Written By: Jonathan
Fact Checked By: Caroline Dezendorf
Reviewed By: Matt Tanner
It is just like when you drive your car and you change gears to go faster or climb hills with less effort, and yes, a bicycle does the same thing, the only difference is that you have to use your legs for it.
It is actually a very simple skill that can make your riding much more comfortable, easy and enjoyable, and with the right technique it’s not difficult at all to learn how to change gears on a bicycle.
If you’ve ever found it hard to ride your bike up a hill or wondered why your bike seems really slow on flat roads, So learning How To Shift Gears On A Bicycle can be a game changer thing, because if you change gears correctly it can solve those problems instantly.
This guide will show you how to use your gear properly, and by the end of this guide you will feel more confident and be able to ride more comfortably.
Understanding Bicycle Gears
The gears are meant to help you ride more easily, whether you’re going on flat roads, uphill or downhill it doesn’t matter at all.
As they literally let you adjust how hard or easy it is to pedal, which means you can ride more comfortably in different conditions whenever you wanted.
It is something like the different speeds on a car managed by gears, and decides that you will go faster or slower with less effort.
Types of Gear Systems
Firstly let’s understand the Gear System and then we will be able to understand How To Shift Gears On A Bicycle easily.
As there are two main types of gear systems on bicycles available:
1. Derailleur Gears
These Derailleur Gears are most commonly used gear systems, as these are the gears you can see on the outside of the bike.
Also a derailleur moves the chain between different-sizes gears which is actually called cogs on the front and back both.
Not only this, Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes and Many Hybrid Bikes uses this gear system, which shows the compatibility and capability of this gear system.
There are many types of gear combinations are available with this system like 18, 21 or even 27 gears, would you believe it, but this is true.
And obviously you need to kept them clean and adjusted properly so that they works best.
2. Internal Hub Gears
You won’t see these gear system outside as Derailleur Gears does, as name itself says that these gears are hidden inside the rear wheel hub.
Not only this, with gears you won’t see the movement of the chain across cogs.
Plus, to maintain them it will be easy as everything is sealed.
Moreover, they usually have fewer gears such as 3, 5 or 7 and you will find them in common on city bikes or commuter bikes.
Yes, internal hub gears are literally great for simple riding and literally requires less maintenance.
How To Shift Gears On A Bicycle (Easy Method)
You have to learn to shift gears in the right way otherwise you won’t able to run your bike smoothly and also enjoy will go away in the ride.
So, this is the ideal and easy method to help you shift like a pro, even if you are literally a complete beginner.
1. Pre-Shifting
These are the important things to keep in mind whenever you wanted to shift the gears:
Keep Pedaling Lightly
You have to shift the gears while pedaling, but just don’t push too hardly, otherwise too much force can might grind the gears or not shift correctly at all, as you have to be more careful like when going uphill while standing.
Just light and steady pedaling helps the chain move smoothly.
Avoid Cross-Chaining
Yes, whenever chain is stretched at an angle then this cross-chaining thing happens.
- Just like if you have applied combination of big chainring in front with big cog in back which means both are hard gear + hard gear.
- Another example is: applying combination of small chainring in front with small cog in back which means easy gear + easy gear combination.
This literally puts lots of stress on the chain and can wear it out faster, just try to keep your chain in a straighter line and to do it you can use fornt and rear gears that matches ideally.
2. How to Shift Front Vs. Rear Gears Easily
Now, you need to understand the different between two gears front and rear gears, as it will definitely give you clarity and help you to shift with more efficiently.
Front Gears
You can change the front gears with left hand as they are located on left hand side.
The front gears actually makes really big changes in how hard or easy it is to pedal, so keep this in mind.
As you need to shift to a smaller front gear which is small chainring for climbing hills or easier pedaling.
Likewise, you can shift to a larger front gears which means big chainring for going faster on flat or downhill roads situations.
Rear Gears
It is available on the right hand side, and changing these rear gears makes small changes and help fine-tune your effort.
Whenever you wanted to pedaling to feel easier, then you have to shift to a larger rear cog which means lower gear.
And if you wanted more speed for harder pedaling, then you have to shift rear gears to a smaller rear cog which means higher gear.
Simple Rule:
Left = For Big Changes Use Front Gears
Right = For Small Adjustments Use Rear Gears
3. What to Expect When Shifting
Whenever you shift gears, there are few things you can notice.
A Soft Click
There will be gentle “zip” sound or small click sound is normal to hear, that means your shifter and derailleur in working.
Movement of Chain
You can see the chain move from one gear to another, as this is the intention of ours to do it,
A Slight Pause
Literally for a second, you might feel like the pedals are lighter or slower, and that’s completely ok, as the chain is adjusting, after it will be normal again in a moment.
Conclusion
It is very important to learn exactly How To Shift Gears On A Bicycle and now you have understood the easy method which will definitely help you to become nature anyway.
Just remember that:
- You have to use the Left Shifter for big changes and the Right Shifter for small tweaks.
- You need to avoid cross-chaining to actually protect your bike’s drivetrain.
- Also, Keep your gears clean and well maintained for smooth and easy shifting.
You need to practice and learn it to get it perfectly, and don’t worry about it if you don’t get it perfect right away it takes some time.
FAQ’s On How to Shift Gears On A Bicycle
Q1. How often should I clean and lubricate my bike’s gears?
Answer: It is a good rule to clean and lube the chain every months, or after riding in rain, mud or dust, as it keeps your drivetrain clean to shift better.
Q2. What’s the best gear to ride in?
Answer: Literally there is no answer to it, as there’s no single gear known as “best”, as you have to use the gear that feels comfortable for your legs, as you can do middle gear on flat ground that works well. Use easier gears whenever you go hills and shift to harder gears for speed or downhill riding.
Read Also
👉Why Does My Bicycle Chain Keep Slipping?
👉How To Choose The Right Bicycle Size?
👉How to Clean a Bicycle Chain?
👉How to Clean a Bicycle Cassette
👉Why a Bicycle Doesn’t Move Backwards?
👉How to Put Air in a Bicycle Tire: The Right Way
👉How To Become A Bicycle Mechanic?
👉How to Tighten Bicycle Brakes
👉How To Adjust Handlebar Height
👉How To Attach Bike Rack On Car
Jonathan, the passionate owner of Bicycle Time, brings a lifelong love for bikes and automotive craftsmanship, that reflects into every corner of the shop. With deep passion in both cycling and automotive accessories, Jonathan is more than just an expert.