Shifting problem

[OakLeaf]

Keeping the drivetrain clean is good, and a dirty or dry chain can be noisy, but it doesn't cause misalignment.

Having had an issue with a FD turning on the frame, I'd be surprised if that's the issue. Mine wouldn't shift to the small ring at all, but the chain wasn't rubbing in the middle ring.

Is it rubbing on the same side of the cage regardless of what gear you're in? Or is it rubbing on the inside in certain gears and the outside in others?

Or maybe it's too high, and rubbing the pin that connects the sides of the cages??



ETA, completely unrelated to your shifting issue:

there were not many hills today so I spent a good amount of time in the big chain

Do you have a cadence monitor? What kind of cadence are you maintaining? I don't remember what your gearing is and wouldn't have a clue which thread to find it in, but I'd be surprised if it's so low that you really ought to be using the big ring under 20 mph...