It’s been a common scenario for having or using a geared bicycle. Many times you must have come across a geared bicycle and even taken it for a spin around the block. But many times, many people don’t know correct gear shifting and end up pedaling too fast or pedaling too slow. This article brings you one of the most underrated things having an untapped potential that could change your riding experience!
Before that let us understand some of the basic terminologies which could help you to classify the power system of bicycles and easier understanding of gearing.
Parts of Bicycle Drivetrain
Source: Rei Co-op
Crankset: The front part on which your pedal is attached and consists of chainrings or sprockets. The crankset typically comes in single, two, or three-speed.
Cassette: Your bike’s rear cassette is the stack of cogs (gears) mounted on the right-hand side of your rear wheel.
Chain: The medium through which your front and rear gears are connected. The number of teeth on the cog and chainring combine to determine how easy or hard it is to pedal.
Derailleur: Device that physically guides the chain between higher and lower gears when you shift gears. Most bikes will have a rear derailleur, whereas not all bikes will have a front derailleur.
Shifters: These controls, whether levers, twist grips, or integrated with brake levers, operate the derailleurs via cables (or circuitry in electronic shifters).
Using the Gears
Source: The adventure junkies
Some of the points to remember while riding the bike are:
Shifters on the left side of the handlebar control the front gears and on the right side control the rear gears.
Gears towards the frame of the bicycle are easier or lower gears and those gears which are far away from the frame are harder or higher gears.
Always shift one gear at a time. While shifting the gear, rotate the pedal gently with no pressure exerted by the legs to let the chain adjust freely to the next gear.
“The basic aim or purpose of gears is to adjust your pedaling rotation and resistance in all types of terrain while riding on the flat, climbs, descents, and on uneven terrain.
This helps to achieve better efficiency of the cyclist by maintaining optimum speed, flow and covering longer distances with ease.
In terms of exercise, gears are better in avoiding strain on leg muscles and knees, preventing cramps or injuries due to sudden change of terrain or emergency stop.”
Using the Gear Shifter
Source: Amazon
The left shifter controls the front gears or the front derailleur of the crankset.
Basic Processes for a 3-Speed Front Shifter
Source: Amazon
Lower gear or the 1st gear (towards the frame) is for climbing purposes. It is used only while climbing steep roads or in uneven rough terrain like rocks.
Middle gear or 2nd gear is the one from where you must start along with the lowest gear of the rear side. This gear is mostly used for initial quick acceleration and to gain speed.
The largest gear or the 3rd gear is used while cruising or for maintaining the momentum while riding. This gear helps to achieve a longer pedal distance in a single pedal.
Basic Processes for a 2-Speed Front Shifter
Source: Amazon
Lower gear or the 1st gear (towards the frame) is for climbing purposes, it is used only while climbing steep roads or in uneven rough terrain like rocks.
The largest gear or 2nd gear is the one from where you must start along with the lowest gear of the rear side.
Using the Rear Shifters
Source: Les Cycles
The shifters on the right side of the handlebar control the rear derailleur. The proper shifting process is mentioned below:
While starting from the initial position, start with lower gears (towards the bicycle frame).
As your pedaling speed increases, shift to the higher gears one at a time.
While climbing the terrain, shift to the lower gear one at a time.
On the descent, shift to higher gears according to the speed you carry.
The Shifting Process
While riding a geared bicycle your chain is the one that experiences tensile load and lateral load. To achieve a perfect shifting pattern ensuring stable speed flow and efficiency, some of the tips are:
Anticipating the Terrain:
Source: Singletracks
It’s important to know the track or the road you are riding. Many times uninvited obstacles come in the path, disturbing the flow and speed. When in doubt of any incoming obstacle, it’s better to shift into a lower gear in advance which helps to control the bicycle and maintain momentum.
Avoiding Cross-Chaining:
Picking gears that put your chain on opposite extremes of the front cogs and rear cassette at the same time (cross-chaining) is hard on the drivetrain. Instead, stick with rear cogs that are relatively close in alignment with the front cog you choose. To avoid this situation, it’s important to know front and rear shifters work in pairs.
Source: Rei Co-op
Lower gears of rear with lower gears of front up to the point where the chain is parallel to the frame (usually from 3rd or 4th rear gear, shift the front gear to the larger ring followed by shifting rear gear to higher cogs).
Higher gears of the rear side are accompanied by higher gears of the front chainrings. Overall while riding the bicycle, always ride with gear pairs that are in (parallel) alignment of the frame.
Source: SickBiker
Proper gearing ensures speed, efficiency and helps to maintain your fitness and legs uniformly. Have a good day and practice the correct shifting.
Written By - Prajwal Barate
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