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Permalink Reply by Gecko on June 21, 2013 at 3:19am

It bugs the crap out of me too, but there's really nothing you can do about it.  Most of the bikes I see (hear?) like this, I view them like rusty old beater cars rolling on mismatched partially flat tires, with squeaky fan belts and screeching brakes, spewing black smoke from broken (and loud) tailpipes.  The driver just doesn't care as long as it still goes from A to B.

Unless it's a lakefront Lance on a $5000 status symbol.  Then I just laugh a little because it's like someone grinding the gears in their Ferrari.  All that potential with no idea how to operate it properly.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on June 21, 2013 at 3:45am

If they are riding old Schwinn Varsities, then yes, by all means, learn to trim the derailleur.  However, indexed shifting on most more modern bikes has all but removed that ability from the casual rider.  A trip to the shop is required for most of these people.

On a related note, the topic of squeaking chains and low tire pressures came up on the internet-bob mailing list the other day.  One correspondent thought he might walk across the street from his house to the neighborhood middle school armed with a pump and some chain lube. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Tim on June 21, 2013 at 4:07am

Agreed. Chattering deraliures and chains with no oil left in them are taking over the world. These are usually the people that repeatedly shoal you at an intersection too.

Nick G-  "lakefront Lance" is an awesome term! I love it!

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on June 21, 2013 at 4:07am

Its a matter of parental responsibility. I recently gave my daughter a floor pump.

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

On a related note, the topic of squeaking chains and low tire pressures came up on the internet-bob mailing list the other day.  One correspondent thought he might walk across the street from his house to the neighborhood middle school armed with a pump and some chain lube. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on June 21, 2013 at 4:29am

In my running years, I often encountered other runners dragging their feet on the path. Like a rusty chain it makes a lot of noise. Almost everyone I ever saw was wearing headphones and likely did not hear their feet scraping the asphalt.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 21, 2013 at 4:57am

That might be me; the indexing on my right shifter is broken. I'm planning on getting it fixed/replaced next week, though.

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