The difference a new derailleur hanger made on my shop bike

I've been riding the same bike for about 5 years and shifting just got worse every season. I kept thinking it was cable stretch or a bent derailleur from a crash. Finally replaced the hanger for 12 bucks last week and now the thing shifts like it's brand new. Has anyone else ignored a simple part like that for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

vera_roberts15d ago

5 years on the same hanger is a SOLID run honestly. I had a similar thing on my old cross bike where I replaced cables, housing, the whole derailleur and it still felt off. Turned out the hanger was bent like 2mm from a random curb hop.

stella_shah8915d ago

And the thing about 2mm is it's just enough to drive you absolutely crazy chasing ghosts in the shifting. I once spent a whole weekend swapping out everything but the frame before I finally busted out the alignment gauge (which I'd had the whole time, buried in a drawer).