Learning to shift gears correctly

[PscyclePath]

My team caption rode by me the other day and said I was shifting all wrong, that I was streaching out my chain. I only had a little training from a spin class while my bike was on a trainer. Other than that I just shift till I feel comfortable. Does anyone have any recommended articles or websites for proper shifting? I definately tackle hills and ride a Trek 1000

You've got it pretty close already...

You want to shift down (or up) so that you can keep a steady cadence of somewhere around 75 to 90 pedal strokes per minute, while keeping relatively easy pressure on the pedals. If you're having to strain or push hard on the pedals, then shift down to a lower gear until you're comfortable again. Likewise, if you're starting to feel like a hamster on one of those little roller thingies, then shift up a gear or so until you've got your comfortable cadence and level of effort back.

The chain stays the same length, and only stretches a little bit from long and hard wear. What your friend may have been referring to is riding in a gear that's "cross-chaining," for example in the big chainring and the biggest rear cog, which has the chain running at a harder angle between the front and rear cogs. But if you keep your chain well maintained and lubricated, this isn't that great a problem under normal riding conditions, it just accelerates wear a little bit.

In spite of having 18 (2x9) or 27 (3x9) gears, there's a lot of overlap between the chainring rear cog combinations. Try running in a few gears that don't cause you to cross-chain, but are close in gear-inches (how far the wheel rolls for each turn of the rear cog) and still feel comfortable.

[Zen]

I'm not even going to try to answer that.
That's what Sheldon Brown lives for.

[Brandi]

I believe for me it all came with time and experience. Just be careful and try riding a little slower and checking out all the gears as you go. Constantly shifting and seeing what works. But keep a good steady rythme is your goal. Given time it will be 2nd nature.