Bicycle Mechanics - Front derailleur setup woes...

When I shift up to the big ring it's fine (2 distinct shifts), but when I shift down the shifter lets the derailleur release from the large ring all the way to the granny gear in one shift. Is the shifter hosed, or is this a setup problem?

Also, it takes way too much pressure to shift down that it should IMO. How hard should you have to push on the shifter to shift down?

BTW, I have the cable tension as slack as I think it should be.

Try backing off the high gear limit screw about 1/8 turn.

Try backing off the high gear limit screw about 1/8 turn.

Thanks. I assume you are addressing the need to push hard to shift down by adjusting the high screw. How about the fact the shifter releases entirely to the inward position when I shift down instead of shifting twice down?

What type of lever/derailleur and what combo of chainrings? Has prob been there as long as you had bike or recent development and if recent were there any changes to the bike before it began.

What type of lever/derailleur and what combo of chainrings? Has prob been there as long as you had bike or recent development and if recent were there any changes to the bike before it began.

It's an LX shifter and a Ultegra derailleur. 36/50 compact.

From what I understand, mixing road and mountain shifters and dérailleurs up front is problematic - they don't use the same pull ratio.

It's an LX shifter and a Ultegra derailleur. 36/50 compact.

I'm confused. Is this a 50/36 compact or a 50/36/some small ring triple? If it's a compact double, what's the problem?

And what DMF says about mixing front shifters is very valid. Mountain and road don't play well together. No problems with a rear, however.

Shoot guys, sorry. Not LX, but 105 shifter and Ultegra derailleur. Duh.

It's a double 50/36. I didn't mean for the question to be so complicated. I'll go to my LBS and ask them if the shifter is working right.

Shoot guys, sorry. Not LX, but 105 shifter and Ultegra derailleur. Duh.

It's a double 50/36. I didn't mean for the question to be so complicated. I'll go to my LBS and ask them if the shifter is working right.

I know just what you mean. You're missing the trim position on the downshift. I had the same issue and loosened the cable a little with the barrel adjuster and that solved the prob. That was on one of my bikes. I was also having trouble with the FD on a friends bike and had that ? answered in another thread, although I haven't had the chance yet to address that one yet.