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Using gears properly makes hills easier, saves you energy, keeps you more alert, and gives you more control - all of which go a long way towards keeping you safe. |
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Gears on your bike allow you to exert the same amount of energy across all terrain, wind and traffic conditions. Develop a steady, fast cadence: How fast your legs are pedaling should never change. You should never be pressing hard on the pedals. |
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Shifting with your left hand controls your chainrings. You won’t shift between chainrings that often & when you do, it will be very deliberate: gear 1 (easiest) for hill climbing, middle gear 2 for flat terrain. |
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Right hand shifting controls the gears on the rear wheel’s cassette. You should be shifting those right hand gears often in order to maintain a fast cadence. If your legs are burning, it’s time to “gear down” to an easier gear. The ideal cadence is 70-90 rpms. |
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To climb a hill, shift into your lowest left hand gear (smallest chainring) before you start ascending. Continue your fast cadence uphill & only slow your cadence when you’re in gear 1 on the left & gear 1 on the right. The goal isn’t to ascend fast. It’s to conserve energy. |
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When you’re just over the crest of the hill and are starting your descent, it’s crucial to be as far to the right as possible. Traffic coming up the hill behind you might not know you’re just on the other side over the crest. |
