The gears on a mountain bike are very important to your riding performance. Although they don't directly change the speed of your bike, they do influence how quickly and easily you can turn over the wheels. They also affect the distance the bike travels over the course of one pedal rotation. It is important that any mountain biker understand how to use the gears to make adjustments to changes in speed, terrain and incline. The gears usually are simple to handle. A rider's biggest concern is continuing to ride while adjusting the shifters.
Step 1
Identify the two different range shifters. One is the large gear shifter, which has three settings on a 21-speed bike. The smaller gear shifter controls a range of gears, usually numbering seven but sometimes eight or nine. The large gear shifter shifts provides larger gear set changes, while the smaller shifter makes minor changes.
Step 2
Start riding your bike before shifting gears. On a flat terrain, you will likely be shifting in the second range of gears. Pedal slowly if you are planning to switch gears.
Step 3
Move up or down in gears with the small shifter to make small changes in pedaling resistance. Make bigger changes with the large shifter to change gear sets, and then find the exact right gear by using the small shifter. Higher gears have larger gear ratios, but are harder to pedal. They are best for flat, easy terrains. Lower gears are best for difficult terrains with steep inclines.
Tips and Warnings
- Never shift both the large and small shifters at the same time. This can throw off the gears, derail the chain or cause other damage to your gear system.
Member Comments