Suggest

Adjusting your gears

Cycling / Popular

Index the derailleur and fix skipping gears.

What coaches agree on

  • Check that the derailleur hanger is straight before making any other adjustment — a bent hanger throws off every other fix, so straighten it with a hanger-alignment tool or replace it.
  • Set the high and low limit screws first, so the jockey wheel lines up directly under the smallest and largest cogs, before touching cable tension.
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  • Fine-tune the shift with the barrel adjuster in small increments — a quarter to half turn at a time — working from the smallest sprocket upward and testing the shift after each change.
  • Check the chain and cassette for wear before adjusting anything — a stretched chain or worn cassette causes skipping that no amount of derailleur adjustment will fix.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling the cable too tight when first clamping it in — the derailleur shouldn't move as you take up the slack, and overtightening at this step throws off the fine-tuning that follows.
How to Adjust Bike Gears
Beginner

How to Adjust Bike Gears

Coach's take: Covers both shift directions properly, unlike a lot of these quick clips.

3.5