**Need Help Please** Snapped Rear Derailleur

[eposhea]

Hi Folks,

Bike Model: Boardman Road Comp 2011 model - Sram Apex Group set



I am looking for some info. I am relatively new to cycling - 3 years to be precise. I came off my bike last week (no damage to me thankfully!), and I did not survey the bike before continuing - low and behold when I began to pedal again, the entire rear derailleur snapped off and the chain wrapped around the rear cassette.

I looked at the damage and the derailleur is definitely beyond repair and the hangar is also bent quite severely.

My question is about what to do with a new set - should you replace the entire group set or just the rear derailleur, or would it be better to upgrade to a better group set entirely? Also - would it be recommended to buy online and get someone to do the work or go through a bike shop?

Thank you in advance,

Eoin

[AUbicycles]

You can get a new derailleur hanger and it depends if the rear derailleur is actually damaged, to whether you need a new one.

Wiggle do boardman bikes, I assume you purchased from them so see if they have spares, or get in touch with their service to organise it. Much easier than trying to source the correct hanger elsewhere as they come in all shapes and sizes.

If you are crash hot with the mechanics, you can do it yourself, and work out why you got the chain suck. Otherwise, get it to a bike shops, they can make sure that everything is tip top.


There is a retail bike shop chain in Australia who also do Boardman however I couldn't recommend them.

[Rex]

If Wiggle don't offer replacement hangers, and Boardman want to charge an arm and a leg, try http://www.wheelsmfg.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as they make hangers for everything.
Pushys are a distributor I believe.

[eposhea]

Great, thank you! Yes, bought from Wiggle originally, they don't deliver to Oz anymore, which is a shame! I found online that it is Hanger 49, and can source one from ebay. Derailleur online and get a shop to fit is the best option I think!

Should probably have someone look at the bike tho - there may be additional damage that I cant see!

[toolonglegs]

You probably will need a new chain and maybe a cassette, if the cassette has been on there for a couple of 1000 kms then replace it.

[AUbicycles]

Exactly, you want to know what caused the chain to suck / stick and make sure this is fixed, plus inspect to ensure the frame is sound.

[Duck!]

Exactly, you want to know what caused the chain to suck / stick and make sure this is fixed...

I think this from the OP explains the cause pretty clearly....

I came off my bike last week (no damage to me thankfully!), and I did not survey the bike before continuing

[AUbicycles]

Right... I was wondering whether it was a chain-suck (stuck chain) which caused the derailleur to snap.

[jasonc]

boardman and now supplied through amart sports so try them for spare parts

[RonK]

Derailleurs and hangers are fairly generic. You should be able to get replacements from any bike store.

[bychosis]

Derailleurs and hangers are fairly generic. You should be able to get replacements from any bike store.

If only hangers were generic. They don't even seem to stick with the same design for a manufacturer or model. Why they can't just make one or two designs that will fit everything is a mystery to me (actually not much of a mystery given how much some comapnies want to plunder your bank account when you want a spare part)

[AUbicycles]

Derailleurs and hangers are fairly generic. You should be able to get replacements from any bike store.

Derailleurs yes, hangers I disagree.

This is a site I have looked at before (though for a boardman replacement derailleur hange, got the replacement direct): derailleurhanger.com


You can select the brands. For this bike (Boardman roadcomp) it suggests hanger #49

[Ross]

You probably will need a new chain and maybe a cassette, if the cassette has been on there for a couple of 1000 kms then replace it.

What?! Cassette should be fine if only done 2000km (did you forget a zero?), I get ~30,000km out of a cassette. Chain may be twisted/damaged from the crash and are only worth about $25-$30 so it wouldn't hurt to replace that, just because.

[Duck!]

Derailleurs and hangers are fairly generic. You should be able to get replacements from any bike store.

Not really.... Derailleurs for the most part don't play with other brand components, so must match (but within brands are mostly OK). Hangers on the other hand.... With over 200 different shapes, they are most certainly not generic, even by the most liberal definition.

[thelittlebattler]

This is a site I have looked at before (though for a boardman replacement derailleur hange, got the replacement direct): derailleurhanger.com


You can select the brands. For this bike (Boardman roadcomp) it suggests hanger #49

The properties of the metal used in hangers might be generic? Eposhea, I assume you know by now but just in case: the hanger is designed to bend or snap in order to save the derailleur from catastrophic damage.

Anyway I use derailleurhanger.com too, and always order a spare hanger for times like this. It's an easy enough job to replace out on the road after a crash if you have one on you (reminds me I should probably put one in my tube kit). Definitely looks like you want #49 hanger.

