jb_alphamale

My bike:
https://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+...ID=2&SCATID=25
FD Tiagra 4500
2 rings (see link for details)
Brand new bike. When going uphill (doesn't matter the inclination) it does not switch from the small to the big ring. On flat or down the hill shifts perfectly. On the stand perfect.
It came stock like this.
I read everything on this forum about adjusting FD and about tiagra.
I decided to start from scratch so with the parktool doc in front of me I've done it. Step by step and checked again and again everything. It does not rub the chain in any cog-ring combo. Distance between the highest tooth of the biggest ring and the outer cage 1 cent coin . Cage perfect aligned. In any combo cog-ring the chain is parallel with the cage.
It seems that the inline adjustment barrel does not work. No matter how many turns and in which direction it does not affect the cage movement. I followed the chain on the top tube while trying to adjust the barrel and it does not move.
The only part that I'm not sure that is perfect is the cable tension. I found in the forum instruction how to do it. 1. FD shifter on the small ring 2.Biggest cog and small ring combo 3. Loosen the cable form the bolt.4. Tighten the cable without pulling to tight so there was no slack on the cable but medium tension.
It drives me nuts and gives me nightmares. Do I have to live with that?
Please help.
Thank you.

jb_alphamale

Update.
The shifter lever as you know is a 3 ring shifter but I only have 2 so the H screw theoretically should limit the shifter to go the 3rd ring which is not available and the chain would would not fall off. I've loosen the H screw only 1 full turn and now if I try to shift from small to big (only uphill) and then push again then eventually and painfully shifts but the shifter goes 1/2 (called index?) in the 3rd position and here the chain rubs the left side of the cage. From here I 1/2 shift back towards the small ring (mid position on the shifter) and get rid of the rubbing. In this position of the H screw the chain would not fell off. I really don't like this procedure and I don't know what to do except if something is wrong with the shifter or with the inline adjusting barrel. I'm tired and spent $1200 on this bike.

wunderkind

FD adjustment is finicky. It doesn't take much to get lost. When in doubt, start again.

www.bicycletutor.com has a good video on FD adjustment.
Also read the FD's manual. It should come with it on your bike (if it is bought brand new).

jb_alphamale

I took my bike to the LBS that sold it to me. There where 2 mechanics there and another couple of pro type bikers around. The mechanics verified the derailleur and they said it is perfect. They listen to me and laughed saying that this is a very known issue that uphill when you put load on the crank set then the shift won't work properly. I have to shift before the hill and stay in the same ring (flat or downhill). I asked them if this is general because my other couple of bikes don't do that. They didn't specify if this Tiagra's and it's STI shifters problem or not.
I don't have power and energy to go on so I drop it.

coffeecake

Just curious - what other bikes do you have that you're shifting under full load uphill?

reptilezs

a FD with a stiffer body/linkage will shift better under load but you are asking a lot to shift under load for any FD.

Ingleside

Think of it this way... when the chain is under heavy tension as you climb up a hill the last thing it wants to to is move from the ring it is on. You can still shift on a hill, just tune the power down a bit and shift, almost like using the clutch in a manual transmission car. If you have some momentum going you won't loose much.

jb_alphamale

OK I got it. I don't have much experience but I think I understand now. Thank you very much guys.

jb_alphamale

I have an Argon18 road bike and my 1st bike an Infinity hybrid very good bike.I rode them both but I never noticed any problem in shifting the rings uphill. Anyway if that's the case I'll live with it.