42 and new to cycling

[thekarens]

Are you asking about how to use your shifters or how to best make use of the various gears via the various chainring and cog combinations?

Georgena has a pretty good video explaining the later.
http://youtu.be/1AeNLTQvFN4

That's exactly what I need. The guy at the store explained the mechanics. He said the gear on the left would mostly stay on 2 here in Houston, but that's all he said.