Won't shift on first try

[Kelly728]

Ah.. So so frustrated with this. My set-up is Shimano 105 on a compact double. My front derailleur doesn't shift up or down on the first attempt. I always have to move the shift lever twice to go either way. It was never a huge problem before because the serious lack of big hills on my routes allowed me to stay in the large chainring. Now I'm expanding my routes but I'm worried about the shifting issues on the road. What am I doing wrong??! I feel like I can't push the lever any further.

Help.. I feel so dumb right now.

[maillotpois]

Sounds like maybe your cables have stretched or your derailleur need adjustment. I don't know how to tighten Shimano cables as I am a Campy person, but maybe someone here can tell you how to - or take it in to the shop and ask for help.

[tctrek]

Make sure your not cross-chained when you try to shift. Shift up a gear or two in the back before you go from small chain ring to big chain ring.

[Trek420]

I ran into a fellow client of my fave LBS at the store. She said when she last brought her bike to the shop it was shifting so badly she'd have to get off the bike and hit the der to shift Our mutual mechanic said it was simple dripping of the Gatorade/Cytomax whatever she drinks from the downtube onto the chain.

A quick clean and little bit of lube and the bike's like new

[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.