Reader David DuMond sent us this quick tip, a remedy for a situation that, as he points out, often indicates an adjustment is needed to your front derailleur. Here’s what he wrote:
Clink. Clank. Oops. Dropped your chain off to the right while trying to get on the big ring just as you are beginning a downhill? Possibly a poorly adjusted front derailleur, or you made to hasty a shift. Either way, you can recover without grinding to a stop on the hill.
By this time your chain is likely hanging on the crank axle at the base of the crank arms and just sort of sitting there doing nothing while you are trying to pedal. First, keep pedaling — slowly (note, slowly). Watch to see if the chain re-engages with the teeth on the big ring.
This sort of multi-tasking on a speeding downhill bike may more than test your resolve. If you really need to, stop.
If the chain and teeth don’t get together properly, continue to pedal slowly (again, slowly!) with your left foot (assuming it is clicked into the pedal).
Unclick your right foot from the pedal. Use the inside ball of your right foot (inside edge of shoe sole) to lift up the chain from below while holding the foot gently against the slowly turning chain ring. Push the chain up and hold it until it catches teeth. Keep pedaling slowly until the chain stays on over a full rotation. When you stop for a break, check to see if your front derailleur is out of adjustment.
This can be done while riding in a group, even, once you get the “hang of it.” However, if you get the hang of it, chances are that your front derailleur is out of proper adjustment. So make sure you address the root cause of the problem.
I’m always amazed at the number of people who don’t realize that they can keep pedaling and shift the chain back on. This works at least 9 out of 10 times, whether it is the small ring or the big ring.
Simply shifting back to the inner chainring (or at least, the shifter position that corresponds to it) will pretty well always get the chain back in place. The key is to pedal relatively gently to avoid the chain jamming.
A far worse problem is getting the chain stuck on the left – between the inner chainring and the crank…that pretty well always guarantees getting off the bike and prying the chain out. If you feel it happening – stop pedalling immediately! Otherwise you may have to break the chain to get it out as any force will jam the chain in that much harder.
The first thing to do is click out of your pedal. Then deal with the chain. Don’t get so involved with the chain as you coast to a stop on the flat or going uphill, that you’re clipped in. Spoken from experience.
I generally stop the bike and get off. I find a small stick or twig in the road and use it to guide the chain back onto the chainring (the stick is so I don’t have to touch the chain and get dirty.)
I can’t do that because I do NOT have a front derailleur. I have a Dahon folder with a 56/34 combo. The granny is just for hauling my kayak up steep hills. The stock rear derailleur and chain is good enough to handle the required combinations. But if I up-shift too fast or EVERYTIME I back the bike up, I toss the chain. To just use a fence-gate-hook to replace the chain without getting dirty. I usually just pick up the back wheel when reversing, if I remember!
https://www.amazon.com/Szliyands-Sliding-Screws-Upgrade-Stainless/dp/B0C54YC98X/
NOT touching a dirty chain with my nice white cycling shoes! Plus, I’m not that coordinated, LOL. Best for me to stop and fix it.
Might be kind of dangerous to suggest this to the average cyclist!
Install a chain catcher! That will eliminate the problem of dropping the chain inside the chainrings – which can be a big problem as Mr Wojcik points out.
Chain drops off small ring,
Keep pedaling and shift to big ring.
Do the opposite if drops off big ring.