it's all about the gears!!!!

[pdh]

As a complete newbie to this cycling lark and I mean complete newbie l have just relised the importance of correct gear shifting.
So if anyone else out there is completely new to this cycling stuff I can not emphasise enough the importance of using the full range of gears available.
It has taken many embarrassing clunky attempts to locate the correct one and even one amusing passing comment by some veteran "keep trying , it's in there somewhere"

So now I've relised that theres a gear for all occasions this mornings 10 miler was much easier on both the bike and l .

 

[Saluki]

It takes a while to find the right gear. Practice will see you right, but worry not, we all get it completely wrong from time to time. I know I do. I'm a Norfolk girl so any slight bump in the road will have me frantically searching for granny gear

Well done for getting out there and riding.

 

[Doobiesis]

It's different for every rider and bike I think. When I first started my chain was off more than on and clunking all my rides. A lot of reading and I've got used to mine, much smoother on a road bike as well it's so smooth I wonder if the gear changed sometimes.

X

 

[youngoldbloke]

Do you drive? Much like a car you want to be in a gear that allows the engine to be running easily. You wouldn't try to start off in top gear - you start in first and move up through the gears, engine turning over at a reasonable rate, not over revving, and not labouring. You change down when going up hill, otherwise you might stall. Same with your engine, on the bike. Your legs will tell you when you are in the right gear

 

[Tin Pot]

Fixie.

 

[mjr]

Do you know any other tunes? Here comes the percussion section! What's that poor chain ever done to upset you? and many more.

But well done getting the hang of it. You probably already know to avoid the extreme crossed gears (top on the front with bottom on the back and bottom with top) if you can.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I know where you're coming from, I had to get them explained to me
Single speed is the way to go for day to day flat riding, less thinking involved