Bike Forums - View Single Post - New Sheldon Brown article on gear interchangeability

11-04-05 | 01:36 AM

#20

Raiyn

I drink your MILKSHAKE

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 15,061

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From: St. Petersburg, FL

Bikes: 2003 Specialized Rockhopper FSR Comp, 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS, 1971 Schwinn Varsity

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane45

I need to know why Sheldon indicates that it is not OK to shift the front der. first, from the big to middle chainring - before shifting down on the rear cogs. That is my ONLY question.

If I am in the big front and small rear, why is not OK to shift to middle front without touching my rear??? My chainline is still fine, and the tension is fine. Sheldon seems to indicate that this is a no-no and we should be shifting down on the back cogs before switching the front chainring. What is wrong with going from big front / small rear to middle front / small rear using only the front deraileur?

Being guilty of this myself I too would love to read a well reasoned explanation from the esteemed Mr. Brown. It would seem to me that downshifting through the rear first would cause the chain to be at a greater angle for a period (especially on a triple) until the front is dumped. It would seem to me that neither option is ideal, not that the dump the front option is worse than the other. But, I'll let him answer that

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