SRAM TT shifters *very* stiff. Adjustable? Break in period needed?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hey gang,

Anybody familiar w/ SRAM’s TT shifters? The front one is fine (I messed around with it, got the angle where I like it - cool!), and it is friction-based, so tighening or loosening the bolt adjusts how hard it is to shift) - but I’m having growing pains w/ the rear one.

Shifting up (to easier gears) is fine, but going down into harder ones is HARD. Very stiff in that direction.

Is it just a matter of needing a bit more time to break in? Is there an adjustment I can make to that?

(Shimano was always nice in that regard, just twist that little thing on the outside for a spectrum from firm indexing, to friction-only)

Any advice or suggestions GREATLY appreciated!!!
THX!!!
-M

2

Usually I’m in the camp of weightlifting won’t make you faster, but this might be an exception…

3

Hey gang,

Anybody familiar w/ SRAM’s TT shifters? The front one is fine (I messed around with it, got the angle where I like it - cool!), and it is friction-based, so tighening or loosening the bolt adjusts how hard it is to shift) - but I’m having growing pains w/ the rear one.

Shifting up (to easier gears) is fine, but going down into harder ones is HARD. Very stiff in that direction.

Is it just a matter of needing a bit more time to break in? Is there an adjustment I can make to that?

(Shimano was always nice in that regard, just twist that little thing on the outside for a spectrum from firm indexing, to friction-only)

Any advice or suggestions GREATLY appreciated!!!
THX!!!
-M
Hrm. I have the TT shifters, and I’ve never had a problem with them. They have a hex bolt through the middle, maybe that’s overtight a tad?

And I agree with the other poster re: weightlifting…

John

4

the whole thing you now own is a pos at best. send it my way, I’ll fix it for you. You can then come out when it’s ready and pick it up.
fwiw, I never had any trouble with either of the sets of sram red shifter I ran on my various bikes this year.

5

I had the same problem with my 500 series (alloy) shifters. They eased up after about 100 miles.

6

Bummer Brian beat me too it - you can send it here (I’m closer) and I’ll, ah, fix it as well :wink:

Seriously though, the red shifting is MUCH more immediate than Shimano and feels somewhat ‘abrupt’ as well, even compared with Campy. You might want to check the cable/housing routing that it isn’t kinked up somewhere.

7

masturbation works too
.

8

“masturbation works too”

Apparently not in this case…

9

it’s apparent he’s a lefty since he can’t shift his rear derailleur.

10

Well, I’ll offer a serious response (I know, I know, a shocker on ST).

There does seem to be a break in period. A few folks have said the same thing regarding the stiffness initially, but that it gets better after they are broken in.

11

Well, after all the talk of masturbation (from the resident experts, no less), something mentioning the “shocker” is fitting I guess.

12

Very nice, a “shocker” joke.

I thought you might go with something about “initial stiffness followed by it getting softer” (that’s what she said).

13

I guess it’s like morning wood. Ain’t gonna stay like that forever.

14

Best TV commercial I ever saw, it was for Burton snowboards.

Kid is in bed, dreaming about riding a Burton, pulling all these great moves, perfect conditions, etc. Then, he wakes up, looks under the covers (with the implication that he has morning wood), smiles, rolls over and goes back to sleep.

15

drip some of that toxic sweat on 'em tomorrow @toughman and I bet they loosen right up.