Indexing gears, setting derailleur limits and replacing a rear derailleur explained with additional video walkthroughs <\/p>
If the gears on your bike slip when you\u2019re pedalling, or if they can\u2019t shift into certain gears, they may need adjusting.<\/p>\n
When you change gears<\/a> on your bike, the shifter pulls a set amount of cable<\/a>, which in turn moves the front or rear derailleur<\/a> a predetermined distance. This moves your chain onto a different sprocket on the cassette or chainring.<\/p>\n Gear cables can stretch over time and derailleurs can be knocked out of alignment. If you find your chain is skipping a gear or that your shifting is getting stuck, then there\u2019s a good chance you need to adjust your gears.<\/p>\n This is also known as indexing your gears.<\/p>\n If the gears on your bike are indexed properly, each single click of the shifter will cause a single shift up or down the gears, front or rear.<\/p>\n In this step-by-step guide, we explain how to index your front and rear derailleurs by adjusting cable tension.<\/p>\n We also outline how to set the limit screws on your drivetrain. This is useful if you are setting up a new front or rear derailleur from scratch.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure where to start, jump to our guide on how to diagnose and fix common shifting problems with your bike gears at the end of this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n A silent and smooth-running drivetrain<\/a> can make all the difference to your ride and fixing your bike\u2019s gears is something that even the most mechanically inexperienced can handle.<\/p>\nHow to index the gears on your bike<\/h2>\n