hey all...have recently been commuting for the last few months...this is the first time i've ridden my bike since i was about 10...back then all i had was a bmx...

now, i ride an old schwinn continental ...anyway, i'm getting use to the stem shifter and the idea of having more than one gear...but i was just wondering how you guys shift?

it's purportedly a 10 speed, but as i understand it, if i were on the large chainring and shifted the RD, the progression isn't a straight 1,2,3,4,5, right? so is it more like 1,3,7,9,10? with the intermediary gears on the smaller chainring?

so do you guys go from 1, then drop to a smaller chainring to get to 2, etc.,? or do u just ride on the large chain ring?

sorry for the nube question, but as i haven't ridden in awhile or with anyone, there's no one to really ask...

thanks in advance..