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forum
slack gear changes
Hi folks of the forum,
I'm hoping for some advice after my LBS failed to solve a problem I've been having with a new bike.
I bought a Whyte Suffolk 105 at the end of August for commuting into work. I've been impressed with everything about the bike except the very slack gear changes.
Basically, when I click the lever to shift up, it can take several seconds before the gear actually shifts. This is causing me some problems when pulling away from lights and junctions as I end up pedalling at excessive cadence when I pull way, then all of a sudden 'clunking' into the next gear when I'm not expecting it, and subsequently slowing down because the gear shift interrupts my pedalling.
As a result, I've taken to avoiding shifting down when I come to a stop, but this just means I end up pulling away just as slowly as in the scenario above, due to being in a high gear.
I took the bike to my LBS at the weekend, but it came back with a clean bill of health (the cables are apparently the correct length) and the suggestion was that the shifters were just not particularly responsive - in other words, 'just get on with it, mate.'
Please tell me there's something I can be doing to fix this. I've not experienced it on any of my other previous and current bikes.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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7 comments
appreciate the comments folks, I'll try a different shop and ask them to take a look at the cables in detail rather than simply check the tension.
Cheers
Is it possible to take the bike back to the seller Ricky? It must surely be under guarantee so get them to fix it.
If that's not possible then you must contact the seller and explain the problem. They should either arrange for a local shop to fix it, at no cost to you, or arrange collection so they can do the job. I would avoid the LBS you've already used as they seem to be incompetent.
Either way, be careful not to do too much work yourself. If you kink a cable or something similar they could cry foul and blame you.
Best of luck.
Thirded.
Check cables and replace/reroute as required.
I've seen inner cables that have been kinked, used rather than binned and although the kink is just a slight curve it causes a relatively huge increase in friction inside the cable housing.
The extra friction slows the transfer of the release of cable at the shifter on its way to the derailleur and that's a common cause of the symptoms you're describing.
Fourthed. It really sounds like a frictional problem - kinked cable, lack of lube, etc.
But it seems such an obvious diagnosis that it's weird that your LBS couldn't sort it.
I think Roadie_john is spot on. Something somewhere is restricting the free movement of the cable.
If it's come on or got worse recently, it sounds like it needs cleaning and lubrication. Even basic shimano kit shifts well. If it's alwats been that way, it sounds like the cable is fouled somewhere. The cable run below the tape can be a bit draggy if the bars have really tight bends, but even that doesn't usually cause problems that bad, but it could be a kink or a badly finished or crushed cable end. If a clean and lube doesn't work, try a different bike shop. If theres still no joy, try going direct to whyte and see what they suggest.
No expert, but have used 105 and it should be perfectly responsive - if all cables are tensioned ok and have decent (indexed) sheaths, sounds like it must be the derailleur sticking in some way (it changes ok in the end, so set up is ok?)
*I have a campag fetish.........