wilson_smyth

I have a relatively new commuter bike that has a shimano 105 2x 11 speed setup ( 2 front cogs, 11 back).
Its done 300+ km so decided to give it a look over to adjust cables for stretch.

Its not quite as smooth as it was, but its not bad, but there is a bit of clicking when the chain is on opposite cogs i.e. biggest on back & smallest on front or vice versa.
Shimano say it shouldnt be ridden in those gears for long anyway due to the angle the chain is at.

Is a little noise ok when in those gears?

shelbyfv

This is what is included with current FD instructions.

Barry2 

Are you using the "Trim" function on the Brifters?

Barry

dsbrantjr

Or you could just not cross-chain and instead pick an appropriate (and more efficient) ratio using another chain ring.

Iride01 

Not more than 1500 or so clicks at any one time. <grin>

Cross chaining isn't as big a deal as people make it out to be. But neither am I saying that you are okay to ride cross chained for all your ride. But for the last few cranks to get you over that steep section of hill it won't hurt anything.

If you do find that you need to use those gears for a large portion of your ride, then something has to change. Either you need to get fitter, change your gear ratios available by changing the front chain wheels and maybe the rear cassette too, or change your routes to be flatter or all downhill.

Adjustments can get out of wack. So have them check, particularly if a new bike. And make sure you understand how trim works. If you trimmed to minimize the noise when you went into the larger rear sprockets then you need to remember to take the trim out when you shift out of them.

Gundo

What is the trim function? I've haven't heard that before.

Steve B.

When using the smallest front chainring and the smallest rear cog, you can get rubbing of the chain on the inside of the big front chainring. This is a result of the angle of the chain and is more likely in road bikes with shorter chainstays in the 40cm sizes. Simple solution is don’t use that combo and it’s not needed as at that point you would have wanted to shift to the big chainring.

Barry2 

When you go from the Small to the large chainring the following happens

1. You move the Brifter all the way and it pulls on the cable.
2. Pulling on the cable move the Front Derailleur (FD) a long way
3. The chain gets moved to the large cog.

BUT the FD movement to cause the chain to jump is large and the now repositioned FD can rub.
What you need to do is release just a little of the tension on the cable so the FD move back a little way.
This is exactly what the TRIM function does.

When you move the small lever on the brifter there is a click midway before the full movement.
This little click lets out a little cable without dropping the chain back to the small cog.

The same also works when you are in the small cog using a mid point/click on the large brifter leaver.

Barry

2manybikes

Do you mean small to small and big to big? That would be cross chaining.

wilson_smyth

Perfect, thanks for this, very helpful, exactly what i needed to know


Not very helpful at all, but thanks for taking the time to post.
As i said, its the first time im adjusting the gears, i just want to know whats normal, not that i go around cross-chaining all the time.
Thank you for providing the term though, i wasnt aware it was called "cross chaining".

wilson_smyth

Apologies, i should have specified, its a commuter with flat bars so it doesnt have brifters.

Barry2 

well at least Gundo does now know


Barry

Gundo

Tried it out on my ride today. Easy enough to do and although it may be all in my mind, I thought the bike shifted better. Thanks for the tip.

Barry2 

If your mind is happy about it, I suspect you'll be a lot faster as well


In all seriousness, you're not the first or the last to be surprised to find that function available (me included)

All the best

Barry

Barry2 

Wilson,
I can't believe that the need for Trim is limited to just road bikes with brifters and drop bars.
You may find your shifters have a similar mid point Trim function.

Worth a look.

Barry

holytrousers

Where is the clicking coming from, how does it sound like and how frequent it is ?

wilson_smyth

There is no trim on my rear derailleur (Shimano 105 RD-R7000-GS, 11-Speed) and Shimano SL-RS700. It has 11 clicks and nothing in between each.

Its now not really an issue, went for a decent spin at the weekend and they are working very well. 2nd gear (2nd largest rear cog) can take an extra second to change, but the rest are bang on when the shifter clicks, feels very solid and engaged.
I think its as good as it was or can be.

Thanks for the help all.

Barry2 

wilson,
you are correct. Trim is Front Derailleur only.

Barry