In some configurations, it's possible to set up the derailleurs so exactly that trim isn't needed. I have one bike that never rubs in any gear combination except the most extreme little ring combo, that is: 11-39. It only rubs then because the chain touches the inboard side of the 53. I got it this way by setting the stops screws and cable tension very carefully so that there was no slack in the cable and the FD only swings far enough to move the chain. It takes some patience but the end result is that I wouldn't have to trim even if I used the most extreme cross-chained combos, (which I don't). This is what I strive for... Then again, I have OCD.

Personally, I think most recreational cyclists have no idea what the trim function is.

I'd like to see another poll on Trim. But asking the question whether you as a cyclist knew and understood the trim function when you first started getting into road cycling.

I'll bet any cyclist who began riding prior to indexed shifting has no problem understanding it.

Yup!

Correct. Then it wouldn't be an opinion poll.

can you do it? i'm too lazy. plus whenever I try posting a poll, i eff it up.

same here with my rival shifters. i use it all the time. my old shimano shifters i replaced with the rival group did have trim in both the small and big ring. i didnt use the small ring trim as much but there were times it was nice it was there. i really think sram has tried to design their FD to work with only one trim though and if set up correctly you dont really need trim on both.

Correct.

I got campy front friction shifting (suntour bar end) and campy rr 10 speed. I'm thinking about putting the campy front shifter on and I was delaying due to fear of not having enough trim, but now I think I'll do it. I bought the shifter used cheap on ebay, sitting on my workbench. Then I also want to upgrade handlebars and this requires a stem and stem adaptor. Wondering if it's worth the $$$.

Just keep it in the big ring and forget about it...

Sorry...I'm off to the ***Confession Thread***

Based on how often I have to explain shifting fundamentals here and out in the real world I don't think many people really understand how their drive train works and will agree that those of us who grew up using friction and continue to do so understand the concept of trim really well even if we aren't getting as much as we used to.

:)

I always lied the early SIS systems that had an indexed rear and a friction front... seemed to be the perfect set up for a road bike and run systems like this on my mountain bikes... a little friction thumbie on the left does everything you want and you can get all the trim you ever wanted.

Recreational cyclist here. I have no idea what the trim function is (and my bike does not have indexed shifting).

It means you can tweak the front derailleur a smidge one way or the other to prevent or stop chain rubbing.

Pretty much what I thought and why I started this poll.

If you had indexed shifting, it would be immediately apparent to you. The front shifter doesn't work as well on an indexed system as it does on a friction system. "Trim" is the compensation mechanism.

I know we have discussed this elsewhere, but I think that it not the fault of the SRAM fd but is a challenge of the cx1 frameset. My 7800 fd worked fine on three other frames (including another colnago, where it currently resides) but I will be damned if I could line it up on my cx1. I hope you have the same good luck with the 6700 on the cx1 as I have. Trim away, and no chain rub even when cross chaining.

I don't see the option of "I like trim"

Newbie road biker here: I was using trim without realizing it was an intended feature.

Serves you right for not buying Dura-Ace. Just kidding. I haven't used SRAM enough to grow criticisms.

In my arrogant opinion anyone who can't get good performance out of the ten speed versions of 105, Ultegra, and Dura-Ace, plus 9-speed Tiagra and Sora, has a pretty lousy mechanic. Or already broke something. Or is doing something stupid like using a MTB crankset.

Cool dude. That's how I came across it, too. Went directly from friction (infinite trim) to 105 10-speed. Made a few mistakes along the way, but . . .

For one of the mountain stages way back when. Because it was lighter. Weight weenie.

Besides the drive components themselves, the set up / build of the bike will have great effect on how well you can trim things.

With shorter chainstays the deflection angles are higher so on a really tight frame there is going to be very little room for error in set up while a recreational our touring frame will be less likely to have issues as the longer frame reduces the angle of deflection.

This is what I think as well. With the friction shifter, if you hear the chain rubbing, you can just move the derailleur to make it stop.