kajero

I just purchased a new Trek FX 7.6 WSD.

I can't push the left thumb shifter far enough back to change anything. I have really small hands. I run out of "stretch" on my left hand. The LBS did try changing the position of the shifter several times but nothing worked. I don't have any problems with the right hand,

The LBS is switching out the Deore to Tiagra. He is charging me $160. My friend says he is switching me to a lower quality shifter and charging me $160 to do it is ridiculous. Can anyone give me some advice? If what my friend says is true, how much should I really pay for this?

I wish I could return the bike, but apparently because of all the stuff they have already done it to make the bike work for me work I can't. It seems I am putting $$$ into that bike every other minute to make it work for me. By the way, I didn't order this bike. The LBS took the "liberty" of ordering it for me. I felt I had to buy it then.

TakingMyTime

$160 sounds way too high. What exactly are the replacing? A brake lever - shifter shouldn't cost more than $40.

Regarding your statement about them ordering it and you having to buy it? First, you have no obligation to buy anything but that's sort of a moot point now. This place sounds like they are trying to gouge you. I'd go and have the repairs done somewhere else.

bikemig 

You were under no obligation to buy anything unless you ordered it. This sounds a bit odd. In any case, the LBS has an obligation to make the bike work for you. Tiagra is good stuff; so is Deore. I have no idea whether Tiagra will solve your shifting problem but I do know that $160 is just nutty. The LBS should give you some sort of credit on the Deore part and give you at least some kind of break on the labor and probably should do this for free labor wise given that this is a new bike that isn't working for you.

DorkDisk

I'm assuming they are swapping out the shifter. Tiagra is a road line and would require a new front derailleur also. Are they swapping that also? Flatbar road shifters can be quite expensive, google "tiagra flatbar shifter," and look at the prices you get. Many bike shops get spares at higher costs than online retailers. Tiagra is about equivalent to Deore in terms of product lineup.

If you tell us exactly what parts are being swapped we can give you a better answer

bikemig 

That's a good point. This swap could involve a lot of parts and labor.

contango 

If they took the liberty of ordering you a bike you didn't ask for, then made lots of modifications to make an unsuitable bike "kind of work" for you, and now want even more money to make it work, I'd be looking for a refund or talking to a lawyer. At the very least I'd stop throwing ever-more money at it until I had a better idea of where it was going and what would be involved.

DorkDisk

I would just use cheapo twist shifters on the left. I'm not sure if Tiagras have less lever throw.

Delmarva

The lbs is switching out which components from Deore to Tiagra. Shifters, derailleurs or what exactly. And more importantly what specific changes will happen as a result of the swaps. Reclaim your bike until you get some answers.

niuoka

I don't like grip shifters,for me....but for you it sounds like the perfect fix, less costly fix

DorkDisk

I personally don't like twist shifters either, but they are a good solution for people with small hands

Maybe you can offer some suggestions for shifters with short throws for people with short thumbs?

giantcfr1

Tiagra these days are extremely good quality as shimano has now introduced cheaper lines hence bumped tiagra to almost last year's 105. Which level deore has your bike got? It could be their lowest level deore which may these days be around sora. In my experience road and mtb shimano is compatible in the lower grade stuff you are talking about. I'm currently using a deore shifter with an ultegra deraileur. BTW 160 bucks is fricken crazy. My nephew recently swapped tiagra shifters to 105 and the shop charged 30 dollars.

To be honest I can't imagine how there is a reach / swing problem. My 11 year old daughter is under what some would say "average size" and she has deore shifters, and can operate them with no problems. I think the actuation pull rate is 2:1 so that shouldn't be a large " swing"

giantcfr1

You have now learnt to say no thank you?

giantcfr1

I looked the bike up. It already has a tiagra front deraileur.

I just read a relpy from TREK (on the trek web site) relating to swapping parts. It appears the payment of the balance between the swaps MUST be done at the point of sale for TREK.

RaleighSport

Umm first off, halt all business with that shop.. secondly I want to hear how this story went after your last post.

Delmarva

I wonder if improved hand strength and stretching exercises might go a long way toward solving the original posters problem. It does take a bit of effort to overcome the spring and shift up on the chainwheel. And it may take some instruction to learn how to shift up. A momentary overshoot is sometimes needed to urge the chain over and up.

dynaryder

Am I the only one wondering if the shifter cable was adjusted properly? It should not take that long of a throw to change gears.

zoslen

I cannot understand why you bought a bike you didn't order...
You should just decline.
And probably you should try to return the bike, even now.

