Hey Everybody, my first post here on the forum in many many years.

Anyways, I'm dabbling at getting back into cycling after about a 7 year hiatus. Yesterday I picked up a Fuji Sportif 1.5 from the local Performance on an end of year clearance deal. (Fuji Sportif 1.5 C Road Bike - 2014)

Took it out for a 12 mile greenway ride after I got home with it yesterday (first bike ride in about 6 years) and I noticed something odd with the Sora front brifter. Shifting into the big ring is no problem. One click, and boom.

Shifting down into the little ring is odd though, it seems to require two clicks of the shifter. The first time I push it, it clicks, and the derailleur moves a little (maybe a mm or two) and then the 2nd time I click it, the shifter will move the derailleur down and let it shift into the little ring.

At first I thought it was a triple shifter, but it's clearly labeled as a double. Before I take it back to Performance, I just wanted to ask: Is this normal for the Sora shifters?

Yes, it is normal for just about any modern road shifter. It is called a trim position and it allows you to cross chain without a ton of noise from the chain rubbing the derailluer. You should also have a trim position for the small ring accessed by slightly pushing on the brake lever.

You should be able to push the small lever far enough to skip over the trim position, though.

Its a 'trim' feature, to help with cross-chaining.

I didn't know that either. How new/old is this feature, and on what models? I've got an older model Tiagra triple but I've set it up for a double crankset, and it does something like what the OP describes, only not quite as pronounced and on the middle ring.

Thanks folks, I appreciate it. Should have known... Been off the bike too long I guess.

It's been around for all ~12 years I've been into road cycling. The Sora 8 speed triple shifters on my first road bike had a trim feature for the little ring IIRC but that was it. My Ultegra 9 speed triple shifters can trim the small and middle rings. My Ultegra 10 speed triple shifters can trim all three rings, as can the latest Claris and Sora groups (nice of Shimano to add these 'high end' features all the way down the line). I presume that my new but yet to be installed 105 11 speed double shifters will trim both rings.

Shimano used to have a chart online showing the trim function capabilities of various shifters but I don't know if it still exists or if it has been updated.

Assuming it is Sora 3500, when you get used to the shifter you can shift one up one down by not shifting to that full outboard position when you go from little to big ring. That reads badly but I am saying that you will learn the nuances quickly.

+1, Just to add to the 12 years, I just checked my almost ancient Shimano 600, 8-speed shifters from the 90s mounted on a vintage Nishiki. Sure enough, it's a double and it has trim for both gears.

I've got new Sora tripple on my Jamis, and had to figure this out as well...I only seem to have one position for the big ring though...I suppose its a limit screw too tight preventing the last click...I'll have to play around with it..