Won't shift on first try

[Mr. Bloom]

Help.. I feel so dumb right now.

I hope the clear message you're getting is that there is a 99% chance that this is mechanical and not "user error"

[HillSlugger]

Many front derailleurs have what is called "trim" where you can make it move just a little bit so as to eliminate the chain rubbing on the inside of the cage. So, it can take two shifting actions to make a "real" shift if your pushes are too small. Is there any chance that this is what's happening?

Anyway, take it in to the LBS and have them check it out.

[laura jane]

Many front derailleurs have what is called "trim" where you can make it move just a little bit so as to eliminate the chain rubbing on the inside of the cage. So, it can take two shifting actions to make a "real" shift if your pushes are too small. Is there any chance that this is what's happening?

Anyway, take it in to the LBS and have them check it out.

Ditto this. I felt like an idiot when I had to stop on a charity ride for a mechanic to look at my bike because it 'wasn't shifting'. I had no idea there were 2 other 'positions' and once I knew that, everything was fine. It slightly moves the chain to prevent rubbing and grinding.

DH would yell at me when I told him it wasn't working.... 'shift up one!!' and I'd yell back 'I DID! NOTHING HAPPENED!'. All is good now

[Kelly728]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, looks like this will warrant a trip to the LBS. Now I just have to find a new LBS, I moved too far from where I bought the bike. Yikes.

MDHill- I did think about the trimming feature on the shifters, but I feel like I just can't push any futher. It still could be a possibility.

[HillSlugger]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, looks like this will warrant a trip to the LBS. Now I just have to find a new LBS, I moved too far from where I bought the bike. Yikes.

MDHill- I did think about the trimming feature on the shifters, but I feel like I just can't push any further. It still could be a possibility.

It's a possibility that this is the effect you are getting because something is preventing a proper shift.

[Kelly728]

It's a possibility that this is the effect you are getting because something is preventing a proper shift.

Doh.. it is user error. I got off the bike, pushed the pedal with my hand and shifted between chainrings with no problem. Now to figure out what I am doing differently when I am on the bike. *headdesk*

[aicabsolut]

That's common. The bike will behave differently under load. Do you have a trainer? Sometimes I will work on tuning with my bike set up on the trainer with light resistance (enough that I can still hand pedal, but not so little that it's freely spinning).

Because you are getting stuck shifting in EITHER direction, it's probably a cable issue instead of a FD adjustment. Try lubing the cable well under the BB with any oily cleaning lube like Prolink. Lube/clean the shifter with WD-40. Have you always had this problem? How old are your cables? You might need new ones.