My lovely new bike.

[VeloVT]

Hi Savra,
Congratulations on your new bike -- sounds like you're off to a great start!

It took me some time to get comfortable shifting through my front chainrings. The bike I started on (which I just sold) was Ultegra/triple. I have a 105/triple and my new bike is new Ultegra/double. In general, triples tend to be a bit slower shifting and harder-shifting. My 105 has always been a bit fiddlier than the Ultegra triple was but I finally got it tuned in and it's been very reliable for me this season, so you can certainly do just fine with 105.

All of that said, a lot of getting a clean shift in front is technique. I never drop my chain anymore, and I make the shift up into my big chainring on the first try too. A few tips:
1. The timing for shifting up (into bigger rings in front) and shifting down (into smaller rings in front) is different. To shift up on 105, you can expect to have to give the shifter a big shove (bigger than you might expect) -- do it decisively, and you do have to hold it a tad longer than when downshifting. When you downshift, it should also be decisive (timid shifting can lead to undershifting), but on my triples at least this is a much quicker shift, and if you hold it too long you risk overshifting (overshifting on the way down can mean that you drop your chain).

On my 2008 Ultegra double, the upshift on the front is really light and easy, almost the same as downshifting, so this varies according to components.

2. **This is really important. Upshifting or downshifting in the front, you need to let up on the pedals for a moment. You don't need to STOP pedaling, you just need to softpedal for a revolution. Many a dropped chain has come from trying to shift into the granny while whaling up a hill. Practice this and the rhythm will become automatic for you.

3. If you should drop your chain, you can usually sweep it back up without having to stop if you **RELAX** and immediately upshift (while soft-pedaling).

Oh, and I was a wreck when I first got clipless pedals. My boyfriend and I got into lots of fights because he would ride as normal, but little (normal) things he would do would make me nervous because I was scared to death that I"d get put in a situation in which I would have to stop or slow suddenly and I wouldn't be able to get out of the pedals . It took me a month or two to get relaxed and comfy with them. Now it's totally second nature and I wouldn't give up clipless pedals for anything, so just keep riding .

[VeloVT]

A few more thoughts...

A lot of women who have small hands have a hard time with the big shove needed to shift up. If you have small hands, you might look into shimming your levers or replacing them with short reach levers (though this last option can get $$$).

Bars that are too wide can make everything feel kind of awkward too. Smaller bars will not specifically address "reach to the lever" problems, but it could help the whole setup feel more natural. This is not a terribly expensive thing to change either.

Lastly, adjustment really does make a big difference. A derailleur that is just slightly off adjustment can make shifting too slow (or too fast, though in my experience it's more common for a not-so-good tune-up job to result in a chain that hesitates and rattles and undershifts). Sometimes I think it can seem to be shifting properly on the stand, when hand-pedaled, but when you get it out onto the street under real shifting conditions it's not quite right. So it would be worth checking that too. Once I was having a couple different lingering problems including front der adjustment; they kept adjusting it and telling me it was fine, but then it would hesitate forever when downshifting (and other assorted issues). Finally I took it in on a slow day, and had them adjust, then I'd go out and ride in the parking lot and report back, then they'd adjust some more, then I'd test it again. After 3-4 rounds we got it perfect. In your case, you might make sure a mechanic has actually test-ridden your bike to check the adjustments, not just run through the gears on a stand.

[Savra]

I will say I definitely have issues with how much I have to reach to brake or shift. My hands are very small. I had the mistaken impression that buying a women's specific bike would include taking into account my small hands. Oh well. I will try the shim thing. There is a bike store here that insisted I pay them $75 to fit me before even letting me test ride a bike (the $75 would have then gone towards the purchase of the bike). Their suggestion irritated me but they would have made sure the brake reach fit. I would gladly have paid them the $75 to fit me had I been able to test ride first and had an idea if I liked a bike from their store. Oh well - what is that saying - hind sight is 20/20?

[Ana]

It sounds like a passive-aggressive scheme to have you buy your bicycle from their shop exclusively which limits your potential to find the best bike for you, not the best bike they can offer you

When I was bike shopping (although I had the idea that I would get it that day and then take it up North with me...bad idea but oh well), I got to ride anything I wanted for free and that's the way it should be! They may ask you for your license or something while you're out on the bike to prevent you from stealing it but you shouldn't be financially tied to their shop if you haven't even been on a bike

[Savra]

Thats why I went with the bike I did. The bike shop I got it from was very cool about letting me take it for a spin around the neighborhood. They were very encouraging and didn't make me feel stupid with all my questions. So I picked my bike half for the bike and half for the shop that sold it. I had been to six shops and started feeling like Goldilocks and the three bears. One shop was great but didn't have the kind of bike I was looking for. Others had great bikes but crappy sales people who told me it would dirty their bikes if I road them in the neighborhood. I was so happy to finally find one that had a bike that fit me and had great sales people who knew how to sell bikes.

[rij73]

For what it's worth... I was also surprised by how long I had to hold the lever to shift up a chainring. Now I hold it and don't let go until I've felt the chain move and engage.

I fell a couple of times from a dead stop too. It takes practice to get the hang of it. You'll get there!

[Savra]

Thank you for the encouragement. I must say, TE rocks!!!

[SouthernBelle]

For what it's worth... I was also surprised by how long I had to hold the lever to shift up a chainring. Now I hold it and don't let go until I've felt the chain move and engage.

I fell a couple of times from a dead stop too. It takes practice to get the hang of it. You'll get there!

OK, now I'm thinking about this. You should not have to hold the lever. You push the lever. The derailleur shifts. The chain moves.

[Savra]

Well, assuming this works - here is a picture of my new bike!!!!

[KnottedYet]

Whooo-hoooooo! Pretty!
Congratulations!