How do I appropriately shift bike gears?

I recently purchased 24 spd bike. I want to ride for exercise. Haven’t been on bike in 20 yrs! I know high for downhill, low for up but it’s awkard and sometimes it feels too fast going downhill. Any pointers?

Your 24 speed is 3 on the front, 8 on the back.

The 3 on the front are called small chainring, middle chainring, large chainring (or “the big ring”). Sometimes they are referred to by the number of cog teeth, so your small ring probably has 30 teeth, the middle has 39 or 42, and the big has 52 or 53. These could vary depending on your bike.

The eight cogs on the back are numbered 1-8, with 1 the largest diameter, it’s next to the spokes. 8 is the smallest diameter, it’s furthest to the right. 1 is the “low” and 8 is the “high” gear. These are usually called “cogs” and the group together is the “cassette”

They are also referred to by the number of cog teeth, so number 1 might have 24 or 26 or more or less, and number 8 probably has 12, 13 or 14 teeth.

So a biker might say, “I took that hill in my big ring” while another guy says “dang, I had to downshift into my small ring and the 24 to get up it”

Most of the time on level to rolling ground, you’ll be in the middle on the front, and just shift the back to accomodate your pace, effort, and small up or downhills.

The little one on the front is for big uphills. You shouldnt shift into it until the (front) middle one won’t go low enough for you. Then as soon as it’s feasible, shift back onto the middle ring.

The big ring, as you’ve discovered, is for going fast. Fun huh? Just don’t leave it in the big ring all the time, if you find yourself slowly grunting the pedals around, shift to an easier gear, usually the middle ring. Slowly grunting the pedals around can give you sore knees, especially if you’ve been off the bike for 20 years.

Tip: avoid “cross-chaining” – this is where you’re using the little ring up front, but the #8 / 13 tooth cog in the back. It’ll be obvious, the drivetrain makes a weird grinding noise, you glance down and the chain is obviously skewed at an angle. This is very hard on the drivetrain. Also avoid the same problem using the big ring / 24 tooth cog on the back.

The reality is, you have 24 “theoretical” gears but in practice you should only use the easiest 3 or 4 for the little ring, you can use all 8 with the middle ring (though only use the middle 6 if I were you) and the highest 5 or 6 on the big ring.

Another tip: shift gears frequently – your car may have a broad “power band” rpm range, but your legs don’t. Shift to keep your legs spinning at the speed you feel most efficient.

Have fun!

1989 or 1990 Hunter Mountain Bike Association MTB Downhill Practice and Race

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