How To Change Gear, by Global Cycling Network on YouTube. 10 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Find a flat, quiet area and ride slowly. Look at your drivetrain: the chainrings near the pedals at the front and the cassette of cogs at the rear wheel.
Learn the basic rule. The rear gears give small, frequent changes for fine tuning. The front chainrings give big jumps for hills or fast flats.
Check your hands. On most bikes the right shifter controls the rear gears and the left shifter controls the front chainrings.
Keep the pedals turning forward whenever you shift. Ease off the pressure for a moment so the chain moves cleanly onto the next cog.
Pick a gear where you can pedal at a comfortable, steady rhythm. Shift down before a climb and up when the road flattens or descends.
Avoid shifting under heavy load. If you are pushing hard out of the saddle, wait until the pressure drops before clicking the shifter.
Stay out of cross-chaining. Keep the chain roughly straight, so avoid the big front ring with the biggest rear cog, or the small ring with the smallest cog.
Look ahead at the terrain and change gear early. Anticipating a hill or a stop lets you shift before you lose momentum.
Tips and common mistakes
Shift before you need the gear, not while you are struggling up a steep slope.
If the chain rubs or jumps, check that the chain is not crossed and that the derailleur is adjusted.
Practise on a quiet path first so you can focus on the clicks and the feel of each gear.
Questions
Which hand changes which gear?
On most bikes the right shifter moves the rear gears and the left shifter moves the front chainrings. Check your own bike before you ride.
Can I shift while stopped?
No. The chain needs to be moving to move between cogs, so keep pedalling lightly as you click the shifter.
What is cross-chaining?
It is running the chain at a sharp angle, like the big front ring with the biggest rear cog. It wears parts faster and can rub, so keep the chain fairly straight.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
