This might be a dumb question, but under what circumstances do people break rear derailleur hangers? Does it happen when you crash and they get banged against rocks and roots? Is it soemthing you can do while shifting?
Is this a problem that only big guys face, or am I not riding hard enough? :)
Thanks in advance for any insight,
jen
Browne
06-27-2002, 07:40 PM
Good question Jen.
It doesn't matter how big or small you are, it all has to do with what you get stuck in the derailleur. Two major causes:
1) sticks in pulleys.
I've seen many people get a stick sucked into their derailleurs, snapping that hanger or bending it appropriately. I recently watched Karl bend his shiny new derailleur, but since his bike is steel and doesn't have a replaceable der. hanger, his hanger bent until he stopped, putting the hanger at a 45° angle.
2) overshifting into the spokes.
this is the most common, I think. When your limits aren't set correctly, you shift into the spokes and your hanger bends or breaks.
one more thing: aluminum bikes should ALWAYS have a replaceable hanger, in my opinion. The metal is just too brittle to keep bending back and forth. Eventually, your hanger will just break off, leaving you with a singlespeed or a new frame, although either of those things is not a bad idea.
when you get a new aluminum frame, buy two of those hangers. Sometimes they're in short supply.
Have a good day.
-Michael