3 gear select system on a 2 gear bike?

[Raging Squirrel]

I've just thought, when my Boardman was in for a service at Halfords, the guy told me about the gear system having a front selector for 3 gears, instead of just the 2 that are on the chain ring.

Is this common on all Boardman hybrids? Surely they should be using 2, maybe it's just Halfords using what they have? Should I replace it with a 2 gear selector? And when I'm in 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th gears, they're fine, then slip it into 5th and I get a creaking noise so I have to put the big chainring selector into the second position.....that can't be right surely?

 

[accountantpete]

You probably have a Shimano left hand shifter that does double/triple chainrings (2 rings/3 rings).

As long as it has been set up correctly it should be perfectly ok - they have now largely replaced that design as people were braking them going for the wrong gear so you just have to be careful and don't ever use excessive force.

At a guess the creaking noise may be the front mech - have a look if the chain is rubbing it when you are on the big ring and in 5th.

 

[Rob3rt]

Does the shifter have a "trim" feature. That should get rid of chain noise for a wider range of the cassette.