Sheldon Brown of Harris Cyclery notes that Shimano made the first commercially acceptable index shifting systems for bikes. A modern index shifting system, such as Shimano's, offers click stops for specific bicycle gears. Older friction shifters have no numbers on the levers, so you pull or push the shifter to estimate the appropriate gear setting. You can adjust the shifters yourself for optimum performance.
Step 1
Turn the cable hub that feeds into the rear derailleur counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. The hub will sit at the top of the connection between the derailer and the cable.
Step 2
Grasp the barrel-like structure, called the adjusting barrel, found near derailleur or the shifter and turn it clockwise to tighten the cable tension. Tighten the hub with the wrench once the cable is tense. Repeat the process with the front derailleur.
Step 3
Ride the bike and test the gear shifting. If the gears do not change smoothly, repeat the adjustment process.
Things You'll Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle nose pliers
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