It's no good staying with a bike you dont' like to ride

The LBS is just cheating you.
Tiagra levers cost at about 80 euros and it's very easy to put them by yourshelf. All you need is an Allen key.

In my opinion you should report this to Trek.

They are just trying to make money from you

Be brave and raise your stand!

jimc101

Please tell us which Deore this is, as there is only one (as in single name Deore) in the current lineup, the M61X series, this is the MTB equivalent of Tiagra (4600 series) For Tiagra being bumped upto 105, this is normally the case with new release groupsets taking key point from previous years higher end groupsets, this is the norm, not an exception. The closest MTB equivalent to Sora would be Alivio

giantcfr1

'as there is only one (as in single name Deore)'
Yes in single name, but
I thought there were 3 levels. Maybe I'm wrong.. Deore, Deore lx and Deore xt.
I still believe the 2013 Sora is equal to Deore. Just my opinion.

'this is the norm, not an exception'
Totally agree. It's no secret. I mentioned it because I thought maybe the OP wasn't aware of it.

hybridbkrdr

To me, Tiagra = Deore, 105 = Deore LX (and Ultegra = XT, Sora = Alivio).

daihard 

Actually, my front shifter has a similar symptom. I have a 2013 7.5 FX, which has the same crank (FSA Vero 50/34) as the OP's bike, though the shifter is different (R440 vs. Deore). I need to push the front shift lever pretty far out in order to upshift from 34T to 50T, although doing so almost always works. Could it be a characteristic of the compact crank?

Interestingly, the 2014 7.6 FX has different shifters and front derailleur (SRAM VIA Centro) than the 2013 model. I wonder if what the OP experienced is a rather widespread problem?

kajero

I think I may have come to a negative conclusion without waiting the situation out.

The LBS also suggested grip shifters but I didn't think I had the strength twist the shift grip too many times on a ride because of my broken hand.

The LBS replaced the shifters, the derailleur, cassette, put a shorter stem in and adjusted the seat. The new shifters are as easy to shift as on my road bike The LBS charged me $140. He credited the parts taken off. Originally the LBS had installed shorter cables but nothing matched.

Anyway, I truly love riding the bike now. This TREK seems to be about the same size as my road bike and is just as comfortable to ride . . . except for the seat. I was lucky with the Specialized Ruby; I love the stock seat! I am thinking I may ride the TREK more than Ruby. It seems to be as fast and I can put a trunk bag on it! For some reason some of the hills seem easier to climb with the TREK than on the road bike.

One of the reasons I decided to see if the LBS could make the bike work for me is there was nothing in the Specialized or the rest of the Trek models that I liked. There are very few bikes smaller in most hybrids. I didn't want to go with another brand. Most of my friends have either Treks or Specialized so they can help me if I need it and quite often have spare parts, If I need to, I can ride my bicycle to those dealers. No other LBS is that close.

I think the LBS WAS really concerned. He made the comment, "you seem to be really unhappy with us; we want to do anything to make you satisfied,"

He discounted a lot of other accessories we purchased from. him. We also bought a very expensive e-assist bike. He discounted a lot of stuff on that one, so I really do think we came out to the good.

dynaryder

Most hybrids with triple cranks are only changing 10 teeth or so,you're changing 16. So that will take more pull. But it shouldn't be excessive. My old Big Buzz had a compact double with a flatbar(SRAM) shifter and I never had any issues. You might want to try tightening the shift cable just a touch.

daihard 

Thanks! I will try that. It will be nice if I can shift more smoothly, because I shift between 50F/23R and 34F/20R quite a bit. For some reason, a lot of slight hills on my commute route is a bit too tough with 50F/23R, but I want to avoid downshifting to 50F/26R for fear of cross-chaining.

kajero

This is so strange for me. I can't even begin to understand what most of you "polished" bicyclists are referring to a lot of the time. But I want to thank you for all the help and advice. I did understand some of what you advised and told the dealer. I don't think he thought I was a total ignoramus at that point.

I took the bicycle out for a ride today. Once I get the seat adjusted, I think I am really going to love riding my New Trek 7.6 WSD.