Replacing chain sounds like good advice, and see if you need to replace cassette and/or derailleur mech.

[eposhea]

Eposhea, I assume you know by now but just in case: the hanger is designed to bend or snap in order to save the derailleur from catastrophic damage

Was actually not aware of this at all, thanks! Makes total sense now that you mention it.

Yea, Hanger 49 is the one, I managed to grab one for a good price, just hope material is up to scratch.

So am I able to mix and match derailleurs? I assumed if you are not changing the entire group set that you would need the exact derailleur to match the other components? I would like to upgrade some components if it is possible....again this is the first time I would upgrade, until now I thought buying a new bike was upgrading, didnt even think of just changing parts.

[bychosis]

If replacing the rear derailleur the easiet way is to purchase the same brand and speed. IE Shimano 10spd, or SRAM 11spd, Campag 9spd etc. The model shouldnt matter, the more you pay the lighter they get. There is a nominal inmprovement in shifting with a higher spec, but the shifting accuracy bit is largely within the shifters, not so much the derailleur.

[thelittlebattler]

Yea, Hanger 49 is the one, I managed to grab one for a good price, just hope material is up to scratch.

So am I able to mix and match derailleurs? I assumed if you are not changing the entire group set that you would need the exact derailleur to match the other components? I would like to upgrade some components if it is possible....again this is the first time I would upgrade, until now I thought buying a new bike was upgrading, didnt even think of just changing parts.

It'll be fine, so long as it fits the frame.

As Bychosis said above, just need to match the brand and speed. So you have Sram Apex group, grab a Sram Apex/rival 10 speed derailleur. CHECK how many teeth on the largest cog of your casette! If it is 32, you need a long cage derailleur. Usually it's easy to check the derailleur specs for max cog size.

Edit: just saw your comment about upgrading parts... I would keep an eye out for 10speed Sram groupsets (Rival or Force, maybe even Red 2nd hand). If you went 11sp you may have to change wheels too. Eitherway, sticking with Sram would mean you have spares from current Apex group should you need them. Alternatively, Shimano would most likely fit if you wanted to go that way

[Duck!]

So am I able to mix and match derailleurs? I assumed if you are not changing the entire group set that you would need the exact derailleur to match the other components?

Mix-&-matching is very possible, as long as you keep the components within one brand; Virtually all components are compatible across different groupset levels, the only real differences are in materials. There are some limitations mixing between components designed for different numbers of gears. There is some compatibility across brands, but only for certain components, so unless you're sure what works & what doesn't, you're best just to stay within the one brand.

Any SRAM derailleur will be fine to replace your existing one.

[eposhea]

CHECK how many teeth on the largest cog of your casette! If it is 32, you need a long cage derailleur. Usually it's easy to check the derailleur specs for max cog size

Honestly - this is something I was trying to figure out over the weekend, it was wrecking my head, did not know how to decide medium or long derailleur - thank you for that!

Mix-&-matching is very possible, as long as you keep the components within one brand

Brilliant, thank you! Thats good to know! Might have a look at the next level up in Sram instead.

I had a good luck at the bike over the weekend, there does not seem to be any additional damage. Wheels and cassettes are true - I took the rear derailleur off, all the cogs are in pieces, had to cut cable to take off - so another part right there. I went to local bike shop, but the cost of derailleur alone was nearly twice the price of the same one online, so am now going to source parts myself and get a mobile mechanic to fit the parts - hope that works!

[Duck!]

Medium & long cage road rear derailleurs are the same thing, as there are only two lengths available. The terms have become somewhat interchangeable as the longer cage is the same as (or very similar to) the relatively recent medium cage MTB variant. A true long cage is the exclusive domain of MTB gearing.

[thelittlebattler]

If ordering online, check the size of the replacement cable you get (I don't think Shimano cable will fit). From memory, Sram needs a slightly thinner cable otherwise it won't feed through the shifter properly... and usually best to get new outer housing also. If you replace all of the housing you will need to redo the handlebar tape as well (it runs under the bar tape after exiting the shifter)

[Duck!]

Shimano cables fit fine and work better. The Teflon coating on SRAM cables tends to peel off & clump in the housings, buggering the shifting.

[porkupine]

i have an *BRAND NEW* ultegra rear derailleur if needed! pm me and we can work something out..

perhaps may have cassette but no chain... depending on what speeds you're looking at 10 or 11...

[Ross]

Has anyone used NSB brand derailleur hangers from Chain Reaction to know if they are as good as Wheels Manufacturing?