Hi, all. Perhaps this should go in the "mechanical" section, but since it pertains to a touring bike and the sort of equipment one finds on a touring bike, I thought I'd try here first. Anyway, here's the situation: I can't seem to get my shifting dialed in perfectly. I'm using Dura Ace barcons, a Deore long-gauge derailleur, a Sugino triple crank (46-36-26), and a wide range 9sp cassette in the back (11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32). Now, it shifts pretty well, BUT no matter how much I adjust it, I can't get ALL the gears to shift crisply. If I tighten the derailleur a bit, one gear won't click in properly; if I loosen it a bit, the previous gear is okay, but a different go won't go smoothly. BTW, I'm alking about gears right in the middle of the cassette, not extreme cross-gears or at either end of the cassette.

By way of comparison, my go-fast bike with 9sp 105 brifters and a 105 RD is smooth as butter and has been since a tune-up 2 years ago a month after I bought it. I want my touring bike to be as smooth. Is this impossible? Just what you have to deal with with a triple crank and such a wide range cassette? What can I do to get this sucker smooth? I'm willing to change some parts if need be. The dude at the LBS says that my barcons (Road use) aren't really made to go with this derailleur (MTB use) and so it might not be possible to get it perfectly dialled in. Is he right? What would be the cheapest/best way to get this fixed?

BTW, I tried turning the little ring on the barcon to friction mode, but it still clicks as if it's in index mode, albeit it does seem to allow for some friction-y fine tuning. It's still not that great in a couple gears, though.

Any help most appreciated!

Tom in Osaka