the chain moves down one cog then gets caught up
what could be causing that?
I experienced something vaguely similar and found it was a bent tooth on the cog.
While pedaling the chain tension kept it out of trouble, but when backpedaling it would hang up and either lock up or drop to the next gear.
why are you pedaling backwards? Seems unaero 
why are you pedaling backwards? Seems unaero
You’ve never heard of backpedaling? I bet he does it with the fiancee quite a bit…
John
why are you pedaling backwards? Seems unaero
well it is an issue sometimes just kicking the pedals around to get going from a stop!
Is your chain clean?
Is your chain clean?
yeah everything is clean and new
EXCEPT…the rear wheel
could be the hub is need of an overhaul…
Sounds like your rear derailleur hanger is bent. When you look at the jockey wheels from the rear they should be inline and parallel with the cog. If they are parallel but not inline you need to play adjust the cable tension. If they are not parallel with the cog the derailleur hanger is bent. Here is a link to the Park website which shows how the professionals fix it.
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=39
sounds like your freehub is filthy, has crap between the largest cog and the hub or is binding somehow. I get that from riding in real cold weather when the grease gets thick.
the chain moves down one cog then gets caught up
what could be causing that?
Is your derailleur hanger aligned correctly?
You’re not running a goofy cassette or chainrings are you? Like combining an 11-21 and a 12-25 to make a 11-25? Back pedaling can also be funky if you’re cross-chained, in the front big ring and the rear smallest ring (or vise-versa). Does it persist if you back pedal with a strait chainline?
Back when I had friction downtube shifters, I could tell if I was properly on a gear if I could pedal backwards smoothly. Are you sure your rear derailleur is adjusted properly?
Have you checked that all the links in the chain are moving freely?
I’m having that same shit on my bike, and was just about to put something up asking.
I vote for the hub either being full of crap or too full of grease…
I vote for the hub either being full of crap or too full of grease…
I agree and it is very easy to diagnose by swapping with a wheel with a known good hub
.