New bike help!!

[gagallagher04401]

Hello all
My g/f and I plan on getting bikes. To do casual riding. Nothing crazy hardcore. Well I got a bike litrally two days ago. It is a Genesis two-nine, with shimano derailers, and rapid fire shifters. I got the bike from Wal-mart. (Did not have a ton to spend, nor did not want to spend a ton) Well I have not had a bike for years. Well I do like this bike, but in my opinion it is a BIKE get on it and ride, not frig with it.

I got the rear derailer squared away, best I can so it shifts well.

The front one though I have followed guides over and over, just seems like it is not work right. It shifts crazy hard, have to be Heman to shift the damn thing into 2 or 3 gear on the front derailer. I check my height, H and L setting, I think I am going to break my thumb to shift it though. It is like the derailer is so tight (the spring) to move out, and it does not go all the way out over the largest front sprocket. I am lost and frustrated, on a 200.00 bike, in two days.
Did I buy junk? Am I numb? LOL
Help would be appreciated.

Thanks, nice to meet you all!
George

[nfmisso]

Hi George;

Search for Shimano Tech Docs (Google or your favorite search engine) - make sure the cable to the front derailleur is correctly routed - or you can post a picture here of your front derailleur, making sure to have clear views of how the cable is routed and terminated.

Front derailleurs have awfully strong springs, and just a millimeter or two in cable routing has a huge effect on the lever arm.