Comments on: A Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bicycle Gears & Shifting http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/ Training, nutrition, cycling, mountain biking, and racing advice for cyclists. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:33:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Levi http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33723 Levi Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:27:29 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33723 @Mohamed There are two types of shifters - friction and index. Indexed shifters mean there is a specific slot for each gear, and each twist of the shifter clicks it into a different gear. These ones are numbered like where you see the 1-6. Friction shifters do not have specific slots for each gear. You push the lever to shift in either direction and stop whenever the chain in lined up over the chainring. I would guess you have two chainrings up front. You follow the same principles mentioned in the article as far as which one to use, the only difference is the feel of the shifting when you move the lever. Just push the lever back and forth to shift while you're riding and you'll figure it out. @Mohamed

There are two types of shifters – friction and index. Indexed shifters mean there is a specific slot for each gear, and each twist of the shifter clicks it into a different gear. These ones are numbered like where you see the 1-6.

Friction shifters do not have specific slots for each gear. You push the lever to shift in either direction and stop whenever the chain in lined up over the chainring.

I would guess you have two chainrings up front. You follow the same principles mentioned in the article as far as which one to use, the only difference is the feel of the shifting when you move the lever. Just push the lever back and forth to shift while you’re riding and you’ll figure it out.

]]> By: Levi http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33722 Levi Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:21:07 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33722 @Clay Say "2-6" In situations like that, just pick one choice and act confident about it. She probably wouldn't have second-guessed you ;) @Clay

Say “2-6″

In situations like that, just pick one choice and act confident about it. She probably wouldn’t have second-guessed you ;)

]]> By: Mohamed Abuldahab http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33719 Mohamed Abuldahab Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:53:28 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33719 Thank you for your very helpful explanation. I just have a different bike I bought this evening. On the right I have numbers from 1 to 6 which explains how it works 1 for steep hills and the more I go up with numbers the more I gain speed. However, on the left handle I have something called friction and a plus and minus signs. What is this used for? Can anyone help? Thank you for your very helpful explanation. I just have a different bike I bought this evening. On the right I have numbers from 1 to 6 which explains how it works 1 for steep hills and the more I go up with numbers the more I gain speed. However, on the left handle I have something called friction and a plus and minus signs. What is this used for? Can anyone help?

]]> By: clay http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33571 clay Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:31:58 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33571 First of all let me say thank you for this article. I've been so confused since I started biking a few months ago. This explains everything. I do have one follow-up question. How do you describe what gear you are in when you are talking? Do you say "2-6" or would you say "13th gear"? My girlfriend asked me while we were riding last week and I awkwardly said "Um...2 on the big on and 6 on the little one?" Needless to say I didn't look very cool. First of all let me say thank you for this article. I’ve been so confused since I started biking a few months ago. This explains everything. I do have one follow-up question. How do you describe what gear you are in when you are talking? Do you say “2-6″ or would you say “13th gear”? My girlfriend asked me while we were riding last week and I awkwardly said “Um…2 on the big on and 6 on the little one?” Needless to say I didn’t look very cool.

]]> By: Janet Perkins http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33543 Janet Perkins Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:36:14 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33543 I"m just confused... let's say I"m in 6th spot on right shifter should I then be in the number 3 on the left for proper use and not ruining the chains? I just need to know what is correct.... low on right (1-3) use 1st on left.... (4-5) use 2nd gear on left.... (6-7) use gear 3 on left... is this right? Someone at the bike shop told me this is the correct gears for each side.... Please help..... Thank-you I”m just confused… let’s say I”m in 6th spot on right shifter should I then be in the number 3 on the left for proper use and not ruining the chains? I just need to know what is correct…. low on right (1-3) use 1st on left…. (4-5) use 2nd gear on left…. (6-7) use gear 3 on left… is this right? Someone at the bike shop told me this is the correct gears for each side…. Please help….. Thank-you

]]> By: How to Fix a Dropped Chain Without Stopping http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33525 How to Fix a Dropped Chain Without Stopping Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:49:00 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33525 [...] you have mastered the basics of gears and shifting, but one day you shifted down to the small chainring, and your chain just dropped onto the bottom [...] [...] you have mastered the basics of gears and shifting, but one day you shifted down to the small chainring, and your chain just dropped onto the bottom [...]

]]> By: Graeme http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33523 Graeme Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:43:01 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33523 Yet another grateful reader here ! Thanks for the article, it really has helped understand exactly how to handle gears. I bought for first 24 speed bike, the last bike I had was a BMX when I was 10 years old so at the grand age of 36 I'd lost track of how technology has moved on. I still find it shocking that large UK bike shop chain stores (they know who they are) sell 21/24 geared bikes but don't actually spend any time just explaining to their customers how to use them, I can only presume this is so you have to use them to get them to repair them at a charge once you've managed to break the chains lol. Your article however has really helped plugged my knowledge gap so thanks very much for this. Yet another grateful reader here ! Thanks for the article, it really has helped understand exactly how to handle gears. I bought for first 24 speed bike, the last bike I had was a BMX when I was 10 years old so at the grand age of 36 I’d lost track of how technology has moved on. I still find it shocking that large UK bike shop chain stores (they know who they are) sell 21/24 geared bikes but don’t actually spend any time just explaining to their customers how to use them, I can only presume this is so you have to use them to get them to repair them at a charge once you’ve managed to break the chains lol. Your article however has really helped plugged my knowledge gap so thanks very much for this.

]]> By: s http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-33507 s Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:29:33 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-33507 Another grateful reader here... Just picked up a mid-80s Univega "12-speed" and as the gears have no marks or numbers I was unsure whether "down" meant "lower" gear, and how to coordinate the two... Your article is great at explaining the "how to" for dummies -- Now I'd love to see a follow-up explaining the physics of why certain gear combos are easier or harder... BTW, I guess my bike is actually a 6-speed then? (Big front ring 4 rear smaller cogs, Small front ring 2 remaining rear cogs) THANKS! Another grateful reader here… Just picked up a mid-80s Univega “12-speed” and as the gears have no marks or numbers I was unsure whether “down” meant “lower” gear, and how to coordinate the two… Your article is great at explaining the “how to” for dummies — Now I’d love to see a follow-up explaining the physics of why certain gear combos are easier or harder… BTW, I guess my bike is actually a 6-speed then? (Big front ring 4 rear smaller cogs, Small front ring 2 remaining rear cogs) THANKS!

]]> By: Chris http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-29853 Chris Thu, 14 May 2009 21:32:06 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-29853 VERY much appreciate you writing this article. My last bike was an old 3-speed, just got a cheapie 18-speed and got really confused with the gears. Thank you thank you! VERY much appreciate you writing this article. My last bike was an old 3-speed, just got a cheapie 18-speed and got really confused with the gears.

Thank you thank you!

]]> By: Carole Teegarden http://coachlevi.com/cycling/complete-beginner-guide-to-bicycle-gears-shifting/#comment-29353 Carole Teegarden Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:31:15 +0000 http://coachlevi.com/?p=1114#comment-29353 Very helpful - Now I am less of and idiot. Very helpful – Now I am less of and idiot.

]]>