Bicycle Mechanics - odd shifting question

Hi,

I think I have a problem with cable friction but I am not sure. When I am on the smallest front chainring then the rear derailleur shifts fine, if I move to the middle chainring then I can go from high -> low fine, but the low -> high doesn't work properly. I have to shift up twice and then down once to get to the next gear. If I shift up once, then pull the cable then it goes into the correct gear.

To me this seems like a cable friction problem mainly due to the final point. However I am not sure why it doesn't come into play when I am on the smallest front chainring.

If it is cable friction is there any way to fix it without re-cabling? If it isn't cable friction what else could it be?

Thanks

Daven

I can only guess at what is causing this problem Perhaps the chain is a little 'looser' when using the small chainring and the return spring in the rear derailleur finds it easier to shift.
Or perhaps the front shift cable is somehow interfering with the rear shift cable.

What type of shifters/derailleurs do you have, and what type of bike?

specialized globe sport disc hybrid bike
bar end shifters on drop bars - cables routed all the way to the stem, which is why I think it may be friction
deraillers are stock: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2008&spid=33686

thanks

I have barcons on my main bike... it is much better to let the cable leave the bar at the end of the curve then loop straight back to the frame... fewer bends and a shorter cable. Did you wrap the bars or did they come from the shop that way?

I wrapped them myself - converted from flatbars. I will try taking the cable out of the wrap, is it ok to reuse the wrap? It has only been on for a month or so.