Fredwina, I believe that I only have one gear in the front! Such is my ignorance. This is my bike---http://yorktowncycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=6688

Melissa, many thanks. I think I'll better understand this through experience. I learn best that way. My biggest surprise was the big gap between riding up that slight incline in 2nd and then shifting to 1st and seeing such a HUGE difference. I will read Sheldon's information. I read somewhere that he just passed away. A huge loss.