Bicycle gears question?

Question

Ok I bought a new bike. It is 21 speeds. (3,7) If I have a high gear such as 7 on the right, then I have a low gear like 1 on the left, the chain rubs up against the side of the front gear changer. Is that why they make is so I can have gears in between three?

Example: My gear changer with 1,2,3 also has clicks in between each one, is that so if there is a clicking, I can move it one more click to stop the clicking?

Lets say I am on 1,7. I hear a click because the chain is rubbing the edge. So I click the 1,2,3 gear up one tiny click, and it stops. Is this for all bikes?

Also aren't some gears alike? 1,7 is defiantly harder than 3,1

Answer 1

your bolts are all funky and aer either too close, or too far which causes the rub

Answer 2

First, you should never use the 3/1 combination. It is hard on the drivetrain and will make nasty noises even on the best of bikes.

The reason your bike ios making the noise and not shifting right is that it needs to be adjusted. For a quick check, do this:

1) Put the bike in gear 1/7.

2) Take a look at the bare cable running along. There should be no slack in it. If there is

3) For the rear (right) gears, there is a barrel adjuster at the rear derailleur. Turn this out until there is no more slack in the cable. There may be an additional barrel adjuster at the shifter- you can use it as well. If the barrel adjuster screws all the way out you'll need to s***w it back in, loosen the cable fixing bolt on the derailleur, pull the cable snug, and retighten the bolt.

4) Repeat step 3 above for the front (left) gears, but there will be no barrel adjuster on the derailleur. The slack will need to be taken up by the shifter barrel adjuster or by pulling the cable tight.

Good luck!

EDIT: By the way, that "one tiny click" on the left side is fine. That is called "trimming".