The number of gears on a bicycle correspond with the number of speeds on your bike. The terms "gears" and "speeds" are, in this sense, interchangeable. Top gears, or high gears, help you traverse certain types of terrain more easily by adjusting the resistance in the pedaling motion. Understanding which gear combinations are suitable for inclines and declines can optimize the amount of work you put into pedaling and make your bike rides more enjoyable.
High Gears
High-numbered gears are designed for flat terrain or declines, as a high-gear combination increases the resistance in your pedaling. Depending on the grade of a decline, you can continue to pedal while riding downhill using high gears to increase your speed. If you set your gears to the proper combination, you'll notice a consistent feeling of resistance in your pedaling. Some inclines are too steep and increase your speed to a point when even the highest gear-combination won't provide any resistance. In such extreme instances, it is usually unnecessary to further increase your speed.
Gear Selection
The number of possible gear combinations you can choose from depends on how many front wheel chain rings and rear wheel sprockets your bicycle features. Most modern multispeed bikes have three chain rings and a cassette with four to seven sprockets. To dial up high-numbered gears, up-shift the chain on the front wheel to either the middle or largest chain ring. Do this by manipulating the shift tab on the left side of the handlebar. You'll have to use the middle sprockets on the rear wheel to complement the high front-wheel gear. Do this by manipulating the shift tab on the right side of the handlebar. Use the larger sprockets in combination with the largest front-wheel chain ring for extreme declines only.
Shifting Technique
To fully optimize your pedaling, you should always anticipate the timing of your shifting. Shifting into a gear when you have already reached a particular type of terrain can waste energy. For instance, shift into higher gears when you know a decline is coming up shortly. This way, you'll already be pedaling at a resistance that is appropriate for the decline. If you wait too long to shift, you may waste energy by pedaling in a gear that does not provide enough resistance to make you faster. Conversely, you would want to shift into lower gears well before reaching an incline. Waiting to shift into a low gear when you are already on the incline makes it difficult to maintain and create speed.
Considerations
The chain can be damaged or come off its tracks when you use gear combinations that are not suitable for each other. These gear combinations force the chain to run from the front wheel to the rear wheel at an extreme angle. If you shift into a high gear on the front wheel's chain ring and into one of the smaller sprockets on the rear wheel's cassette, the chain can can rub against other sprockets on the cassette and become damaged. Conversely, if you shift into a low front-wheel gear and a high rear-wheel gear, the chain can grind up against the larger chain rings on the front.
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