Road bike gears silly question

[GrasB]

Eek!

Why?.... It's actually a nice system as it is harder to try & force the shifter past the last stop (you have to go for a double or triple down shift).

I have no experience of non-Zero Loss Double Tap shifters.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Why?.... It's actually a nice system as it is harder to try & force the shifter past the last stop (you have to go for a double or triple down shift).

I have no experience of non-Zero Loss Double Tap shifters.

The eek was because I have no experience of the zero loss ones.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The eek was because I have no experience of the zero loss ones.

Eek from me too: seems I need to learn about a lot of different gear systems.

 

[GrasB]

The eek was because I have no experience of the zero loss ones.

The result is -
Shifter: click...*no gear change*
You: HU?!
Shifter: click... *no gear change*
You: WTF?!
Shifter: CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*
You: *look down* BEEEEP!

 

[HLaB]

A quick look down tells you what chain ring you are in if you forget (I assume she knows the smaller one is best for climbing); similary the ocasional glance back at the cassette helps confirm too (its the opposite, larger cog is best for climbing) and the rest is just feel/ experience.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The result is -
Shifter: click...*no gear change*
You: HU?!
Shifter: click... *no gear change*
You: WTF?!
Shifter: CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*, CLICK *no gear change*
You: *look down* BEEEEP!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

A quick look down tells you what chain ring you are in if you forget (I assume she knows the smaller one is best for climbing); similary the ocasional glance back at the cassette helps confirm too (its the opposite, lager cog is best for climbing) and the rest is just feel/ experience.

No, she did not know about this: my wee lesson for absolute beginners was about just that.
I remember well when, not so long ago, I was asking my lbs about the gears of my hybrid, searching this site and you tube for demonstration

 

[smutchin]

Erm ... you probably cannot do this just yet if you are an absolute novice attending a class on how to pump up your tyres!

It's not just absolute novices...

My dad, now 66, is getting back into cycling after a lay-off of nearly 30 years. His 10-speed BSA racer, which went on to become my first road bike in the mid-80s, had non-indexed downtube levers and he managed fine with them back in the day. I assumed he would be OK with the trigger shifters on his new Carrera Subway, which have the helpful numerical display, so ought to be very user friendly compared to what he used in the past, but he's actually finding the gearing really hard to get to grips with.

He's also having surprising difficulty with cornering. Those of us who ride a bike every day perhaps take it for granted how tricky these things can be.

 

[HLaB]

He's also having surprising difficulty with cornering. Those of us who ride a bike every day perhaps take it for granted how tricky these things can be.

You've maybe already said this but brake before the corner and take it easy at first untill he's more confident. Fair Play to him btw

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It's not just absolute novices...
He's also having surprising difficulty with cornering. Those of us who ride a bike every day perhaps take it for granted how tricky these things can be.

For sure this is true!
Well done to your Dad for getting back on the saddle.
In my ladies group we have lots of absolute beginners 50+ it's to the advantage of the whole cycling community that we spread our (very limited in my case) knowledge.
Also makes group rides more fun when the skill gap between newbies and experienced riders is reduced.

 

[smutchin]

Fair Play to him btw

Well done to your Dad for getting back on the saddle.

Thanks. He's always been more of a runner than a cyclist, but running is no longer an option since he had his hip replacement. He's been putting off getting a bike for a while, mainly out of fear. It's great that he's taken the first step of actually getting a bike (with my encouragement and help in choosing a suitable steed, obviously), and he's proving very keen so far.

I went out with him on his first ride and I've promised to go out with him for further lessons, as and when we can fit them in. I've already helped him devise a method for getting on and off the bike with his reduced mobility, and I'll be following this thread with interest for ideas on how to help him with gears.

HLaB - I think his real problem with cornering is taking it too easy - I pointed out that you need at least some forward momentum to stay upright...

 

[Scoosh]

All will be revealed tomorrow in your Maintenance Course @Pat "5mph"

I trust you will be bring your new-found-knowledge and skills with you on Thursday ??? I can explain a bit about SRAM Double-Tap, as that is what I have on my Condor ... and we'll have at least 1 hour each way ...

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I went out with him on his first ride and I've promised to go out with him for further lessons, as and when we can fit them in. I've already helped him devise a method for getting on and off the bike with his reduced mobility, and I'll be following this thread with interest for ideas on how to help him with gears.

What I've been doing with my beginner ladies is:
meet in the local park, it has some flat paths, some short steep inclines, some longer not so steep one. Ideal.
Then I explained the cogs. Then I got some to hold the bike up, go through the gears while another moves the pedals by hand, to get a feel of "resistance" on different gears.
Then we practiced changing gears on the flat to feel the difference while actually pedaling.
Then we practiced on a few hilly bits, me coaching: chance to small front, change to 3 with your right shifter, and so on.
Alas, the only one that got stuck halfway up the hill was the one on the fancy road bike.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

All will be revealed tomorrow in your Maintenance Course @Pat "5mph"

I trust you will be bring your new-found-knowledge and skills with you on Thursday ??? I can explain a bit about SRAM Double-Tap, as that is what I have on my Condor ... and we'll have at least 1 hour each way ...

My ears will be open, while my mouth will try it's best to stay shut

 

[smutchin]

Alas, the only one that got stuck halfway up the hill was the one on the fancy road bike.

That's almost a parable.