How To Use A Mountain Bike With Gears

The mountain bike is an excellent choice for a number of reasons. It is versatile, allowing for a wide range of terrains to be covered. It has gears which allow the rider to choose the best gear for their current situation, and it has more suspension than a road bike.

What gears should I use on my mountain bike?

If you’re concerned with optimizing performance and don’t want to give up gears on the climbs or descents, then 2×10 is likely the better choice for you. Benefit of 2×10 gearing on long climbs: Many cyclists want lower granny gears for long climbs, particularly when training and racing at altitude.^[1]

Do you shift gears while pedaling?

Shifting your gears while standing still stretches the cables and strains the derailleurs. Remember, you have to be pedaling before the bike will change gears.^[2]

When should I shift gears on my bike?

Anticipate the terrain: Shift right before you start climbing, not halfway up when you’re slowing rapidly and applying maximum pressure on the pedals. If you do shift on a hill, shift one gear at a time, and momentarily relax pressure on the pedals as you’re shifting.^[3]

When should you shift gears?

Depress the clutch. Move the shifter up to the next highest gear. Release the clutch while pressing down on the gas.^[4]

What is the easiest gear on a bike?

Low Gear. The low gear is the “easy” gear and is primarily used when climbing. The low gear is the smallest chain ring in the front, and the largest cog on the rear cassette. In this position pedaling will be easiest and the least amount of force will be required to push the pedals.^[5]

What gear should I use on a flat road?

High Gear. This one is great for descending, accelerating, or for use when you want to go nice and fast on a flat road. In a high gear, you travel a long way for each turn of the pedal.^[6]

Is gear 1 high or low on a bike?

Gear ‘1’ on a bike is a low gear: this is the same for gears in a car. This gear is best for climbing, riding over difficult terrain, and riding slowly. This gear may also be referred to as the ‘easy’ gear.^[7]

Which bike gear is which?

Bikes generally have 1, 3, 18, 21, 24, or 27 speeds. (10- and 15-speeds are obsolete and you don’t see them on new bikes anymore.) Lower numbers are the low gears, and higher numbers are the high gears. First gear is a low gear.^[8]

Which gear is best for cycling uphill?

Low Gear = Easy = Good for Climbing: The “low” gear on your bike is the smallest chain ring in the front and the largest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the easiest and you’ll be able to pedal uphill with the smallest amount of resistance.^[9]

Do you need to stop Pedalling when changing gears?

While you are shifting gears, you must keep pedaling in order for the chain to move from one gear to the next. When you’re in a particular gear and pedaling, the chain is pulling on the teeth of that gear.^[10]

Should you pedal downhill?

But, that said, maintaining an easy, slow cadence downhill, where you’re not actually exerting much energy, may help keep your legs warm and ready to go at the bottom. If you can safely go faster by pedaling, pedal.^[11]

How should a beginner ride a bike with gears?

To shift onto a different chainring/gear up front, use your left shifter. To shift one of the rear gears (and how you’ll shift most often), use your right shifter. For smoother shifting, pedal lightly while using the shifter.^[12]

Mountain Bikes