[Appendage]

Hi. Let me start by saying that as a new guy to the road bike scene, I very much appreciate all the helpful info that's available on these forums. It's an incredible resource.

Now that I've flattered you, here's my question. My bike has a triple with Ultegra brifter and FD. The brifter seems to have 3 clicks. 3 clicks = 4 derailleur positions. To wit: starting in the granny ring, click 1 shifts from the granny to the middle ring. So far so good. Click two moves the FD toward the big ring but not enough to make the shift. Click 3 puts the chain on the big ring.

In reverse, starting on the big ring, click 1 moves the FD toward the middle ring, but not enough to make the shift. Click 2 drops the chain onto the middle ring. Click 3 drops the chain onto the granny ring.

Is that how it's supposed to work? Why not just 2 clicks (which would give 3 FD positions). Or, is the extra click supposed to be a way to trim the FD in/out when in the middle ring?

 

[Appendage]

Yeah, but...

...it's a 10 speed.

A 9-speed Ultegra should have 5 - 2 for the inner, 2 for the middle and 1 for the outer ring. - TF

 

[Appendage]

According the Shimano tech sheet...

...the extra click is for the intermediate chainring (on a triple). That makes it one for granny, two for the middle, one for the big.

 

[Appendage]

Right.

But the granny is not a click. The granny position is simply all of the cable out.

Right. Granny. Click- middle in. Click- middle out. Click- big ring.

 

[Appendage]

I feel better now

Al, your description of the clicks/positions and operation matches exactly the way my bike works. Somehow I lurched uncontrollably into setting it up correctly! Well, as they say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

While it is true that you can trim the derailleur with the chain on any chain ring, there are only 4 main positions plus a soft trim for the granny. If you work the front shifter with the cable disconnected you will get only three (3) clicks, these are the clicks for the two middle positions and the click for the big ring. When on the big ring the second middle ring position can be used as a trim if you want to cross-chain.
BTW, shifting from the granny to the middle chainring normally requires a long sweep of the brake lever to the second full position (middle ring right). If the chain is running on the left side of the cassette the front derailleur will then need to be trimmed back to the left middle ring position.

Al