Kyle.B.H. wrote:
I'm having problems (again) shifting from my middle to granny under
load. I just replaced my moderately worn 40t middle with a new 38t,
and the problem crept up again. I have already taken the measures of
filing away the portion of the derailer that conatcts the frame,
filing a small groove in the seat tube itself, and even moving my
chainline outward about a mm via a BB spacer, and still no success.
It shifts fine when not under load, but once you start up an incline,
forget it, it won't go. Its an Ultegra der. and TA Alize rings.

So now I'm thinking I'll file the tops off of two consectutive teeth
in the middle ring to aid the shift. Don't some chainrings include
this as a feature?

A) Think this will help?

B) If I do this, where on the ring (relative to the right crankarm)
would I file the teeth?

C) Any other suggestions?

Hate to say it, but what the hell. How about a "thumb adjustment"? (Place
both thumbs on the FD cage and push it inboard with a bit of force.) Or
just turn it in a tad the old-fashioned way (loosening bolt and adjusting
the clamp).

Also, try easing up on the pedal force just long enough to make the shift;
then resume suffering. (Err, mashing.)

Finally, like Mike said try a Shimano chain. I love SRAM PC-99s, but on my
road bike they were noisy and shifted a little clunkily compared to a Big S.

Bill (little) S.

PS: I got away with changing my Ultegra front crankset (52-42-30) to D-A
(53-39-30) without replacing my Ultegra FD; but then again, I gots strong
thumbs!