Popular Post JerrySTL ★ Posted April 11, 2020 Popular Post Share #1 Posted April 11, 2020 I almost twisted off the rear derailleur on the tandem a couple of weeks ago by overshifting into the dork disk. Limit screw is now set better and painted in place with fingernail polish. Anyway that got me thinking about rear derailleur hangers. What if I bent one while out on a multi-day tour or even at home where I might not be able to ride the bike for a while? I decided to buy spares for three of my bikes. The Giant Defy Advance was no problem finding one; however nothing was listed for the Schwinn Twinn tandem nor my Breezer Doppler. I worked with the people at DerailleurHanger.com by sending them photos and measurements. They found the exact replacement parts and are now able to update their catalog. Win-Win. I highly recommend DerailleurHanger.com. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rattlecan ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Popular Post Share #2 Posted April 12, 2020 It's too bad the industry couldn't narrow hanger types down to a dozen or so instead of the bazillion or so we have now. Materials vary from soft as melted butter to almost as hard and strong as a bike frame. The latter kind of defeats the purpose as a weak link, but somewhere in between should be the goal. When I ran the bike shop, I was a Fuji dealer. Besides being great bikes, they also included a spare hanger with every new bike. The best aftermarket hangers I found were from Wheels Mfg. The material was just the right strength and stiffness, and they always seemed to have whatever I needed. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted April 12, 2020 Share #3 Posted April 12, 2020 I carry a chain tool on both bikes for this very reason. I can cut the chain and ride single speed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #4 Posted April 12, 2020 My Kona Hei Hei is supposed to have a spare tucked into the frame. I think I know where it is, but I've never checked. I should look for it. Good info guys. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onbike1939 Posted April 12, 2020 Share #5 Posted April 12, 2020 Back when I was running a workshop I insisted on every hanger being quickly checked for out of true before any adjustment was made. Hanger alignment is an old, old problem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #6 Posted April 12, 2020 We have members who take care of old old problems. Wait, wut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Popular Post Share #7 Posted April 12, 2020 The only hanger I ever bent was on the first day riding up the C&O. I ran over a small stick and the front wheel flipped it up into the derailleur and it bent inward into the rear wheel spokes. I only had six days to get to Pittsburgh so I was bummed. No clue where I might find a bike shop. I looked around and found a nice rock and beat on the hanger until I got it straight. I thought about getting it checked out when I came to a town with a bike shop but it was shifting fine so I waited until I got home. My LBS checked it out and said it was perfect. My son is still riding that bike with the same hanger 14 years later. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted April 12, 2020 Share #8 Posted April 12, 2020 I fell into traffic (luckily it was a red light) last year. Hurt my ego, bent the derailleur into the spoke. Wife came and got me, the shop popped on a new hanger, all was well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #9 Posted April 12, 2020 I have only one derailleur in my entire fleet. I live mostly in an IGH world. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #10 Posted April 12, 2020 12 hours ago, Rattlecan said: It's too bad the industry couldn't narrow hanger types down to a dozen or so instead of the bazillion or so we have now. no crap, even bikes from one brand all have their own unique hanger like all three of my cannondales. I still want to have a spare for each. I can get them here https://cannondaleexperts.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerrySTL ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted April 12, 2020 2 hours ago, donkpow said: I carry a chain tool on both bikes for this very reason. I can cut the chain and ride single speed. I've done that a couple of times over the years, but thankfully for other people's bikes. However I did use the chain tool when I overshifted the tandem. That snapped one pin out of the link and bent three others. I just removed a lot of links and rode back without getting into the large chainring. It's a 7-speed bike so I didn't need any fancy quick link or pin, but I have one now as it's easier than getting the pin adjusted just right. On my road and gravel bikes, both are 11-speeds, I do have a spare quick link plus pins/links for 9- and 10-speed chains. I've helped a few others over the years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #12 Posted April 12, 2020 27 minutes ago, Rattlecan said: I have only one derailleur in my entire fleet. I live mostly in an IGH world. All of my Fleets have derailleurs except the ones six years old and younger, they ride single speeds. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted April 12, 2020 Share #13 Posted April 12, 2020 14 minutes ago, JerrySTL said: I've done that a couple of times over the years, but thankfully for other people's bikes. However I did use the chain tool when I overshifted the tandem. That snapped one pin out of the link and bent three others. I just removed a lot of links and rode back without getting into the large chainring. It's a 7-speed bike so I didn't need any fancy quick link or pin, but I have one now as it's easier than getting the pin adjusted just right. On my road and gravel bikes, both are 11-speeds, I do have a spare quick link plus pins/links for 9- and 10-speed chains. I've helped a few others over the years. Back when, I would regularly snap chains. This was before the quick links. No way around it, you had to have the tool. I used to carry a really nice leather pouch with a complete tool set within. All chromed steel. Da bomb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #14 Posted April 12, 2020 10 minutes ago, donkpow said: Back when, I would regularly snap chains. This was before the quick links. No way around it, you had to have the tool. I used to carry a really nice leather pouch with a complete tool set within. All chromed steel. Da bomb. On the C&O Canal site a guy is planning on doing the canal for the first time this year. He posted pictures of the stuff he is planning to take with him. He asked for advice if we thought of any other tools or spare parts he might need. He made my everything but the kitchen sink look like child’s play. He had among other things a large crescent wrench and a hammer. Most of the comments were polite and advised him that he was over packing. First time doing something it’s easy to overthink what you might need. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_photog ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #15 Posted April 12, 2020 16 minutes ago, Longjohn said: On the C&O Canal site a guy is planning on doing the canal for the first time this year. He posted pictures of the stuff he is planning to take with him. He asked for advice if we thought of any other tools or spare parts he might need. He made my everything but the kitchen sink look like child’s play. He had among other things a large crescent wrench and a hammer. Most of the comments were polite and advised him that he was over packing. First time doing something it’s easy to overthink what you might need. Did you tell him to make sure he had a cast iron kitchen sink along? I wouldn't have needed the rack and saddle bags if I would have left the ham radios home. Only used them at 2 locations and made 12 contacts. all the ham stuff weighed about 6 lbs. The second location where i used them I was the only one there. I think the rest were holed up on some porch waiting out a thunderstorm. I was laying in my tent (that I managed to get set up before the storm hit) and play with the radio. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_photog ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #16 Posted April 12, 2020 I took the C&O canal trail. The rest took the paved trail parallel to it. When I saw the storm coming I knew there was nowhere to hide so I pushed it hard to get the the campsite and get set up. Played with the radio and took a nap while waiting. I have never bought a new derailleur. I have straightened many and have made some from aluminum in the machine shop. If my time was worth anything buying them would probably have been cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted April 12, 2020 Share #17 Posted April 12, 2020 2 hours ago, Digital_photog said: . I think the rest were holed up on some porch waiting out a thunderstorm. I was laying in my tent (that I managed to get set up before the storm hit) and play with the radio. A couple of us were holed up eating buffalo burgers before the storm. We rode through the storm. The last couple minutes of the storm we stood under a carport talking with the home owner. We were not going fast to start with but riding through six inches of water on the towpath slowed our progress even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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