Becoming familiar with the various ways to shift your mountain bike allows you to get the most out of your riding experience. Your mountain bike has shift levers on the handlebars that were positioned by the factory or bike shop during assembly. Before practicing gear-shifting techniques, take a minute to adjust the position of the levers so you can operate each one without compromising your steering grip.
Cadence
The rate at which your legs drive the bicycle pedals comfortably on flat terrain is your natural cadence. The shift levers on your mountain bike are intended to give you control of the cadence by selecting a higher or lower gear range as you pedal uphill or downhill. Experiment with the chainring gears by using the left-hand shift lever while riding on flat ground. Notice the changes in your cadence as you shift up and down. The larger chainring allows you to go faster with less leg action, while the smaller chainring finds you pedaling more rapidly to maintain that same speed. Select a chainring gear and use the right shift lever to tune your cadence to a comfortable pace. These are the basics of gear-shifting that you apply when mountain biking.
Transitioning
The most dramatic change in your cadence occurs when you transition from flat ground to an incline without changing gears. You soon find yourself exerting more pedal power to keep up the speed you had on the flats. Another change in your cadence occurs when you transition onto a downhill. In either situation, the terrain is going to change again, and it's necessary to shift to maintain your momentum. Shifting your mountain bike effectively requires anticipation of the upcoming gear changes to transition from one condition to another.
Incline Shifting
Practice showed you that shifting up makes the pedals rotate easier. To maintain momentum as you begin uphill, begin shifting ahead of time, either while still on flat ground or in a trough at the base of an incline. Use the technique of shifting the chainring initially, and anticipate tuning your cadence with the right shift lever as you climb.
Down Shifting
Similar to driving a sports car or motorcycle, you maintain control by braking and downshifting as you approach a corner. Your speeds are not that of an engine-powered machine, but the physical forces at work during braking and cornering are proportionate. One technique for cornering is shifting to a lower gear and braking as you approach a turning point. By doing this, you are already in the power gear range as you enter the corner, and your speed is under control. Release the brakes as you enter the turn and pedal at the moment you hit the apex. Use the right shift lever to shift up as you exit the turn, and follow by shifting the chainring up or down as needed to tackle the terrain ahead.
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