New bike...can't shift into big chainring!

[aeiea]

I'm a nub so feel free to discard my comments (or answer them), but --

-- have you tried another LBS? they might have a different solution... or tell you if the shifter is defective. (recently had an issue with a defective device; took another LBS to tell me this)

-- what's the reason why you shift a lot from the middle chainring to the big one? I usually do most of my shifting with my right hand. Then again, I am usually on the mostly flat beach boardwalk.

[Crankin]

I had this problem on my previous 2 road bikes. It got solved when my DH put Dura Ace on the front of my Trek. I never used the big chain ring until 2008 and I started riding in 2000.
#2 on the R-700's. I have them on my present bike and finally, can shift and brake.

[Buster]

Thanks everyone.

As an added data point, my husband (with large strong hands) has tried it and said that although he can shift, it is tougher to shift than any of his bikes. I'm not really comfortable taking the shim out, because I think I would rather be able to reach the brakes. I think I need to try the R700s, but I'm a little hesitant to spend the money if it doesn't work. I have another LBS that I like that I'm due for a trip to to buy some new gloves...I may ask them if they've encountered this before.

aeiea, I do a fair bit of shifting because I live in a hilly area. I'm rather hung up on this even though I think that most of my riding will be in the middle chainring because I just spent a good amount of money on this bike and I want to be able to use it properly!

I'd be grateful for any other suggestions!

[OakLeaf]

Maybe you know someone who has R700s on their bike already, or maybe one of your LBSs has a bike you can test ride, just to see how the shifters work for you.

But if you can reach the brakes as is, a couple of people on here have said that the spring tension on a Dura-Ace front derailleur is much lighter than 105 or Ultegra. That would be a much less expensive change than swapping the shifters (plus you wouldn't have to re-tape the handlebars, which is ALWAYS a plus in my book. )

[Cataboo]

Maybe have the shop completely start over on tuning the front shifter - screw the cable adjuster round things (on your down tube, can't remember what they're called), all the way in, undo the cable at the derailleur.

I know on my bike, it was initially easy to shift in the front, then I asked the bf to adjust the front derailleur and whatever he did made it much harder to shift - like the cable was just too tight to begin with, and I'm thinking he just adjusted those cable guide things...

Then just recently I changed my cranks, and I moved the front derailleur (closer in, 'cause the new cranks were narrower) and suddenly it has gotten a lot easier to shift on that bike.

I just measured my hand - from the bottom of my palm to my middle finger tip is less than 6.5 inches (probably like 6 and 3/8s). My middle finger is 2 and 3/4 inches long. I have no problems using ultegra shifters and brakes without shims. I do have them kinda adjusted to be in the perfect spot for me to reach them on the hoods. My hands are small, and my fingers are stumpy. So you should be able to reach without the shim - but you probably shouldn't have to if they tune your bike right.

[Biciclista]

i had trouble with that (not as bad as you ) before i shifted to Campy

[OakLeaf]

Catriona, what kind of a FD do you have?

As I mentioned in the other thread, reach isn't a problem for me with my R700s, but it's a BIG effort upshifting my 105 FD. Maybe 10% of the time I'll end up trimming rather than shifting, and I always have to be cautious about not steering while I shift. It's a pretty long throw, but it's the effort much more than it is the distance. And in general I've got pretty strong forearms from motorcycling.

Someone else mentioned in the other thread - maybe it was aicabsolut again - that it's an issue for both 105 and Ultegra FDs, but that the spring tension on Dura-Ace is much lower.

[Cataboo]

I think they both have ultegra front derailleurs. One is a triple with 105 shifters and the other a compact double with ultegra shifters. I haven't noticed any problems with the 105 shifters - but then that bike doesn't have any of those cable barrel adjusters, so the bf can't just screw those out to tune the bike...

He's done it to my surly as well - I've got XTR shifters with a 105 front deraileur on it - it was initially easy to shift on the front derailleur, then I asked him to adjust something - and now in order to shift up on the front derailleur, I literally have to use the palm of my hand to push it in. They're trigger shifters and I mostly commute & rarely leave the large chain ring so I haven't made a huge deal out of it... But I noticed the other day when he was looking at that bike for me that he was having a hard time shifting up on the front. I think he made the cable too tight with his adjustments.

[kenyonchris]

i had trouble with that (not as bad as you ) before i shifted to Campy

+1 on this. Campy rocks for small handed people who hate the Shimano throw.