First Response Bike Repairs and Servicing

20/04/2021

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07/04/2021

Broken rear derailleur!!
How do you get back home?

If the rear derailleur breaks, you will need to create a single speed bike by removing the derailleur from the equation.
To do this, you will need to break the chain, and wrap it directly from the middle chain ring to one of the easier to middle gears on the rear cassette. Choose a gear that will bring the chain closest to meeting at a link, this will ensure that you can make the chain as tight as possible when you join it again. You will now need to break the chain again, removing the excess links, and rejoin it. This is easier to do with the chain removed from the chain ring, but still looped around the bottom bracket/through the front derailleur. Place the shortened chain around the rear gear that you chose, and hook it over the top teeth of the chain ring. Now pedal the chain ring forwards to “hook” the chain onto the chain ring. You are ready to head for home.
The aim is to find a gear that will give you good chain tension. However, you will need to pedal carefully with this "modified fix" as you have no way of adjusting tension on the chain, this may cause the chain to bounce or slip from the gear you have it in. Do not try to shift the front derailleur.

09/02/2021

When do I change my chain?
Is it badly worn or rusted?

Chains are incredibly efficient, but they also have to put up with a lot of abuse. The pins (rivets) and rollers wear down, appearing to lengthen the chain from its original state. The secret is to change your chain before it lengthens too much, saving wear on your cassette sprockets as this wears with your chain.
When your chain is lengthening the teeth on your sprockets are also widening, so if you fitted a new chain to a worn sprocket it would ride up over the teeth and slip.

Lubrication
New chains come pre-lubricated with a grease-type lubricant which has been installed at the factory.

Lubricants Not to Use
Automotive motor oil contains detergent, to wash away combustion products, and is made to be renewed constantly under pressure from the motor's oil pump.

"Household" oil, such as 3 in 1, lacks extreme-pressure additives and is acidic. It tends to gum up.

WD-40 and other thin sprays are intended more as solvents than lubricants. They evaporate quickly.

So when do I replace my chain and why?
We could say that you should replace it having cycled over a set distance but many of us don’t record this, so to prevent wear to the cassette sprockets, chainrings and gear changers you can measure your chain.
You can buy a chain checker (see picture) which does the work for you. Check your chain regularly and save money in the long term.

05/01/2021

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister on Monday 4th January 2021. We can confirm that, as an essential mobile bicycle repairer, First Response will remain open during the current lockdown restrictions in England to service and repair for all of your cycling needs.
All repairs are carried out by a fully certified Institute of the Motor Industry cycle mechanic.
No job too small, contact us for a quote to keep you moving.
It’s all about convenience, we can carry out most bike repairs and services on the spot , however some service work and major repairs will be taken to our workshop and returned within 2 -3 workings days.