How to switch gears on a bike?

Question

I have a bike with a gear on the left and right side. It goes up to 3 on the left side and 6 on the right. Is there a certain way to use those gears. Like if it's on on 3 on the left gear I have to have it on 6 on the other side?...

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Answer 1

The left lever will control the chainrings (front gears). the right lever will control the cassette gears (rear gears).  On the rear gears, the smallest spockets is the highest gear, meant for downhills and speed. But also hardest to pedal. The largest rear gear is for uphill. It is also the easiest to pedal. The largest front gear is also for speed and downhills and hardest to pedal. The smallest front gear is for uphills.

So, the smallest front and largest back gear is your lowest (and slowest) gear. The largest front and smallest back gear is your highest (and fastest) gear.

Depending on the wind conditions, contour of terrain, your riding ability, etc. some combination of the front and rear gears will be most comfortable for you.  It might seem complicated at first, but after some trial and error, you'll find a gear that works. Try to keep your cadence at 80-85 rpm for best efficiency.

Answer 2

It's also very important not to "cross chain"(i.e. gearing to 1:6 or 3:1) this dramatically decreases the life of u'r chain and sprockets.(except when storing the bike, when its best to gear to the smallest sprocket and chainring.

A little advice is to shift 2 gears in the back and then one up front, 2 gears in the back and then one up front....

Safe Riding

Answer 3

You can use the gears in any combination, but you don't want to be on the biggest gear (meaning cog) in the front and the smallest in the back, and vice versa.  For flat ground riding, you should be on "2" in the front and somewhere in the middle for the back gears.  When going down a hill, put the front one on "3", and going up hills, the front one on "1".  Adjust the back gears so that you can still pedal easily without too much or two little resistance.

Answer 4

^^ Anomaly - There's nothing wrong with having the chain on the biggest chainring and smallest rear sprocket, what if you're powering down a massive descent?

Basically, try not to be on Big/Big or Small/Small - If that makes sense :P