Bicycle Mechanics - Sparatic Shifting

I've been reading about how to adjust derailleurs and actually followed the by feel method pretty well. I set the bike up on the rack, put the chain on the smallest gear and loosen the tension on the cable. Up click one time and start cranking in tension until she shifts. I reiterated this several times until everything felt somewhat smooth.

But when I take it out on the road, things seem kinda ok but it's double jumping gears up and down or it decides it doesn't want to shift at all. This is all 10 year old Ultegra and I wonder if the shifter itself has gone bad?

Thanks for any ideas!

Shifter could be tired. How many miles? Chain and Cassette are 10 years old too?

Shifter could be tired. How many miles? Chain and Cassette are 10 years old too?

Thanks!

Cassette is new and also the crank but the chain probably old. Although, I cleaned the chain really well today. I don't know how many miles. It's a gt road bike I bought used.

When you get a new cassette, you should also replace the chain. And old chain will have stretched to fit the old teeth on the old cassette, and this can cause problems - including shifting trouble. Clean and oil your derailleurs. Check cable-tension. Put on a new chain, and see if the problem has been resolved.

What they said. (New chain.)

s-p-o-r-a-d-i-c

What they said. (New chain.)

s-p-o-r-a-d-i-c

I took the bike to 2 different LBS for each thing.... Cassette and compact crank. Neither impressed me but I tried to spend money locally and I didn't ***** about they chain falling off after the crank change. I'm just wondering why they didn't suggest the chain? Why does a chain decide to climb multiple gears? I would think a chain is pretty stupid and lazy? I'm not trying to be an ass... really, I want to understand why a worn out chain would get crazy

Wore out jocky wheels will cause those problems.

I would actually vote for new cables and housing before any of the above. Cheap, easy, and often the culprit.

+1 cables and housing. shift the bike to the biggest gear, then without moving the cranks, shift the shifter to the smallest gear then you can pull the cables out of their bosses and see if there are kinks or resistance between the cables/housing. Very often the culprit of bad shifting, next to the chain. a worn out chain wears out by stretching, as the pins get worn down, causing the chain to not mate with the actual valleys between the teeth of your gears, which will wear out your drivetrain at an incredible rate.

Shifter cable tension might be too low. Tighten 'em up. It's easy and FREE!

Shifter cable tension might be too low. Tighten 'em up. It's easy and FREE!

Cable tension might be too tight, too.

It could also be old & gungy cables, or a worn chain, or a bent derailleur hanger...

Thanks for all of the ideas!

As an update, I took it to the LBS and had them check it out. They think its the shifter. Something about a bad 4 year period Ultegra was made. I dunno but, I asked how much for a new shifter. The guys says $180.... I'm like what?? My bike is worth maybe $300.

So anyone have any ideas about how they would proceed in a not so costly fashion?

Thanks!