I got a road bike through craig's list and I rode it for about 1.5 mile the day I got it (way too cold for a ride) and everything worked fine.

Yesterday, when I took it out for a ride, everything worked fine as long as I was shifting up to higher gears, but it won't change to lower gears.

There's only 1 lever for shifting (I don't remember how I got it to shift down but it had to be a pretty natural thing because I had not trouble going up and down on the test ride).

Before taking it out, I had it upside down while mounting a speed sensor. I do remember pushing the rear wheel so that the chain came off the gears (I don't know what you call the part that keeps tension on the gear set against the chain).

I though I may have put it back on the wrong gear. S pun the crank while it was over like that and the chain always ended up going to the same gear, so I figured it was sorted out.

The bike is a Jamis Satellite Sport, my first road bike. I've been riding for a year.

Any ideas or help welcome, thanks.

Rich

Does that bike have SORA shifter? Combo Brake lever shifter? I have an older version. Mine has a little trigger to shift to higher gears, very easy. To shift back to lower gears, you push the brake lever inwards. Sometimes when it is cold, that part balks a bit and doesn't shift, I am thinking the cold thickens up the lube and the little bits don't click smoothly. Might just need cleaning and new lube.

Thanks RubberLegs. The shift lever moves sideways to shift down and it's fine. I guess I would call that problem 'user head space'.

Does this mean everything is OK now ?

Wait till you have built your bicycle squadron to N+1, and have stem shifters, DT shifters, thumb trigers, twist shift, and STI Brifters...takes a few minutes to settle in to HOW to shift each bike! Guess I need to get some Barcons in the mix somewhere!

yes, all okay ... well, I just tried to inflate the tires and figured out I need either another pump or an adapter for thre presta valves (another 'new to me') but I'm going for a ride today - no matter what it takes

Rich

You can get adapters for about $1.00. They thread onto the presta valve so you can use a shrader pump.

got the adapter, inflated the tire and went for a ride: mid 30's and windy, very much not an ideal day for it, but it was good to get out on this bike.
Thanks for the help.

Rich

+1 I also like to toss in some top-normal FDs and rapid rise RDs just to keep the old noodle limber.

Careful Barcons are slowly taking over my fleet!

Bundle up, and it's not so bad. I ride below freezing all the time.

Yesterday was like that too (30's and very windy) and I went for a ride. I would adapt to it ... but it's going to change soon anyway