How to adjust the front derailleur on a road bike?

Have you just installed your front derailleur, or are your gears shifting inconsistently? It is time to adjust your derailleur. Here is what you need to help you with this operation.

Time: 15 min
Level: Intermediate
Tools: Allen key set

Steps

In most cases, your front derailleur is supplied with a plastic shim placed in the mechanism to hold it in position for adjustment; make sure not to remove it for now. The full adjustment begins with the derailleur cable released.

First, align the cage of your derailleur so that it is parallel to your chainrings.
Then adjust the height of the derailleur; the outer part of the cage should be between 1 and 3 mm above the teeth of the large chainring.
Now correctly positioned, tighten the derailleur retaining bolt to the torque specified by the manufacturer, then remove the mounting shim if there was one.
Place the drivetrain on the largest sprocket at the rear and on the smallest chainring at the front, then adjust the front derailleur low limit screw ("L" screw) so as to position the inner side of the cage 1 mm from the chain.
Fully screw in the cable tension barrel adjuster if you have one on your cable housing kit, then unscrew it by 2 turns.
Now place the control cable on the derailleur, pulling it slightly taut by hand.
Place the drivetrain on the smallest sprocket at the rear and on the largest chainring at the front, then adjust the front derailleur high limit screw ("H" screw) so as to position the outer side of the cage 1 mm from the chain. Probikeshop Tip: A perfect adjustment of the limit screws prevents the chain from rubbing against the cage but also prevents it from derailing.
Adjust the cable tension using the barrel adjuster if you have one, to fine-tune the efficiency of gear changes. If the gear does not shift up, there is not enough tension; if it does not shift down, there is too much tension. Probikeshop Tip: To make the final adjustment easier, lubricate your drivetrain.