This is probably a very elimentary problem to fix but I’m not sure exactly how.
My chain seems to slip between gears, but only in high gears and when climbing, other than that it’s A ok. I know it’s not a matter of a worn/stretched chain or warn cogs. Any ideas are welcome. 
Thanks
Brian
Not only to bump this to the top but I have a second question.
For those of you that do the bike barefoot, what are the advantages? I’m thinking of cycling barefoot and then throwing on some socks in T2 but don’t want to risk any issues doing the 55km barefoot and then run into problems. I’ve done a few training rides barefoot with no problems, should I be fine?
Thanks again
Your rear derailleur is most likely out of line. It’s either a high-low adjustment or your derailleur may be bent from the hanger. Should be a pretty cheap fix at your LBS. If not, pick up the Park Tool Guide to Bike Maitenence or the Zinn book. You’ll get an idea from there.
is this a new issue on an old bike or a new issue on a new bike? what model is the bike, what size is it, and how heavy are you?
also, am i right in understanding that you don’t have shifting problems in the high gears when you are not climbing?
2007 Trek Equinox 7, size is 56 and I’m 158lbs… and yes, only problems when shifting in high gears while climbing…
it sounds more like a ghost shifting issue to me. this has been known to occur with flexy frames, but i doubt that’s the source here. maybe have a look at your crankset. if some part is loose, then the chainring could flex enough to cause a ghost shift.
On YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzvfCaIbyQ, you can check your gear shifting. Check it out and if you still have a problem, let us know and we can attempt to fix it later. 
What chain are you using. If it has a quick link, Sram or wipperman, that could be the prob…
check the lockring on your cassette, too. Could be just a bit loose, and when standing to climb the added torque could be shifting the cassette enough to cause the chain to jump.
Why would a quicklink cause a problem? Just asking cause my gears have been slipping alot since I fell and skidded on my rear der, which has now been adjusted twice, but gears still skip after a couple of rides. My chain has about 2k on it.
Ziva,
Not so much with the Sram quicklink but with the Wipperman quicklink there is a “inside” side and an “outside” side. If the link is installed upside down, it will not wrap around the cassette cogs without lifting itself off a tooth and subsequently “skipping” or “jumping.”
Its pretty easy to tell which is the “right” way to install the link. The one side of the link is cut out a lot like a chain link side plate (hour glass shape). This is the “inside” side of the link and needs to be on the “inside” side of the chain loop. The cut out lets the link sit on the cog teeth properly.
If this is your problem, this is the solution. Otherwise, it could be a number of other issues.
I know you say it is not a worn or stretched chain, but a what about stretched shifting cable. Have you checked it a few times since getting the bike. I had to have mine adjusted twice after getting new cables put in, as they stretched that much.
Why would a quicklink cause a problem? Just asking cause my gears have been slipping alot since I fell and skidded on my rear der, which has now been adjusted twice, but gears still skip after a couple of rides. My chain has about 2k on it.
If your chain has 2k on it, it’s time to replace it. 10sp chains do not last as long as 7,8,9sp did… If you are not sure, take it to the LBS and have them put a chain gauge on it.
You say your der. has been adjusted twice since you fell… did you/mechanic check the der. hanger to make sure it was not bent?
I had a similar problem on a loooooong ride a few weeks ago, my chain started skipping, I adjusted, did it again, and again and limped home. Eventually, while on a stand I determined the quick link on the wippermann was seezing, I bent it back and forth oiled and is good again. I also thought my derailleur was messed up as I had laid the bike derailleur side down in the back of the car…this may help
Thanks, I checked my quicklink, and both sides look the same, and have ‘10 speed’ written on them, for whatever that means. I have no idea what brand the quicklink is. It’s a duraace 1-spd chain though.
Last time I was at the shop (350k ago), he said the chain was fine.
Right after my fall, he said the rear der hanger was bent and straightened it out, changed my cables and readjusted everything, which ended up not fixing things at all, since it all looks fine in the shop, and only skips randomly when riding, not in a particular gear and without any rubbing issues. When I went back the second time, he took the whole thing off again as supposedly the rear der wasn’t aligned properly somewhere. Dont know. After that it was better for a while, but lately has been skipping more again… argh. It’s a pain.
I suppose it’s a shifting issue, because sometimes the chain will slip completely after I’ve been riding in the same gear for a while, and then be fine again; next I’ll shift the lever and either it takes a couple rotations for the chain to move between gears, or it doesn’t shift at all, until I move the lever for two or three more gears and then it shifts into the last one. To my two X chromosomes it all seems like it’s happening at random.
Do you mean 350 miles, or 350,000 miles? I’m guessing 350.
In any event… It doesn’t sound like you have a problem with your derrailluer or chain. They would both cause consistant, even rythmic, problems, not random like you are experiencing.
Take a closer look at your cable and housing. You said the cable was recently replaced… did the LBS also replace the housing? Sometimes road grime can get into the housing and cause shifting woes. Check under the BB and make sure the cable is routed correctly through the BB guide.
Good luck!
I’m in Europe, so I meant 350 kilometers The housing just got replaced, maybe 2000km ago, cables look fine @BB… I’ll take it back to the shop or try a new chain I guess.
Thanks for your help!
Z
I recently did a sprint tri without socks, and it was fine. I had previously done one of my bricks like that to see what the issues might be: I paid attention to where there was light chafing, and lubed those parts of the shoe for the race. I did notice a funny feeling on the sole of one of my feet a couple of days later after a 4 hour ride, which may or may not be connected. Next w/e I’m going to try a sockless Oly and see how that goes (hey, it’s a “C” race!). 1/2IM and IM I’m definitely using socks though.
On the subject of gears slipping: did it always do this, right out of the store? If it didn’t then I think it’s most likely a stretched derailleur cable (I had a similar problem which I fixed by turning the barrel adjuster on the cable away a quarter of a turn). j
.