Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


Problems shifting gears (main ones on chainrings)
#1
Hi guys,

I'd be most grateful if anyone could provide a little advice about my shifters/gears.

The shifter that works the rear derailleur seems to be having problems. It's a SRAM X-9 rapidfire trigger, leading to an X-0 rear derailleur.

Sometimes when I'm on the hardest of the chainrings and I try to switch down to the middle one, it gets stuck, in other words doesn't change down & renders the shifter unusable temporarily. The only way to bring it back to life again seems to be to alternate between upshifting & downshifting until something happens!

Can anyone tell me the cause of this? It's not all the time, just occasionally but obviously can cause fairly annoying problems especially if at the foot of a hill I'm about to climb!

Is it to do with the cables? Or the shifters? Or something else?

Muchas apprecianados fellas

Si
  Reply
#2
(03-21-2011, 04:44 AM)Dalton2250 Wrote:  Hi guys,

I'd be most grateful if anyone could provide a little advice about my shifters/gears.

The shifter that works the rear derailleur seems to be having problems. It's a SRAM X-9 rapidfire trigger, leading to an X-0 rear derailleur.

Sometimes when I'm on the hardest of the chainrings and I try to switch down to the middle one, it gets stuck, in other words doesn't change down & renders the shifter unusable temporarily. The only way to bring it back to life again seems to be to alternate between upshifting & downshifting until something happens!

Can anyone tell me the cause of this? It's not all the time, just occasionally but obviously can cause fairly annoying problems especially if at the foot of a hill I'm about to climb!

Is it to do with the cables? Or the shifters? Or something else?

Muchas apprecianados fellas

Si

Have you tried adjusting the cable tension ring where the cable goes into the shifter on the handlebars? It should turn with your fingers. Try turning it by 1/4 of a turn then see if it helps. If it worsens try turning the other direction. If that doesn't do it then you will have to have a bike tech look at it if you do not know how to adjust the front derailleur.
  Reply
#3
Check out the inner cables first. Look for loose strands or corrosion where they run through the outer housings. Remove the inners, if you can, and inspect them.
Check also where the cables run around the frame for cable wear, obstructions or dirt, especially if it goes under the bottom bracket shell..
Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply
#4
Thanks Bubbalou & Cycler, I'll take heed of both your suggestions.

Much appreciated.

Si
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
I got new Tioga FASTR X Tires (Ask Me An...
Today 03:18 PM
Are You Riding the TDF
Today 12:20 PM
Tour de FRANCE 2025
Today 09:52 AM
What are the pros and cons of using a 26...
Today 09:46 AM
The great thing about trikes
Today 09:27 AM
Japanese Bike Brands
Today 08:27 AM
Continued learnings from bikepacking
Yesterday 11:34 PM
Gandolfi "Super" model 1985-86 racing bi...
07-04-2025 01:33 PM
How I used to clean my bike
07-03-2025 04:43 PM
Cassette shifting Problem
07-03-2025 02:51 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. GirishH
23 posts
no avatar 2. meamoantonio
17 posts
no avatar 3. Flowrider
17 posts
no avatar 4. Jesper
14 posts
no avatar 5. enkei
13 posts