Bicycle Tutor

When changing down left to right from the largest sprocket to the smaller ones, (low to high I guess), the chain skips the first 3 or 4 sprockets and then shifts smoothly for the rest. It's a road bike. What's the best adjustment? I've just cleaned up the chain and rear mech also.

Go through the step in http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/ or http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64. (To me it sounds as if the cable tension is wrong (but w/o my crystal ball it is difficult to tell if there is another problem) ). Both tutorials are well written and (for me) easy to follow as a step-by-step guides, I'd print them, so you can refer to them while doing the setting up. I have them down in the basement and still sometimes take a look at them.

- The problem could also be worn cables / housing, check them for wear, lube or replace them.
- Also, when the derailleur is worn, it will be difficult (read: probably impossible) to get good shifting performance, I have this problem on my old Giant... I should buy a new rear derailleur... (already replaced cables, housing, chain, cassette).

http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/

I have a similar problem to Stormy. I can only get the chain to use the top 3 sprockets of the 7 sprocket set. When I change gears on the handlebar, I get a certain amount of resistance, but when the chain gets to the 3rd sprocket and I try to change to the 4th, there is no resistance on the gear lever at all and of course the chain stays on the 3rd sprocket.

Would shortening the cable length fix the problem?

I read your post as follows: "top 3 sprockets" are the "smallest sprockets", right?

- check limit screws
- try pulling the cable by hand and see if derailleur moves further to the "large" sprockets

if the hints / how-tos in the linked pages (2 posts from the top) do not help, something may be broken.