Originally Posted by
tsappenfield
1. Do you switch hands when you are shifting front vs rear derailleurs?
I use one hand to operate both levers.
2. Do you place your fingers on the down tube to stabilize your hand when shifting?
Not generally.
3. Do you use your thumb and index finger to push/pull the shift lever forward and backward?
Yes, usually anyway.
4. How to you shift and brake at the same time?
One hand on the shifters, the other on the brake.
5. What else do I need to know technique-wise?
Practice, practice, practice. Different shifters and derailleurs respond differently.