[sistergoldenhair]

Hello my name is SGH and I'm a Total Noob Cyclist.<br><br>
I ventured out tonight and in the course of experimenting with shifting gears somehow got the gears how they aren't supposed to be. I'm not describing this well, but basically when I look down the chain is on the innermost (smallest) ring in front, but the outermost in back. I've read you aren't supposed to do that. At that point I could no longer shift gears, and the chain started making a slight "rubbing" sound and slipping a bit. So I went home.<br><br>
Is there any way I can fix this? I am going to the shop tomorrow anyway for an obviously much needed bike class, but I don't want to keep making this mistake and not being able to fix it if I do.<br><br>
One day I will be a good cyclist, I know it!

 

[hally]

You can pull the chain up a bit and let it drop down to a smaller wheel, turning the pedal till it catches. Not sure if that is correct but that's what I do. Your fingers are gonna get full of grease so if you don't want to ruin your bike gloves take them off. Having some handiwipes in your bag is a good idea.

 

[wyrillco]

That's what I would try...

 

[roots]

What hally said.<br><br>
Try to lift the rear wheel off the ground and turn the crank. The chain should slip into correct gear.<br><br>
My guess is that its you didn't downshift gears when coming to a stop. The drive was stuck in high gear. You'll get better at it, with time.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

I brought it to the bike shop Wednesday when I had the "fix a flat" class, and what it really was was I'm unfamiliar with the gearing and shifting system. It's so different from my hybrid. So one of the mechanics went over that with me. It just took some downshifting to get the chain behaving again.<br><br>
The new bike is humbling if nothing else! I'm sure they thought I was a stereotypical blonde.<br><br>
Luckily tomorrow will be 100 miles of shifting practice!