2ratai.lt · Kaunas, Aukštieji Šančiai

Ratnyčios g. 15, Kaunas

Easy access and parking by the entrance

Mon–Fri 11:00–18:00
info@2ratai.lt
Parking right by the entrance

It's currently off-season, so we work by appointment only and are not on site.

Gear adjustment is one of the mechanical jobs we do at our bike workshop. After winter, after a crash or simply after a year of riding, the gears start skipping, refuse to shift, or the chain falls off the sprockets. Most often this isn’t a serious fault, but stretched cables, a bent derailleur or a worn chain.

At the 2ratai.lt workshop in Kaunas, we adjust external and internal gears, straighten the derailleur hanger, and replace cables, chains, cassettes, cranks or the bottom bracket. Below you’ll find a symptom guide, prices, and an explanation of when adjustment is enough and when parts need replacing. If you need a full check-up, read about bike repair in Kaunas.

How much does gear adjustment cost? Gear adjustment – 6 € excl. parts; with derailleur hanger straightening – 10 € excl. parts; with cable and housing replacement – 12 € + parts.
Do I need to call before coming? During the season (16 Mar–14 Oct) Mon–Fri 11:00–18:00; outside working hours or on weekends, drop-off can be arranged by phone. From 15 Oct to 15 Mar – by appointment only, so please call.
Is it worth repairing, or should parts be replaced? If the chain and cassette aren’t worn, adjustment for a few euros is usually enough. It’s often cheaper to replace a worn chain in time than to replace the cassette as well later.
Do you straighten a bent derailleur hanger? Yes. Gear adjustment with hanger straightening costs 10 € excl. parts. If the hanger is too badly deformed, we’ll suggest replacing it – we’ll give you the exact price after inspecting it.

What gear symptoms tell you

People usually don’t search for the name of the fault, but for what they hear and feel while pedaling. Here are the most common symptoms and what a mechanic usually finds behind them.

016 €

Gears skip when pedaling

WhyMost often stretched shift cables, or a worn chain and cassette. Less often a bent derailleur or dirty housing is to blame.

Check it yourselfIf the gears skip, don’t ride with a slipping or dropping chain – bring the bike in for an inspection.

What we doWe adjust the derailleur travel and cable tension, and check chain wear. If needed, we replace the cable, housing or chain.

0210 €

Chain falls off the sprockets

WhyOften the derailleur limit screws are out of adjustment, or the hanger is bent after a crash. The chain may also be too long or stretched.

Check it yourselfIf the chain keeps dropping, don’t ride – bring the bike in for an inspection.

What we doWe straighten the hanger, set the limit screws, and adjust the gears. If the chain is stretched, we replace it.

0315–25 €

Creaking when pedaling, clicking noises

WhyA dry or dirty chain, a worn cassette, a loose bottom bracket bearing or pedals. The noise doesn’t always come from the gears, so the real source has to be pinpointed.

Check it yourselfLube the chain and spin the pedals without load. If it creaks only after lubing and when pedaling harder, the problem runs deeper.

What we doWe clean and lube the drivetrain, and check the bottom bracket, pedals and cassette. If needed, we replace the axle along with adjusting the gears.

0412 €

Gears won’t engage or shift slowly

WhyMost often the culprits are seized or rusty cables, clogged housing, or a misadjusted derailleur. In cold weather, cables sometimes seize up from moisture too.

Check it yourselfTry shifting while you’re not pedaling and see whether the shifter lever returns freely. If it moves with difficulty, a cable problem is likely.

What we doWe replace the cable and housing, lubricate the guides, and adjust the gears.

05from 10 €

Bike’s internal gears won’t shift

WhyIn internal gears (in the hub), the cable or chain often stretches, and less often the hub’s internal mechanism itself wears. The cause depends on the model.

Check yourselfCheck that the gear indicator arrows or marks at the hub line up and that the chain is properly tensioned. Do not take the hub apart yourself.

What we doWe inspect the hub, the cable and the chain tension, then adjust or repair as needed. The price depends on the fault.

068 €

Chain skips on new chainrings or cassette

WhyWhen a new chain is fitted on an old, worn cassette that has seen a lot of riding, the chain slips over the teeth. This is a classic sign of mismatched parts.

What we doWe assess the wear and recommend replacing the chain together with the cassette or chainrings. After replacement, we adjust the gears.

0710 €

Derailleur bent or knocked off after a fall

WhyWhen a bike falls onto its drivetrain side, the derailleur hanger is usually what bends, and less often the derailleur itself or its cage.

Check yourselfDon’t try to straighten the hanger yourself – at the workshop, the mechanic straightens it during the inspection.

What we doWe straighten the hanger and adjust the gears. If the derailleur or its cage is damaged, we replace them.

0825 €

Gears dirty, chain black and stiff to turn

WhyAfter winter or riding in mud, sand and old oil build up in the drivetrain and wear out the chain and cassette.

Check yourselfWipe the chain with a dry cloth and apply a suitable oil to the chain only. Too much lubricant attracts even more dirt.

What we doWe wash the running gear, chain, cassette and derailleur cage, then adjust the gears.

Bicycle gear adjustment prices

Prices apply to mechanical work; parts are charged separately.

