Have I forgotten how to shift?

[xeney]

I had that same problem on my mountain bike, and it was because I didn't realize there was sort of a knack to shifting in the front. The rear is easy, and my road bike is easy, but there is kind of a sweet spot on that front shifter. My husband could shift it find but I had all kinds of trouble until I figured out that I was not holding it hard or long enough.

I have low-end Shimano components. I have wondered if upgrading might make it less of an issue, but I think it is something I can probably just work out with some practice.

[CyclChyk]

Xeney - My Giant has Ultegra and I had a HARD time with the front gears. Same thing as you. Not long enough or hard enough. My Bianchi is 105's and so far it shifts like a dream...... so... don't know if that means Ultegra isn't much of an improvement over 105's, or that it means upgrading would just cost money and not fix the problem.

[salsabike]

Actually, your DH SHOULD get on and ride it. Or your LBS guy. Bikes behave differently when the weight of a real person is on them than when someone's shifting gears and moving the pedals by hand. Sounds like some kind of chain or derailleur adjustment might be necessary.

[Tali]

In case this is an issue, I'll mention it. I did this when I first switched to Rapid Fire shifters. You can't really shift both front and rear at once. Shift one, then the other. Once I figured this out, no more chain drop. Maybe this is waaaayy too stupid to even mention, but hey, I'm ok with admitting my own learning curve, which was STTTTEEEEEEPPP when I started biking. I have no idea how experienced you are, so no offense intended......

[CyclChyk]

totally off topic - note to TALI - I am not afraid of spiders but your avitar freaks me out!!!

[DDH]

Good heavens no I'm not offended Tali, ecspecially when someone is just trying to help. I do just shift one at a time. I don't think I would have enough cordination to try to do both at once. LOL


I'm with you CyclChyk on the spider, I'm not afraid of them either but hers does look creepy.

My shifters are ultegra and I think there is only one step up from that so I don't think upgrading is needed or the problem.

Thank you so much Salsa, I have tried to tell them the same thing. I kept mentioning that maybe it was only doing it while the weight was on there and such. I'm glad to know that I am not crazy thinking that. LOL
I think I am going to have him do that today, as long as he marks it where it belongs for me.
It reminds me of when a car has a problem and you tell the mechanic or your husband and it never does it with them. Irritates me. LOL

[SouthernBelle]

I have 105s on my Giant and have had the problem with it coming off the front. I've done 2 things that seem to have helped. 1 is to shift way up in the back before shifting up in the front.

The other is to continue pedaling until I'm positive it's off. Shifting up in the front is a little noisy sometimes so I was assuming it was slipping off. But stopping pedaling simply didn't give it the time to finish the shift so it would fall since I had stopped in mid-shift. So try pedaling a crank or 2 more and see if the chain picks up.

HTH

[Tali]

Shift to off topic

I'm with you CyclChyk on the spider, I'm not afraid of them either but hers does look creepy.

Yeah, it was creepy when I saw it crawling across the kitchen floor! That darned things body was as big as my big toe!!! I think the only reason I didn't freak out was b/c we were in New Zealand at the time and I was more of the "Gee, look at this enormous spider. I've never seen one like this before" mode. But I was glad I didn't see another in the house we were living in, or anywhere else, again!