Cycling UK Forum

I can't shift of my small chain ring. I've only just had put on my bike Shimano 105 brakes and shifters (not the latest 105s). Does anyone have any suggestions about what might be the problem?
Thanks
Alec

Try moving the derailleur by hand to see if it's the derailleur or the STI lever.

Is the cable too slack.?
Does the derailleur move?
Is the derailleur moving but the chain doesn't "climb" up to the next ring?

The front mech moves ok, and responds to any adjustments plus the cable seems plenty tight enough. I'm guessing it's the lever? Cheers

I think I should take it back to the shop that put it on, but the hanger was all corkscrewed! I wasn't really looking earlier as I was wanting to watch Le Tour!! So I've adjusted the hanger, but am currently at the point where it is either too high so the chain falls over the top of the large chain ring, or the hanger is not far out enough so it pushes he chain back on to the small chain ring when i release the lever. I think I just need to fiddle around with it more (unless I make the bike shop fix the problem, after all what did I pay them for in the first place)!

If the chain falls over the large ring it sounds as though the limit screw is set incorrectly

Have you tried moving the front mech by pulling the cable itself when the cable is loose, then adjusting the limit screws.

Once you have done that then you should be able to tell whether the shifters are working ok.

Helpful video:-
http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-front-derailer/

Cheers dude, and also by great coincidence the latest copy of the London Cycling Campaign magazine dropped through my letterbox yesterday and the technical article was 'Setting up the front mech' and 'Setting up the rear mech'! All fixed now, was a combo of incorrectly adjusted limit screws and cable tension.