Gear Use

[elk]

Ha...I came to these forums with one question...and I have already learned so much reading through the posts -- sent to me and others--- that I keep coming back!! Its a cool place to hang out!!!

And I feel comfortable enough now to ask the d'oh questions (I actually LOVE the d'oh questions... )

So...I'm starting to understand that the mind is the most important "muscle" to riding...for going in a straight line etc....ANd last night when I was out with Maudie and DH and couldn't slow down enough to keep with them, I let go the brakes and spun out ahead -- before I knew it I was up this hill I could NOT get up a few days earlier...

And yes I was changing gears..but damn if I remember how....!!

So...can you talk to me a little about how and when to use my 7 gears? My 1st gear is a giant hill gear and I went there to get to the top....but what did I do to get that far?!?!!?

[RoadRaven]

So...I'm starting to understand that the mind is the most important "muscle" to riding...

Heck yes... you got it... Zen said in another thread yesterday or today about down-hill confidence that how well you do is psychological... and this is soooooo right...

So much of cycling is about believing you can - climbing, descending, going faster, completing within a time, facing headwinds, going the distance...

Its head-stuff, and your mind can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy.


Glad you keep coming back to this place.
It is pretty darn awesome

[Torrilin]

You've got a 42T chainring (the gear in front). You've got a 13-34T rear cassette (the gears in back). The shifter will have 1st gear as the 34T gear in back. 7th gear is the 13T gear in back. So. You started up the hill in a gear that worked on the flat. It got hard to spin. You downshifted a gear. Spin some more. It gets hard. Downshift. Repeat as needed. Bing! You made it up the hill.

On a bike with more gears, you would need to change gears in both the front *and* the back for some hills. This can be... exciting... Managed to drop my chain that way this week. Good thing I was on the way to the shop for a tuneup anyway. Normally it's not exciting, but if the bike doesn't get normal maintenance, it will be.

If you watch yourself when you ride, you'll probably find you have a favorite gear for cruising around (mine is 2/5, yours is probably 4). You'll probably only hit 7th gear pedaling down hills, and you'll mostly hit 1st gear going up them.

[Zen]

This is too much like algebra for me,it makes me itch.
I just go by feel. I know about where I am and if i know what's coming up, where I'll need to be.

Works for me.

[Pedal Wench]

The closer you move the chain to the bike, the easier it is to pedal. Moving either the front derailleur or rear derailleur to bring the chain towards the bike makes it easier to climb a hill. Hope that helps!

[elk]

starting to get it....I think I was jumping too many gears at first...
"ah, hill coming up, down shift down shift, clunk creak clink"

One at a time, as needed. I was reading Sheldon Brown's stuff (the guy who loves English 3 speeds) and he helped too...said: ideally you would always ride at the same cadence and shift as needed to keep that cadence...and a little faster is better than slower.

I also figured out what i DON"T like about the Pure....it feels low to the ground and I don't get an adrenaline rush on it...

I think I'm going to take my old Raleigh Grand Prix (bought it new in '76) in and see if I can clean it up without $$$$$ and ride that too... I just find myself every evening looking at hybrid bikes....! I don't have a lot of will power, but I sure as hell am tenacious!!