Thread: New to bikes, need a little guidance

So I recently picked up my first nice bike to use for commuting, around town, and some fitness. It's a barely used 06 Jamis coda sport. Basically a flat bar road/cross type bike. I can't believe how smooth and fast it is compared to POS bikes I've had in the past. So far the only problem I'm having with it is the chain comes off the front chainring whenever I shift it into the highest gear. The bike has been reduced to a 9 speed, so there's only the one chainring in the front. I'm wondering about chain tension, etc., all stuff I know nothing about.

I don't know much about bike maintenance, and I don't want to be totally dependent on a shop, so what are the good bike maintenance websites or books out there? There must be something with info on how to do all the basic stuff, like tuning the derailluer, chain tension, stuff like that. Thanks mags.

Blue Book of Bicycle Maintenance is a good resource to have on your shop bench.

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Blue-Book-...8218568&sr=8-2

awesome how-to site gramps - http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

Your particular problem is caused by the front derailleur being misaligned. Look for sheldon's article on that issue. There are two screws to adjust - one adjusts the lower gear limit, the other adjusts the higher gear limit.

There are also good bike maintenance books - Zinn is very good also

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Repair.../dp/0933201583

Originally Posted by gramps

The bike has been reduced to a 9 speed, so there's only the one chainring in the front.

Based upon this I'm guessing no derailluer. If the chainring that is on there was intended for shifting use, it's probably ramped and pinned to shift off easily and w/o a derailleur there to prevent that it's jumping. Change it out for a dedicated single chainring and it should go away.

Edit: and Park Tools has a pretty good site if you can ignore the shameless plugs for their stuff. It's helped me out a few times. Sheldonbrown.com site is pretty solid too.

Thanks for the tips. I'm trying to decide whether or not to bring it back to 27 speeds, so I guess I'll have to make that decision and then get the proper chainrings. I'm fine with the 9 speeds for around town, but if I want to do fitness rides up and down the canyon roads around here, it really makes more sense to have 27 speeds. I got up and down millcreek canyon fine the other day, but it definitely would be better to have a lower chainring for the up and a higher one for the down.

Get two bashguards,some longer chainring bolts and a 48 tooth ring. Put the ring where the middle ring would've been and you should be good to go.

I'm a fan of Zinn's maintenance books.