The front derailleur on my bike doesn't work well. I have a double chainring crank. Shifting from large chainring to small one is very quick and smooth. However, shifting from small one to larget one is too noisy. Sometimes, it looks that I need to pedal a lot to make it shift.

I adjust the tensioning bolt on the shifter a little, which is a down tube index one, no big improvement . In the book, it says you can bent the inner cage toward the chain. I think I need more suggestions before I acutally do this. So are there any other methods to impove its performance? Thank you for any comments.

BTW, I also adjust the rear derailluer, tighten the adjustment barrel. It works very well now.

Have you looked at www.sheldonbrown.com or www.parktool.com for setup hints and methods on der
adjustments. It sometimes helps to loosen the outer throw limit on the der so it can 'overthrow' the chain a bit to facilitate the shift. You didn't mention the controls you were using (brifters? DT shifters?) or the age of the bike. Chainwheels without 'ramps and pins' don't pick up the chain as readily as those with these and shift clumsily by comparison. Tampering with the cage itself is rarely a good idea. Try a lot of other things first.
Steve