New to biking and just bought a 2005 Dolce

[JessicaM23]

Thanks for the info. Its all over my head right now, but I think once I get out there more I will get the hang of it and learn what exactly you are talking about

I tried to attach a picture, but not sure if it worked! (ETA: It did! There she is!)

ETA another question...So using the left gear makes it harder, and the right easier?

[Owlie]

Ooh, pretty blue and silver. It looks like you have the same "trigger" set-up that I do.

For the rear set of gears, smaller gears (the ones further from the body of the bike) make it harder. These are good for going really fast. Pushing that "trigger" shifter on the inside of the right brake hood will shift the chain onto a smaller gear than the one you started in. If you ride with your hands on the hoods (the spot where you're in easy reach of the brakes), just press it with your thumb. To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

For the front (chainrings), smaller (closer to the frame) is easier. Press the thumb-trigger thing on the inside of the left hood to get there. Larger chainrings are harder (again, good for going fast). Push the silver lever in toward the center to shift.
(Unless its previous owner had it set up very strangely...If that's the case, you could probably take it to a bike shop and have them switch the shifter cables around so that it's a normal set-up.)

Find an empty parking lot and just play around with the gears a little.

[Nick]

Welcome, that is a lovely bike. I'm sure you'll have a blast -- I feel like I'm in a second childhood now that I rediscovered the joys of biking.

[sjane]

To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

When I first got my bike, I would say to myself left (pushing the right brake lever left) is for lower (easier gear) to help remember.

[JessicaM23]

Ooh, pretty blue and silver. It looks like you have the same "trigger" set-up that I do.

For the rear set of gears, smaller gears (the ones further from the body of the bike) make it harder. These are good for going really fast. Pushing that "trigger" shifter on the inside of the right brake hood will shift the chain onto a smaller gear than the one you started in. If you ride with your hands on the hoods (the spot where you're in easy reach of the brakes), just press it with your thumb. To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

For the front (chainrings), smaller (closer to the frame) is easier. Press the thumb-trigger thing on the inside of the left hood to get there. Larger chainrings are harder (again, good for going fast). Push the silver lever in toward the center to shift.
(Unless its previous owner had it set up very strangely...If that's the case, you could probably take it to a bike shop and have them switch the shifter cables around so that it's a normal set-up.)

Find an empty parking lot and just play around with the gears a little.

Thanks so much! That helps a lot! I did ride around yesterday trying to mess around with it, but now that I know what it all does, I think I will get the hang of it!

I am so excited to start biking! I just need to go get safety gear and I will be on my way to longer rides.

Thank you for the warm welcome