Installed a set of ST-A70's (2x7) using the Microshift installation video, and gears worked great for about 60 miles over the first week. This week, rear shifting works fine progressing from easier to harder gears, but when I start back up, I have about three "clicks" of slack before the derailleur engages, and its only for the initial shift to the next larger sprocket. thought it might be a stretched cable, so installed new "pre-stretched" cable, reset, and now I still get the slack in that first shift from the smallest gear to next smallest gear, whether I'm on the big ring or small ring up front.


Even went back to the install video to make sure they had me initially shift the levers to the highest gear, with no more "clicks" to go.


any ideas? (Not sure I can listen to the music on the install video again without losing my sanity)

Just tighten the barrel adjuster. nothing to be concerned about.

My guess: on your first go you had at least one of the housing ferrules not completely in its cable stop. When cable pressure finally pushed it (them) home, you had extra slack. Do this:

Shift the chain onto the 2nd-smallest cog (even if it takes extra shifts)
(without moving the wheel) set the shifter as if for the smallest cog (highest gear) (if necessary keep the cable taut with your other hand)
Loosen the pinch-bolt.
Pull the cable taut, hold it with pliers while you tighten the pinch bolt
Pedal -- probably the chain will fall onto smallest cog
Shift the shifter one click, chain hopefully moves back to 2nd cog.
Barrel-adjust from there to get chain perfectly centered on 2nd cog

Is the cable slipping in the derailleur clamp? What is the condition of the housings, did you replace them when you installed the new inner wire? Not sure you should be getting much slack in only a relatively small amount of use. BTW, I use the Park Tool installation procedure and have never had it fail with functional hardware: Rear Derailleur Adjustment | Park Tool

1. Microshift is garbage

2. it's normal for cable housings to settle-in a little with a new installation and need readjustment

3. just turn the barrel adjuster

Are your ST-A70 shifters Shimano? I have MicroShift shifters and I'm thinking MicroShift uses "SB" as the prefix for their brifters. ST-A70 sounds more like a Shimano model.

I have a set of MicroShift 10 speed shifters, they work great.