Understand your bike's gears and use them properly

In order to find your way around and know which gear to shift to when traveling or cycling, you need to know the number of gears you have available. Just look at the numbered dials on the shift levers, or count the number of cogs and chainrings.

Understanding the Numbers on Shifters

Shifter numbers tell the rider what gear they are in without looking at their chainrings or cogs.

Example, with a bike with three chainrings and eight cogs.

- For the left lever (chainrings): 1 = small chainring (easy speed) / 2 = medium chainring (medium speed) / 3 = large chainring (difficult speed)

- For the right lever (gears): 1 = large gear (easy speed) / 2, 3,

Remember that a low number means you are on an easy chainring or cog.

Be careful, however, with chainring/pinion combinations: you can par example being on the 8 sprocket, but using the 1 chainring. So, easy or difficult speed? You're on the hardest gear using the easiest chainring. To move to a harder speed, you should change the chainring. Please note, however, that chain crossing should be avoided.

Identify the bike's gear controls

What type of shifter does your bike have?

Depending on the models, we can find:

- Rotary levers: changing speed is done by turning the handle up and down.

- Gear levers: rotate to select the right speed, found on old bikes or entry-level bikes. Note that the levers on old bikes are not indexed, that is to say they do not have a notch for each gear. The cyclist must find the correct position par groping.

- Derailleur levers or buttons: changing is done by pressing a button or lever, speed after speed.

- The racing handlebar levers (are integrated into the brake levers). You must push the lever to the side to shift into gear, or press the lever located inside the brake lever.

Remember that all modern transmissions are indexed, this means that a notch on the lever corresponds to a shifted gear (if the transmission is well adjusted!). Identify the left gear lever and the right lever. Each operates a derailleur.

- Left derailleur lever: it allows you to change chainrings.

Tips for shifting gears correctly on your bike

As a beginner, it is not easy to get used to changing gears! To achieve smooth and intuitive shifting, you need to be comfortable with the gears, know which lever to use and which lever to operate! Nothing beats practice to get into the habit!

When to change gears on your bike?

To change pedaling rhythm: go faster, slower.

To go faster, opt for a larger gear. It is necessaryar against more power to move forward.

On the contrary, to reduce the speed, choose a smaller gear, it forcera less on the pedals.

To keep the same cadence, but cross an obstacle (uphill, downhill). It is necessary to change gear several times to tackle a hill or a descent!

The gear change will follow the change in altitude of the obstacle, in order to maintain approximately the same pedaling cadence when crossing the hill.ar example.

Hazard !

You should slow down when danger presents itself. It can be a roundabout, a traffic light or a pedestrian crossing. You need to reduce your speed and shift to a smaller gear so that you can then accelerate.

Tiredness

When fatigue sets in, you will tend to finish your ride more slowly. It is therefore advisable to choose a smaller gear to limit effort and finish the outing.

Vent

The wind is a real obstacle! We can compare the headwind to a climb, and the tailwind to a descent. It is therefore necessary to choose the appropriate speed depending on the wind.

Choose the right moment

A gear change can take place:

- when you start to wind too much, to shift to a higher gear.

- when pedaling becomes difficult or too slow, change to a lower gear ratio.

- on a climb, opt for a smaller gear. On a descent, choose a larger gear.

To go faster, choose a larger gear. It is necessaryar against more power to move forward.

On the contrary, to reduce the speed, choose a smaller gear, it forcera less on the pedals.

Anticipate gear changes

It is important to always anticipate changes with a geared bike! This means changing gear just before the obstacle comes your way, but not in the middle of the obstacle.

Anticipating means seeing the hill coming, and changing gear as soon as the hill has started (or just before), before avoiding too much forcer on the pedals. You should never change gear by pushing on the pedals.

Slowing down or stopping

It is common to have to slow down or stop when traveling by bike. Remember to select a speed suitable for restarting before stopping, or when slowing down.

On the flat, however, it is possible to restart with too high a gear. But imagine going uphill! Take good reflexes when stopping or slowing down.

tips

Avoid crossing the chain

This is an essential rule of derailleur gear cycling: avoid chain crossings as much as possible!

A crossed chain wears out the transmission more quickly, that is to say the chain, but also the sprockets and the chainrings. In fact, it is no longer centeredar compared to the teeth of the other elements.

Remember to avoid extreme crossovers, for a triple or double chainring crankset.

Shift gears without forcer on the pedals

Do not change the gears of your bike by forcing, that is to say by pressing hard on your pedals!

A tip: the ideal time to shift into gear is when one of your feet reaches the bottom. Indeed, this is the moment when you forcez the least.

Are your gears creaking when you change gear? This is the classic symptom of a cyclist who shifts gears by pushing on the pedals!

Never change gear without pedaling or stopping

The chain can only move from one chainring or sprocket to another if it is in motion. Remember that the derailleur pushes the chain to one side or the other. You must therefore always change gear while pedaling.

What should you do if you are stopped with a high gear down a hill? The gears do not shift when stopped. So in this situation it is very difficult to reboot. Get off the bike, and shift to the correct gear by lifting the rear wheel and pedaling by hand, or down slightly until you can shift into the right gear!

Avoid changing chainring and sprocket at the same time. To limit the risk of derailment, prefer not to change chainring and sprocket at the same time. First change the chainring with the left lever, then immediately continue with the gear change with the right lever. It's difficult to coordinate different movements with your two hands!

When to change the tray?

It is usually easier to change sprocket than to change chainring. However, the change of plateau is necessary: ​​it often takes place during the change in altitude, but not exclusively.

Remember that for a bike with 3 chainrings, we respect the following rule:

- plateau 1: climbs

- plateau 2: flat or hilly terrain

- plateau 3: descents

You will change the board before each type of terrain. Remember that you must always anticipate!