Hand strength and shifting

[dravens]

I recently upgraded from a 20 year old Terry Symmetry with shifters on the down tube to a Specialized Ruby with SRAM apex components. I am OK with reaching the brakes and shifters but my fingers are just not strong enough to push the left shifter. I have to stop and do it manually or reach across with my right hand. Although this is a women's specific design bicycle you need to be a gorilla to operate the shifter. I think I have average strength hands for a woman my size which is 5'2 and 115 lbs. Looking for any suggestions from women who have dealt with this issue.

[Hi Ho Silver]

How are you positioning your hands when you shift - are they on the hoods, or in the drops?

[ny biker]

Does the left shifter require more effort than the right one?

[Eden]

Does the left shifter require more effort than the right one?

I wouldn't be surprised if the left one (front) takes more effort - especially if the bike is a compact or a triple with a fairly large difference in the sizes of the chain rings. That can make it a bit of a haul to move the chain up, though having to use both hands? is a bit over the top. I'll bet shifting down isn't a problem?

[ny biker]

I'm wondering if an adjustment to the shifter might be possible, to make it easier to shift. Or maybe the derailleur needs an adjustment.

[meggers113]

I had a similar issue that was caused by overtightening my shifter cable. It made shifting out of my big chainring nearly impossible, very similar to what you describe. Once I removed the excess tension the problem went away.

[dravens]

I am shifting from the hood

It is the left one only, the right works fine.

I have had 2 shops check it out. They keep telling me I have to exercises to strengthen my hands. Of course all the techs are male.

The derailleur actually works I just can't push the shifter with one hand.

[Hi Ho Silver]

I also have the Specialized Ruby with the SRAM Apex group. After I read your last post, I went over to the bike and played with the shifting to test how much strength was needed. The left shifter does take more force to shift than the right, but you should be able to do it IF the bike has been set up correctly. When I brought my bike home from the bike shop, I couldn't shift the front shifter to save my life ...and I have large strong hands! I adjusted the cable tension and properly set the derailleur stop screws. After making these adjustments, I can shift the front derailleur with just my ring finger.

My guess is that the shifter cable tension and, possibly, the derailleur stop screw for the large ring need to be adjusted. Just because 2 shops said it is okay does not necessarily make it so. If you don't know how to adjust these things, take it back to the store where you bought it, and ask to see the manager. If the manager doesn't or can't get it fixed, call Specialized customer support.

[OakLeaf]

I wonder if it's the position of the lever on the bars that's making it hard for you to get leverage.

Hand strength isn't a bad (or difficult) thing to work on. But a good fit will help you in so many other ways, too.

[tulip]

Can you try another bike with the same components to see if it's as hard to shift? That might clarify if their is an adjustment issue or not.

[Roadtrip]

The shop that simply says to strengthen your hands, is this the same shop you bought the Ruby at, not that it should matter at all I'm just curious?

I hate the "that's the way it is" mentality from some of the bike shop dudes.

If you bought the bike there AND they treat you this way, I'd have a talk with the manager or owner and if that dosnt get some reaction, go elsewhere. You don't want to deal with or trust your Ruby to a shop like that anyhow

[nscrbug]

I have the exact same issue right now, only my shifters are the new Ultegra 6700. I was told something similar by my LBS - the whole "oh just do some hand strengthening exercises and it'll be fine"...yeah, right. At 5'6" & 153lbs, I'm not a small, frail woman. So for me to find it nearly impossible to move my left shift lever means there is definitely something wrong. Even the techs in the shop think it's hard to move the shift lever. I can't even recall how many times I've had the bike back in the shop for adjustments. Not to mention having had both shifters replaced under warranty...still no improvement. I've also had the chain and cassette replaced and the bike was not even a year old. The only thing I haven't tried replacing yet, are the chainrings...and that might be next (if I don't just break down and buy a new bike by then).

Anyways...I can totally relate to what the OP is experiencing. When your bike is not shifting properly, it really does take the joy out of riding (at least for me it does).

[jessmarimba]

(I think I've only used my left shifter once, when I was hung over and didn't want to go up the hills to work. Maybe I should set my bike up as a 1x9...)

[dravens]

Went back to bike shop again and this time the cable and housing was replaced. This resulted in a big improvement. I was very pleased with the service this time. I still think it is a hard movement for my hand to make so I am going to work with some exercise putty to improve the strength of my left hand.

[Hi Ho Silver]

Glad the shop got it fixed for you. My experience has been that the left shifter itself got less stiff over time. At this point, mine is fairly easy to shift.

Happy riding and shifting!