Shifting
 

So i just got my first new road bike. I havent ridden a bike in awhile and i am wondering if i should be starting with the lower gears working up to the higher gears or just staying at the higher gears. What methods do u use to shift? I live in ohio not many hills and it is mostly flat but when their is hills i would like to know which gears usually are best.

I assume by your avatar that you purchased a Felt? If so, which one? I demand pics!

Shifting is really up to the rider. I have weak and pathetic legs so I tend to not ride on the big ring as often as some of the stronger riders that I know do.

I'm also a spinner by nature. I'm usually spinning at a rate of 110+ RPM just because it feels more natural to me.

The best advice that I can give you is to just go out and keep riding. You will figure out what works for you.

This is a good article on shifting.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

I shift so that I can maintain a comfortable cadence, which is around 90 rpm. If I'm standing up, I'll shift up one or two so my cadence is around 70. While climbing my cadence may drop a bit, but if I'm going hard on a climb it's nice to mix the cadence up between 85-105.

I normally shift down when coming to a stop. That way I don't have to start in a high gear.

I got a felt 2011 Z100 I will post pics soon. I got a deal on it. The bike shop i have been going to back and forth gave me 150 off the bike because i kept going there test riding bike and i think they just wanted me to purchase one already. but they didnt give me the free water bottle cage and tube they ussually give to people who purchase new bikes. A small price to pay.

Thank you I have been riding for a couple days and yeah my legs are just so tired when i am on the big rings. I think i my need to purchase a computer to help track my cadence.

I do most of my riding in my middle front chain ring. I drop to low gear sometimes on steep hill on step up to big gear when sprinting and long down hills. I ride mostly on the middle cassette chain ring shifting appropriately to keep my candence high. Just go out and ride and feel what's ride. Try to avoid cross-chaining though. (I.E. Big to Big and Small to Small)

I like to start with a tall gear so I can stand on one pedal and get a solid push so there is plenty of forward momentum to balance the bike while I get settled on the other pedal and the seat.

Start with the middle gears on your ride. Short gears are for climbing and tall gears are for descending. Sounds like you'll be in the middle a lot.