My cover as an expert bike mechanic is about to be blown.

London 'Cycle the Streets' festival yesterday. 30,000 fanatics on the (closed-to-cars) streets of the inner city. Took my daughter, it was pretty exciting. Being in a 700 strong peloton, all about 3" apart, going through the Westminster underpass tunnel at speed certainly spooked me. For a 6 year old, she stayed pretty cool - I'm glad I wasn't riding a bike with 16" wheels (particularly a pink one with flower motifs).

'Hey gal, you need those low gears for hills!'
'I know, Dad (sighs wearily)..that shifter won't shift. You'd better fix it'
'Coming right up..'

She's right. That grip shifter needs all my strength to get it into 1. Problem is that the Campy and Shimano stuff on the grown up bikes chez moi really doesn't need any adjustment. I can put on a good display of precision screwdriver handling to impress, but I'm not sure I've actually fixed anything like this for real before.

It's a toy store type bike. Derailleur gearing, single chainring, grip shift. Low budget China type origin, I'd guess. I slacked off the low limit screw on the rear mech as far as it would go....made no difference - still too stiff. Would I be correct in thinking I could do something with the cable; like lubricate it? I've tinkered with Shimano road bar levers but I've got no idea how a gripshift works - or how to extract a cable.

I think the young lady might just be getting bitten by the cycling bug. You'll understand then why I can't give this job to the LBS.

Advice appreciated. By the way, we got to Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty was in residence (but didn't send anyone out to fix the bike). Mine's the Lemond Reno. the pretty Bianchi is my wife's. You can't see the bike in question. Probably just as well.