How To Shift Gears On My Bicycle Going Uphills?

Question

I am not sure how to adjust the gear going uphills to go faster and i try all ways to adjust and i am not sure how. I am using this bicycle for my work and traveling 40km everyday - 2 hours traveling and i trying to make it within 1 hours traveling.

How To Shift Gears on my bicycle? - This is my bicycle

http://www.kennyjoyce.com/rimages/505/bicycle-mountain-01-S.jpg

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Answer 1

Hum...

The shifter on the left handlebar adjusts the front derailleur makes large changes your gearing.

The shifter on the right handlebar adjusts the rear derailleur which makes much smaller, finer changes in your gearing.

On flats and downhills, you are most likely to have the chain on the big ring in front and one of the middle to smaller gears in back.  These gears should be thought of as your higher gears.

On uphills, you are probably going to need to shift to the middle or smallest ring in front and one of the middle to bigger gears in the back.  These gears should be thought of as your lower gears.

The key to maintaining good speed and having the endurance to make a two hour commute is learning when to shift your gears.  Do not try to really "mash" the pedals with high resistance.  Endurance is enhanced if you "spin" the pedals at a high RPM with pretty low resistance.  For most cyclists a pedaling cadence between 60-100 RPM is usually most efficient.  This most efficient cadence will be a point somewhere between having your thigh muscles burning (you are mashing) and your heart pounding and ragged breathing (spinning too quickly).

As the terrain changes you need to learn to shift your gears to keep your cadence in your most efficient range.

Given the way gears on a bicycle work, there are usually lots of redundant gears.  This is OK.  It allows you to get the chain on one ring in front and use the rear derailleur to make fine adjustments to your gearing to match subtle changes in the grade.  For big grade changes, you will use your front derailleur.

Hope this helps you out.

Answer 2

is it that your bike doesn't shift? or you're not sure what gear to be in? 1st answerer aswered my 2d question. if yours is my 1st question, you should get your bike checked out at your local shop..