A Question About Gear Shifting, Just For Confirmation
02-18-13, 06:49 PM
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A Question About Gear Shifting, Just To Make Sure
I know that there has been a lot of questions on gears. I am asking this just to make sure that what I have learned is correct.
I understand that, for the rear gear, you keep on pedaling while shifting.
But for the FRONT gear, you need to stop pedaling, shift the gear, and then continue pedaling, correct?
Thank you
I understand that, for the rear gear, you keep on pedaling while shifting.
But for the FRONT gear, you need to stop pedaling, shift the gear, and then continue pedaling, correct?
Thank you
Last edited by Aznman; 02-18-13 at 06:52 PM.
02-18-13, 07:00 PM
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No. The chain can't ramp up (or down) to the next gear unless it's moving. Just "soft pedal" for a second until the shift is complete.
02-18-13, 07:39 PM
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for bikes with deraileurs, as you describe you pedal when shifting, bike with Internal Gear Hub (IGH) can be shifted pedaling or not pedaling.
02-18-13, 08:44 PM
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02-18-13, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Aznman
But for the FRONT gear, you need to stop pedaling, shift the gear, and then continue pedaling, correct?
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02-18-13, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by rebel1916
If you are pedaling up a steep hill, unweight the pedals a bit as you shift, but don't stop pedaling.
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02-19-13, 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Yes. Ideally you shift into the easier gear before it gets too steep. Plan your shifts a bit early when going uphill.
To the OP: What everybody has told you here is correct. When shifting, you need to be spinning the pedals forward.
Imagine you are riding at 10 mph and you are spinning your pedals at 80 hz (80 times a minute). If there's a hill coming up and you want to shift into a lower gear before getting to the hill, slow your pedaling down a little bit (say, to a cadence of 75 hz). You are still pedaling, but you are no longer propelling the bike forward. Now shift. This is what we mean by unweigting the pedals or easing up.
Again, I'd say it's just like manual transmission cars: The idea behind gears is that you want to match road speed to engine speed. In this case, you are the engine. The idea is that you find a cadence of turning the pedals and you want to keep that cadence regardless of your speed and the terrain. To do this, you shift into easier (lower) and harder gears as appropriate.
Good luck and have fun,
Charles
02-19-13, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
I was going to say, it's just like driving a stick shift car. But nobody (except apparently me) drives one in the states anymore...
02-19-13, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
I was going to say, it's just like driving a stick shift car. But nobody (except apparently me) drives one in the states anymore...
To the OP: What everybody has told you here is correct. When shifting, you need to be spinning the pedals forward.
Imagine you are riding at 10 mph and you are spinning your pedals at 80 hz (80 times a minute). If there's a hill coming up and you want to shift into a lower gear before getting to the hill, slow your pedaling down a little bit (say, to a cadence of 75 hz). You are still pedaling, but you are no longer propelling the bike forward. Now shift. This is what we mean by unweigting the pedals or easing up.
Again, I'd say it's just like manual transmission cars: The idea behind gears is that you want to match road speed to engine speed. In this case, you are the engine. The idea is that you find a cadence of turning the pedals and you want to keep that cadence regardless of your speed and the terrain. To do this, you shift into easier (lower) and harder gears as appropriate.
Good luck and have fun,
Charles
To the OP: What everybody has told you here is correct. When shifting, you need to be spinning the pedals forward.
Imagine you are riding at 10 mph and you are spinning your pedals at 80 hz (80 times a minute). If there's a hill coming up and you want to shift into a lower gear before getting to the hill, slow your pedaling down a little bit (say, to a cadence of 75 hz). You are still pedaling, but you are no longer propelling the bike forward. Now shift. This is what we mean by unweigting the pedals or easing up.
Again, I'd say it's just like manual transmission cars: The idea behind gears is that you want to match road speed to engine speed. In this case, you are the engine. The idea is that you find a cadence of turning the pedals and you want to keep that cadence regardless of your speed and the terrain. To do this, you shift into easier (lower) and harder gears as appropriate.
Good luck and have fun,
Charles
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02-20-13, 11:59 AM
#14
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A Question About Gear Shifting, Just For Confirmation
... and never pedal backwards whilst shifting! 
02-20-13, 12:18 PM
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The thing that you were originally told (about stopping pedaling) was probably a misunderstanding.
What the person meant was that you need to stop applying as much force while pedaling, particularly when shifting to a bigger ring, particularly in front.
Applying force means that the chain is stretched taut. When it is stretched, it is harder to move it onto a bigger ring, because your shifters are working against the tension of the chain. In the rear, it's not a big deal because most gaps are 1-tooth and they rarely go above 4-5 teeth. In front, the gap is 10-15 teeth. It is fairly common for mechanical shifters to fail to shift under enough tension in this situation.
On the other hand, if you had electronic shifters, that would not be a problem, they'd force the chain where you needed it in any circumstances.
What the person meant was that you need to stop applying as much force while pedaling, particularly when shifting to a bigger ring, particularly in front.
Applying force means that the chain is stretched taut. When it is stretched, it is harder to move it onto a bigger ring, because your shifters are working against the tension of the chain. In the rear, it's not a big deal because most gaps are 1-tooth and they rarely go above 4-5 teeth. In front, the gap is 10-15 teeth. It is fairly common for mechanical shifters to fail to shift under enough tension in this situation.
On the other hand, if you had electronic shifters, that would not be a problem, they'd force the chain where you needed it in any circumstances.
02-20-13, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
I was going to say, it's just like driving a stick shift car. But nobody (except apparently me) drives one in the states anymore...
02-20-13, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by imi
... and never pedal backwards whilst shifting!
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02-20-13, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
For the record, neither my wife nor I have ever owned an automatic. We're just beginning to car-shop now, and it rocks the salesmen back on their heels when a 62-year-old woman says, "If we can't get it with a manual transmission, we're not interested."
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