Road Cycling - shifting getting sloppy-sticky!

Alright, I know I need to clean my chain - but Im wonder if thats all I need to do. I purchased my Bianchi Talladaga w/ ultregra equipment last year. I have put about 900 miles on it. Took it in for its one year free "new bike" check. It appeared that nothing much had been done. Just the trueing of the wheels? The shifting is getting sticky, shifting and having it not go to the next shift, but dropping back in. Or the front derailer sticking in a spot that then creates rubbing on the chain - which is fixed, but gently touching the left shifter to get it back in line. Sometimes the chain will jump off the smallest cog and grap the frame - before jumping back on chain wheel. Any thoughts? thanks

Nikos,
Sounds like you probably just need the front and rear derailleurs adjusted, though cleaning and lubing the pivot points with silicon lube wouldn't hurt. The chain trying to jump off the small cog suggest to me that your high limit adjustment needs tweaking. If you are not very familiar with der adjustments let the shop do it. They can be tricky and even dangerous if not done right. It's the kind of thing you need to really study and understand what is going on before you try it. There is more to it than just turning a couple of screws.

It can be normal for a little front der rubbing until you "trim" by clicking over a notch. In the big ring and one of the more inward cogs some rubbing is normal if the der is in its farthest outward position. A single click on the small lever should eliminate the rubbing. This is why STI front/left levers have an extra click - doubles have 3 clicks, triples 4.

Hope this helps,
Raymond

thanks, that was really helpful. I will clean and lube, but take the bike in quick to the shop to have them check the adjustments.

If you have Grip Shift shifters, they recommend changing the Cable Housing if shifting goes bad. The shop should know this. That goes along with the things mentioned by Rainman.

The shifters are in the brakes, thanks for the tips

wow, just noticed I turned senior member - cool

now that you are a senior member, do you have to ride your bike to your early bird specials and have dinner at 4:30pm?!
your adjustor on your rear deraillier - turn once or twice- which way? depends on the slip. the bike seems too new to have problems. ultegra is pretty good stuff. only adjust one or two turns at a time. test. it's either that or your chain is stretched and need a new chain, but with only 900 miles on it -it seems unlikely.