep it under a covered bike-area outside.
Additionally, I noticed the chain was looking rusty, which I can't be sure whether or not that's a new development since I never really inspected the chain until today.
One more thing is that I noticed a little plastic piece that runs along the shifter cables as they descend the frame towards the gears appears to be loose, but it looks so small and light that I doubt it's the source of the problem.
I've never lubed the bike - I'm going to get some lube but I'm skeptical that's the problem given how quickly this developed.
Thank you all for your help!
What could've caused this to happen during such a short period of time? I keep it under a covered bike-area outside.
Additionally, I noticed the chain was looking rusty, which I can't be sure whether or not that's a new development since I never really inspected the chain until today.
One more thing is that I noticed a little plastic piece that runs along the shifter cables as they descend the frame towards the gears appears to be loose, but it looks so small and light that I doubt it's the source of the problem.
I've never lubed the bike - I'm going to get some lube but I'm skeptical that's the problem given how quickly this developed.
Thank you all for your help!
06-04-21, 10:09 AM
#2
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
It's got to be that little plastic thingy that runs along the shifter cables.
06-04-21, 11:09 AM
#3
Duke Ulysses
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 800
Bikes: An old orange one for dirt, and for the other stuff: a white one, a kinda mint green one, and a black one.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 175 Times
in
86 Posts
A picture would be really helpful. You'll need a few more posts, though. Enjoy Bikeforums, and all that it has to offer, and everything else.
*EDIT: This is me trying to be somewhat helpful. DON"T JUDGE ME.
*EDIT: This is me trying to be somewhat helpful. DON"T JUDGE ME.
Last edited by growlerdinky; 06-04-21 at 11:11 AM. Reason: I'm sorry. Men have cycles, too. Hey! See what I did? Cycles? Get it?
Likes For growlerdinky:
06-04-21, 12:01 PM
#4
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,525
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3660 Post(s)
Liked 5,408 Times
in
2,747 Posts
Lots of good info on this link to help you narrow it down. https://www.parktool.com/ Sounds as if you could use it as a single speed. Lube the chain with something oily and see if it will ride in one gear.
06-04-21, 12:14 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,925
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1818 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times
in
974 Posts
Does the back wheel spin freely? If not, your wheel may have moved in the dropout and allowed the tire to rub against the frame. This is guesswork without more information about the actual make and model of the bike.
06-04-21, 12:37 PM
#6
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I hope you won't find this insultingly elementary, but is the chain jammed off a sprocket, like between the cogs and the dropout? That would make it impossible to turn the crank AND impede the motion of the derailleurs.
06-04-21, 12:39 PM
#7
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Likes For livedarklions:
06-04-21, 01:21 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
Hello everyone, I'm a college student with an old road bike (hence the downtube shifters). I use it for cross-training when I'm injured (I'm a cross country/track athlete) and to get around campus or into town when need be. I live on a pretty small campus, so I only use it sparingly. Two weeks ago, I rode it across campus and it was fine. I tried to hop on it yesterday, and it wouldn't pedal forward, and the downtube shifters were incredibly "stiff" (they wouldn't move without a lot of force).
What could've caused this to happen during such a short period of time? I keep it under a covered bike-area outside.
Additionally, I noticed the chain was looking rusty, which I can't be sure whether or not that's a new development since I never really inspected the chain until today.
One more thing is that I noticed a little plastic piece that runs along the shifter cables as they descend the frame towards the gears appears to be loose, but it looks so small and light that I doubt it's the source of the problem.
I've never lubed the bike - I'm going to get some lube but I'm skeptical that's the problem given how quickly this developed.
Thank you all for your help!
What could've caused this to happen during such a short period of time? I keep it under a covered bike-area outside.
Additionally, I noticed the chain was looking rusty, which I can't be sure whether or not that's a new development since I never really inspected the chain until today.
One more thing is that I noticed a little plastic piece that runs along the shifter cables as they descend the frame towards the gears appears to be loose, but it looks so small and light that I doubt it's the source of the problem.
I've never lubed the bike - I'm going to get some lube but I'm skeptical that's the problem given how quickly this developed.
Thank you all for your help!
If you're on Facebook there's a bicycle repair group called Bicycle Repair Help Group. If you post pictures there someone might be able to help you (lots of bike mechanics on there), or else get 10 posts here and post pictures.
06-04-21, 01:47 PM
#9
Senior Member
06-04-21, 03:48 PM
#10
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
spolls We're just riffing until you can post pics. We'll get serious again then.
06-04-21, 06:04 PM
#11
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 475
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 200 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times
in
86 Posts
You asploding doohicky guys should get a warning! guy needs some help, though someone at his university should be able. maybe he is afraid to ask in person?
gm
gm
06-04-21, 06:13 PM
#12
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I think we all tried to help, but without a picture, we're all kind of stuck. Nothing wrong with having a little fun while op gets to 10 posts.
I totally related to op, when it comes to anything mechanical, I rarely know what to call a part.
Likes For livedarklions:
06-04-21, 07:26 PM
#13
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
I have a name for everything and everyone, or at least I did, then my wife asked me to quit using foul language. Now I don't have a clue what to call a part.
Likes For Bigbus:
06-04-21, 08:37 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,106
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,960 Times
in
943 Posts
I would take it to the engineering school on campus and let them have a go at it.
06-05-21, 12:16 AM
#15
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
06-05-21, 05:05 PM
#16
Senior Member
In all fairness, he's come here and asked a question that we can't answer with the insufficient info he's given us. Yes, a photo would help. But chances are, if he inspected all the moving parts, he could probably see what was wrong. Bikes are pretty simple machines, after all. I'd be happy to help, but I need more than "...It yoosta work now it don't."
06-05-21, 05:57 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,475
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 961 Post(s)
Liked 1,627 Times
in
1,044 Posts
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
