A bicycle shift operating device comprising: a base member; a shift wire take-up element rotatably mounted with respect to the base member in first and second rotational directions about a pivot axis; and a shifting unit operatively coupled to the shift wire take-up element, the shifting unit including a first shift operating member, the first shift operating member being movably mounted with respect to the base member to move along a first plane to operate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction, and to move along a second plane to operate the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction, with the first and second planes being non-parallel so as to intersect with each other, whereby the shifting unit includes a second shift operating member, the second shift operating member being movably mounted with respect to the base member to release the shift wire take-up element for movement in the second rotational direction, the shifting unit further includes a ratchet member mounted to rotate with the shift wire take-up element in response to mouvements of the first and second shift operating members, a winding pawl operatively coupled to the first shift operating member to selectively engage the ratchet member to rotate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction in response to the first shift operating member being moved along the first plane; and a release pawl operatively coupled to the first and second shift operating members to release the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction in response to the first shift operating member being moved along the second plane or the second shift operating member being moved, wherein the release pawl is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, and includes a first stop tooth, a second stop tooth, a first actuating projection and a second actuating projection, the first and second stop teeth (58a, 58b) being arranged to engage one of a positioning teeth of the ratchet member. a base member; a shift wire take-up element rotatably mounted with respect to the base member in first and second rotational directions about a pivot axis; and a shifting unit operatively coupled to the shift wire take-up element, the shifting unit including a first shift operating member, the first shift operating member being movably mounted with respect to the base member to move along a first plane to operate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction, and to move along a second plane to operate the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction, with the first and second planes being non-parallel so as to intersect with each other, whereby the shifting unit includes a second shift operating member, the second shift operating member being movably mounted with respect to the base member to release the shift wire take-up element for movement in the second rotational direction, the shifting unit further includes a ratchet member mounted to rotate with the shift wire take-up element in response to mouvements of the first and second shift operating members, a winding pawl operatively coupled to the first shift operating member to selectively engage the ratchet member to rotate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction in response to the first shift operating member being moved along the first plane; and a release pawl operatively coupled to the first and second shift operating members to release the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction in response to the first shift operating member being moved along the second plane or the second shift operating member being moved, wherein the release pawl is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, and includes a first stop tooth, a second stop tooth, a first actuating projection and a second actuating projection, the first and second stop teeth (58a, 58b) being arranged to engage one of a positioning teeth of the ratchet member.