Bike Boo Boos
How to fix your mountain bike when you are miles from civilization
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Broken front derailleur
 
If you break the front derailleur, either remove the broken pieces or loosen the clamp and twist them round to the non-drive side of the seat tube.
 
Leave the chain on the chain ring of your choice. It may jump off over very rocky terrain, but should be fine in most situations because the rear derailleur is designed to keep the chain under tension.

Before you can remove the pieces
  • Undo the front derailleur cage or break the chain.
    • This is because the derailleur cage completely encircles the chain. Some derailleur cages have a screw which, once removed, separates the cage pieces. If yours does not, you will need to break and refasten the chain.
  • Undo the front shifter cable where it attaches to the derailleur
    • This will let you slide the derailleur round, up or off the bike. Secure this cable so that it doesn’t get caught up in anything.

After removing the front derailleur, shifting is accomplished by lifting the chain from one chain ring to another by hand. Of course, you have to be stationary to do this.