It's been a Murphy's Law day - one thing after another. I've got a very pleasant 100-mile tour scheduled with some friends tomorrow, and my bike is all of a sudden giving me trouble. My backup road bike is in the middle of a single-speed conversion, not yet completed, so I have only the main bike.

Current problem is the front shifter. It seems to essentially be stuck at the low end of the range. If I try upshifting to the big ring, I get one click and that's it. A few times today, it stuck on me, then started working again, but now it's just plain stuck. Can't even trim the FD enough to eliminate chain rub on the smaller cogs.

I'm sure I'll need to dig into it to figure out what's going on, but time is tight. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I'd say get off the computer and get to your LBS or trusted mechanic quick.

Remove the cable and check for obvious damage. If the cable looks good reinstall it, but don't hook it up to the FD, just apply some tension to the cable by hand and see if the lever operates. If not, there is at least one lube hole under the brake hood, where you can apply some spray lube, but don't use much or it will run out, all over the bar tape and under the brake hood. If some lube doesn't help, then it's disassembly time.

Repairing an ergo lever isn't hard the second time, but the first time will be challenging. Don't let any mechanic who hasn't done it before use your lever as a test case. Repair parts will probably be needed and it's a rare shop that stocks any.

It's been a Murphy's Law day - one thing after another. I've got a very pleasant 100-mile tour scheduled with some friends tomorrow, and my bike is all of a sudden giving me trouble. My backup road bike is in the middle of a single-speed conversion, not yet completed, so I have only the main bike.

Current problem is the front shifter. It seems to essentially be stuck at the low end of the range. If I try upshifting to the big ring, I get one click and that's it. A few times today, it stuck on me, then started working again, but now it's just plain stuck. Can't even trim the FD enough to eliminate chain rub on the smaller cogs.

I'm sure I'll need to dig into it to figure out what's going on, but time is tight. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Never mind. I am an idiot. (I had tightened down the FD limit screws too far prior to adjusting them, got focused on somethng else, and forgot I'd done it. Loosen limit screws, everything works again.)