Gears are essential for all bike riders, but are you using them properly? In this video we show you how to avoid cross chaining, how to prepare for steep hills, what the correct cadence is and all the parts that make up a groupset on your bicycle.
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00:00Our gears are one of the most crucial components on our bike. Making sure
00:03they're running efficiently is not only key for our enjoyment but also for the
00:06lifetime of the bike itself. Riding in the wrong gear can also be really
00:10inefficient for our riding performance which is probably the most important
00:13thing of all. So here's our top five tips for getting the most out of your gears.
00:30First of all let's talk about the basics of gears and you have two options when
00:34you do this. You can make large changes which revolve around the front two chain
00:37rings or smaller changes which involve the rear cassettes. Your front cassette can
00:42come in many different types. A standard, a compact or a semi-compact which is a mix
00:48of the two. The front chain rings are adjusted by using the left brake lever.
00:52These shift the chain onto the smaller chain ring for uphill or particularly
00:56steep sections and back onto the big chain ring for downhill and flat efforts.
01:00The right brake lever controls the rear cassette however shifting it onto the
01:05larger ring makes the pedaling effort easier and the smaller ring harder but
01:09this allows you to put out more torque and consequently more speed. Every bike may
01:14change gears slightly differently depending on the brand but you'll get
01:17used to this after just a few rides and giving the gears a go by clicking
01:21through the systems.
01:26Making sure that your front chain ring and your rear cassette are working in
01:31perfect harmony is key to cycling performance. It's also really important
01:35for the lifetime of your bike that you don't cross chain. This can happen in two
01:39ways. When the small chain ring on the front and the smallest sprocket on the
01:43back are both in use at the same time or conversely when the big chain ring on the
01:48front and the biggest sprocket on the back are both in gear when you are pedaling. This
01:52can both stretch the chain and also cause mechanical damage meaning more
01:57replacement parts and more cost. As a rule of thumb use the rear cassette to make
02:01small gear changes and use the front chain ring once you're starting to reach the
02:05extreme ends of the cassette.
02:07This can be personal preference but a lot of riders do peddle a cadence that isn't suited
02:17to their ability or the terrain they're riding on. Getting on top of your cadence will mean
02:22you aren't chugging it uphill on the big ring at 40 rpm or spinning yourself out on the small
02:27ring going downhill at 120 rpm. As I mentioned cadence can be a very personal thing but aiming for 80 to 95 rpm
02:35when riding on a flat road is a good cadence to aim for.
02:44Gears are a great way to affect your pedaling rate but making sure you're aware of what's up the road ahead
02:49is crucial for selecting the correct gear at that moment in time.
02:53Making sure you are aware of any potential nasty ramps up the road will give you the time to shift down a few gears or onto the small chain ring. This will ensure you don't come to a grinding halt.
03:03Changing gear before you are on the climb is far easier for you and your bike.
03:08Whereas changing on the climb itself puts a lot of strain on the bike mechanism as well as your momentum going up the climb as well.
03:14Clicking through the gears one at a time also means you're less likely to have a mechanical.
03:19Whether this is by dropping a chain or jamming the gears altogether if you try to make a lot of gear changes all at once.
03:25Being aware of your gears isn't just for climbs and descents. When riding within towns and cities it is crucial to be aware of when you may have to come to a stop and push off again.
03:41Always be aware that pushing a massive gear moving away from traffic light or a junction is going to be incredibly hard work and almost resemble a track start.
03:51Instead click through the gears before you come to a stop to a more manageable gear. This means you can move away far more gently.
03:59Those are our top tips for getting the most out of your gears and do be sure to practice in a quiet area before you head out and try it out on the open road.
04:08Thank you for watching and do let us know in the comments section if you have any top tips for changing gears.
04:14And don't forget to like this video and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
04:18Until next time, we'll see you then.