How to Adjust Bike Gears

Adjusting bike gears is an important part of bike maintenance, as it ensures that the bike's chain runs smoothly and efficiently, which can make your ride more comfortable and efficient. Here are the steps to adjust bike gears:

1. Shift the bike into the smallest front chainring and the largest rear cog. This is the starting point for the adjustment.

2. Locate the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur. It is usually located where the cable enters the derailleur. Turn the barrel adjuster counterclockwise to loosen the cable tension or clockwise to tighten the cable tension.

3. Shift the bike to the second smallest rear cog. Then, shift the bike to the second smallest front chainring.

4. Pedal the bike and check the chain's position on the rear cog. If the chain is rubbing against the next larger cog, turn the barrel adjuster counterclockwise to loosen the cable tension. If the chain is not fully engaging the cog, turn the barrel adjuster clockwise to tighten the cable tension.

5. Repeat step 4 until the chain runs smoothly on the second smallest rear cog.

6. Shift through all the gears, making sure that the chain runs smoothly on each cog. If it doesn't, make small adjustments to the barrel adjuster until the chain runs smoothly on all gears.

7. If the chain does not shift smoothly between the front chainrings, repeat steps 2-6, but with the front derailleur barrel adjuster.

8. Finally, check that the limit screws on the front and rear derailleurs are set correctly. These screws control the maximum movement of the derailleur. Refer to your bike's manual for instructions on how to set the limit screws.

Once you have adjusted your bike's gears, take it for a test ride to ensure that the shifting is smooth and that the chain runs quietly on all gears.