Adjustment

Service	Price	Note
Running gear / gear adjustment	6 €	excluding parts
Gear adjustment with derailleur hanger straightening	10 €	excluding parts
Gear adjustment with cable and housing replacement	12 €	+ parts
Internal gear hub repair	from 10 €	excluding parts

Chain

Service	Price	Note
Chain lubrication	2 €	–
Chain replacement with gear adjustment	8 €	+ chain

Derailleur, derailleur cage, axle

Service	Price	Note
Derailleur replacement with gear adjustment	15 €	+ parts
Crank replacement	8 €	+ parts
Bottom bracket replacement with gear adjustment	15–25 €	+ parts

Washing and packages

Service	Price	Note
Drivetrain wash with gear adjustment	25 €	excluding parts
Preventive package (gear and brake adjustment, chain lubrication and other checks)	25 €	excluding parts

Prices are approximate: we give you the exact amount after inspecting the bike, before starting any work.

Myths about bicycle gear adjustment

Myth. If the gears skip, lubricating the chain is enough. In fact. Lubricant only helps when the problem is friction. Skipping is most often caused by cable tension, derailleur position or worn parts, so an adjustment is needed.
Myth. A new cable doesn’t need adjusting after replacement. In fact. New cables stretch during the first rides, so after replacement the gears often need adjusting once more. That’s why it’s worth replacing the cable together with an adjustment.
Myth. A new chain can be fitted on any cassette. In fact. If the cassette has seen a lot of riding, it has worn to match the old chain. A new chain on it may skip, so the parts are replaced together.
Myth. Internal gears don’t need maintenance. In fact. The hub is sealed, but the cable, chain tension and lubrication still need attention. Without them, internal gears also start to fail to shift or to slip.

Bicycle gear adjustment or parts replacement: how to decide

The simplest case is when the parts are still good and the gears have just gone out of tune. Then a gear adjustment for 6 € is enough, or for 10 € if the hanger is bent. This is often cheaper than replacing parts.

It’s different if the chain is stretched. A worn chain quickly wears out the cassette and the chainrings. Replacing the chain with an adjustment costs 8 € + the chain, while replacing the whole drivetrain later can cost several times more. Read more about it in the article bicycle chain maintenance.

Gears skip, parts are new – adjustment and cable
Chain drops after a fall – hanger, derailleur, limit screws
Skips on a new chain – probably a worn cassette
Creaking when pedalling and after lubrication – bottom bracket axle, pedals or cassette

If you ride your bike every day, it’s worth checking the chain several times per season rather than waiting until it starts to skip.

Bike repair in Kaunas: a mechanic working on a bike in the workshop

External and internal gears: how maintenance differs

External gears have a front and rear derailleur, a cassette, chainrings and a chain. They are sensitive to dirt and wear, but are easy to inspect and adjust. A mechanic sets the derailleur, cable and limit screws in a few minutes.

Internal gears are built into the rear hub, so the chain is often covered and stays cleaner. The main parts are the hub with a planetary gear, the shifter, the cable and the chain tensioner. Faults are usually related to the cable or the tension, and it’s only worth repairing the inside of the hub when it’s really necessary. Internal gear repair at our workshop costs from 10 € excluding parts.

Try to shift internal gears only while pedalling lightly, as this causes less wear on the hub.

How to keep your gears from going out of adjustment

Adjustment seems simple, but it needs to be repeated. If you ride your bike regularly, it’s worth checking the condition of the gears at least once per season, especially before the first spring kilometres. Getting your bike ready for the season will come in handy for this.

If your bike has been standing for a long time, it’s better to book a more comprehensive job, for example a bike service. At the same time we can adjust the brakes, and a bent or wobbly wheel can be trued according to the wheel repair prices.

Before bringing in a bike with a gear problem

Wipe off the worst of the dirt from the chain and cassette, if you can
Remember when the gears started skipping and in which gear
Tell us whether the bike has fallen over or has been repaired before
If you have spare parts, such as a cable or chain, bring them along
From 15 October to 15 March, please call first and arrange a time
Bring the keys if your bike is locked

From drop-off to pick-up

Arrange a time. During the season, come Mon–Fri 11:00–18:00. From 15 October to 15 March, be sure to call first, as we’re not on site.
Tell us about the symptoms. Describe how the gears behave: skipping, the chain dropping or crackling. This helps us find the cause faster.
Inspection and price. Before starting work, we inspect the drivetrain and tell you what needs fixing and how much it will cost.
Adjustment and parts replacement. We adjust the gears, straighten the derailleur hanger and, if needed, replace cables, the chain, the cassette or other parts.
Test ride and pick-up. We check that all the gears shift smoothly and hand the bike back to you. Drop-off and pick-up outside working hours or at weekends can be arranged by phone.

Customers often ask about gears

How can I adjust my bike’s gears myself?

Adjustment depends on setting the cable tension and the derailleur limit screws precisely, and a mistake can damage the cassette or the derailleur. If the gears skip or the chain drops, don’t ride – bring your bike in for inspection. Gear adjustment at our workshop costs 6 € excluding parts.

What are the parts of a bike’s internal gears?

The main parts are the rear hub with the internal gear system, the shifter, the cable (some models have two) and the chain. Most faults are related to the cable or the chain tension.

How much does internal gear adjustment cost?

Internal gear repair at our workshop costs from 10 € excluding parts. We give you the exact price after inspection, as it depends on the hub model and the fault.

How much does a chain replacement cost?

Replacing the chain, including gear adjustment, costs 8 € + the chain. If the cassette is worn, we will tell you in advance.

Do you repair the gears of electric bikes?

We repair the mechanical side – gears, chain, cassette – on e-bikes too; you can read more about it on our e-bike repair page. We do not do electrical or electronics repair.

How often do gears need adjusting?

A bike that is used actively is worth checking at least once per season. If the gears start skipping or jerking, don’t wait, because a stretched chain wears out the cassette faster.

Bike gear adjustment in Kaunas: from 6 € excl. parts