The mechanical joys of cycling.

It is not complicated, but it is not something to worry about at present. If you are in the middle ring on the front and pedalling gets tough- then you will have to change into granny (The small ring on the front). When you do this- then you will be in too low a gear on the back, so change up two gears on the back. Whether you do this at the same time or just after changing on the front is immaterial. Co-ordinating two hands to do two different things is not hard but initially it will take some thinking about.

If you are in the middle front ring and it gets hard- then you will be trying to change gear with pressure on the pedals. That can often not give a smooth change -hence the loud noises you had. What you need to do is change gear before you need it and that takes some forethought. So the hill is getting longer and you are slowing down and you WILL require the granny. When you have 2 gears left- Change into the granny then and if possible just release the pressure on the pedals. The gears will change smoothly and no noise. Then as you get used to it- you can change down on the front and up by two gears on the rear at the same time. With less pressure on the chain- both front and rear deraillers will change immediately- cripsly and quietly. If done right- the prdalling speed (Cadence) will not even change.

Only one thing for it- Get out and practice. And if you have any sense- you don't need a hill to practice on either.