In article <
[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Andy Leates) wrote:
> My girlfriend has just got her first bike with more that three gears!
>
> How can I best explain to her how to change up and down through the gears when she has two cogs to
> contend with, i.e. when moving from fifth to sixth, do you move the rear cog back to first, then
> shift the front cog, or both at once??
>
> Any advice appreciated!
The front chainrings are for major overall changes in gearing range; the rear cogs are for minor,
more gradual shifts. Shifting one gear of the front is roughly equal to two to three (or more)
shifts of the rear.
Cyclists usually do most of their shifting with the rear, changing the front less frequently. I
pretty much stay in the middle chainring unless I go really fast (20mph+) or climb very steep
off-road grades (15%+).
Have your girlfriend stay in the middle chainring in front and concentrate only on shifting the rear
cogs. That should be a pretty good overall range for flat terrain and gentle slopes, and will do her
fine as she gets used to her bike.
When she grows confident with steeper climbs/descents or faster cruising speeds, she'll start to
notice that being in the middle won't let her go low enough or high enough. She can then start using
the front shifter for a major change of range and still use the rear (which she will have grown
accustomed to by then) for the most part.
As far as _when_ to shift, it's simple: if the legs hurt (pedaling's too hard), shift down; if the
lungs hurt (pedaling's too easy), shift up! Shift down _before_ you stop at an intersection so you
can accelerate easily afterward.
Advanced: soon she can learn to make "lateral" shifts, where the gearing doesn't change appreciably,
by shifting the front down (or up) while simultaneously shifting the rear up (or down) two or three
gears. This is a useful preparatory move, such as when transitioning from downhill to uphill where a
lower gear range will soon be needed.
She should never shift the front while pedaling under load such as on a steep climb: it's better to
shift laterally into the small ring in front before the big climb while the pedaling's still light;
then, when she need to drop down a gear, use the rear, which shifts under tension better.
Above all, and especially on climbs, let her ride at her own pace, however slow you may think it. If
you go macho and drop her, she won't enjoy the ride, the gearing won't matter, and you won't have a
riding partner for long. If you keep her pace, she'll appreciate your company, you two will ride
more, and you'll be luckier in the long run.
Van
--
Van Bagnol / v a n at wco dot com / c r l at bagnol dot com ...enjoys - Theatre / Windsurfing /
Skydiving / Mountain Biking ...feels - "Parang lumalakad ako sa loob ng paniginip" ...thinks - "An
Error is Not a Mistake ... Unless You Refuse to Correct It"
