How To Adjust Your Front Derailleur

A well adjusted will keep your chain on when it really counts. Watch the video and find out how!

If your chain jumps, or falls, off and if you're having problems shifting when you're putting the pressure down, the chances are that your front derailleur needs some adjustment.

The good news? This is a short, and relatively simple, job. All you'll need is a cross head screwdriver and a 5mm (maybe 6mm) allen key, plus, possibly, a little bit of patience.

Music - licensed by Cue Songs

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Music licensed by Cue Songs

Music - licensed by Cue Songs

[matthewsaliba]

After attempting to adjust my derailleur and subsequently bugger it up, I watched this video again. The knowledge passed on by Si has assisted me in un-buggering my derailleur and having it run smoother than ever. Thanks Si and thanks GCN.

[MPlainguet]

This is the BEST video I have found to adjust the front derailleur on YouTube. The crucial point that cable tension is critical is barely addressed on other videos. Thank you!

[NFTErocks]

After buying my first road bike is was thinking that some adjustments could be made, as the chain was rubbing in the highest gears. However, when loosening the height-screw, I was not prepared for the whole derailleur to completely change position. My knees hurt after 5 hours of work and swearing. However, you helped me to set it back up! Thanks so much!

[unistriker]

I had this problem a few months ago.. after trying to fix it for two hours with a brand new mech I gave up.

It was a great decision, Bought a single speed crank set and I now run a 1 x 8 set up with a 54 front ring and 11- 30 cassette. Everything is so simpler. up one to go easier, down one to go harder. No alignment issues. Plus its lighter. XD Granted I probably cant climb a mountain, but there is no mountains in the where I ride.

Additionally it looks awesome and you can say you ride the big ring all the time.  

[kevinalexander]

My god just done this as my chain wasn't going into the big chain, how frustrating. After a few swear words and fiddling I managed to get it sorted. Love these videos.

[helenfawcett]

I have done a cycling maintenance course - full day, looked at quite a few videos, AFTER WATCHING YOUR VIDEO.I now understand the process and have SUCCESSFULLY adjusted my grandson's gears on his bike! GREAT instruction, decent pace, close up views. MANY MANY THANKS

[mikefule]

Great video, thanks. Two things you forgot to mention. Before tensioning the cable, ensure that the front shifter lever is clicked enough times that it is in the "least tension" position, otherwise you carefully tension the cable and find that the lever is set incorrectly. Secondly, if you use a strap around the front wheel and down tube to stop the wheel and bars flapping about while the bike is up on the work stand, remember to remove it before setting off on a test ride, particularly if there is a large puddle in your driveway that you might roll into when you go over the bars. Don't ask me how I know, I just do, OK?

[garshaw]

I really like the GCN how to guides and the show in general so thank you to all the GCN team. I am new to cycling and had an issue with my chain jumping off the front. I tried using the video but really messed it up, luckily a skilled bike mechanic lives next to me so he sorted it in now time. Just a tip to GCN, when doing these videos it would really help if the camera focused and paused on the more intricate areas so we could see the movement and correct settings.

[chrischuba]

Best explanation ever. You come right out of the box and explain, up, down, left, right the derailleurs only job is to prevent the chain from falling off, cable tension alone changes gears. I've watched several bike videos that make this sound mysterious.

[samuelday]

The phrase that helped me out the most in this was "shimano have a half click shift to avoid rubbing" when in the big ring it would rub on the inboard side of the front mech no matter what, even when I was in the middle of the block, until I heard Simon say about this half click. Just gently tapped the downshift lever and it did its half click and centred itself perfectly. I had been shifting too forcefully with the left lever and then trying to adjust it to that. Been sat here an hour trying to figure it out 😂

[dannyhooper]

Great video, cable tension is key! I was going to take it to be fixed, but instead I challenged myself to do it alone, saving the cash..As a reward, cash goes on a new bike saddle 😀. Thanks 👍🏻

[Mannerzs]

Massive thanks to GCN for all your video content in 2020 - I know this video is from 2015, but all your content is great and massively helpful!

[noelminimo]

Thanks man, you saved my hard earned dough taking my bike to the shop. I can now do it on my own.

[joeri]

Since i started cycling, (for about 5years)
i had to go almost with every litlle problem to a professional.
It costed me very much, but now with this kind of videos i can do my own bike!
thanks for the help! 

[kevinkelly]

Thank you, sir. My 1995 Raleigh M80 mountain bike is capable of shifting into all 21 gears today due to your help. Tomorrow, who knows? But today is the first day in years that I have all gears.

[phpaul]

Like many others here, I was struggling with this until I saw this video...

The difference: you tell us what what-you're-doing does and how it affects or doesn't affect other things. "Give a man a fish and he'll have food, teach a man to fish and he'll have food forever." Whatever the saying is, Thank You!!

[boogybass]

Simon, you make this look so easy - I commend you for this! I wish I felt this comfortable about adjusting these because it looks like it takes a bit of time to learn properly.

[margaretoconnor]

Easy to understand videos. Have got both derailleurs working well now after my half arsed twiddling and fiddling before. Great work and thanks.

[athomenotavailable]

I found this video easier to understand than the other one by park tool because it explained the 2 basic concepts right from the start and did not have as much step by step explanations. But park tool showed the diagrams which made understanding this video much easier. In short, watch the start of the park tool video first, then switch to this video

[BobbyB]

Simple and easy to understand, i had been avoiding the derailleur adjustments incase i made things worse, but its actually a very simple component.
Thanks 👍