New Bike Won't Switch To Second Gear

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I'd like to first apologize for any misuse of terms and misunderstanding of anything in this thread. I'm a newbie when it comes to bikes.

I just got a new bike from a bike shop, Norco Mountaineer. Very low end, but I'm just a casual rider, just around my neighborhood and stuff like that. The front set of gears won't switch from first to second unless I'm going fairly fast. Otherwise, it will just make a grinding sound, struggling to go up, but not quite making it. It doesn't always do this; I think it's more likely to do it if the back is in 1 or 7. In the front, it can switch to 1 or 3 just fine, and I can switch to 2 from 3 just fine.

So this is not normal, right? The bike shop should be able to fix this, right? (they have 1 year free service)

Also, another quick question: When I am in 3 in front and 7 in the rear, the chain brushes up against the thing that changes gears, what's it called, a derailleur? And makes a rattling noise. Should I bother the shop about this? It doesn't seem to affect my riding.

It's a simple fix with minor adjusting of the deraillier. But since you're unfamiliar with the terms I'm going to suggest you take the bike into the shop and tell the mechanic what's happening. The fix will take a few minutes at most, but ask the mechanic if you can watch and if they can explain what they are doing. This way you can do the minor adjustments yourself in the future.

The last post was the best idea. The bike shop where you
purchased the bike will make the adjustments. Anyway,
both "shifters", front and back, have 2 (two) adjusting
screws. One limits the outer travel of the "shifter", the
other adjusting screw limits the inner travel of the "shifter".
Have your bike shop show you were these screws are at...,
then, in the future, you can adjust them yourself.

If it's a new bike, the cables may have finally stretched in (it normally takes a week or so to a month, depending on how much riding you do.)

It's nothing to worry about, it's just another simple adjustment that the bike store can (should) do for you. Once the cables go through their initial stretching phase, they're good to go for a long time.

Originally posted by rek
If it's a new bike, the cables may have finally stretched in (it normally takes a week or so to a month, depending on how much riding you do.)

It's nothing to worry about, it's just another simple adjustment that the bike store can (should) do for you. Once the cables go through their initial stretching phase, they're good to go for a long time.

I found out that I was actually just not pressing the rapidfire shifter lever thing down far enough. Heh, me = n00b cyclist.

yea man just bring the bike back to the shop and they will help you out probibally for free...and as far as the rupping goes..i would say sumthin cuz i guess if you really wanna get down to it it will effect you in the long run....if dirt gets on yourchain and has a prolonged rub then it will ware the chain faster and it will have a shorter life span.