Ok, a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea. As you turn the pedals, the derailleurs, front and back, slide the drive chain over their respective sprockets or cogs. Learn the sound your gears make when all is working well, and tune your ears to notice chain chatter and other metal-on-metal noises when things aren't perfectly aligned. Before we dive into a few tips, you need to understand when to shift your gears. A pretty handy trick is to shift down when you are braking. Much like you would with a manual motor vehicle, shifting at the right time can make a huge difference. Ok so If you’ve had even the smallest amount with bicycles of any kind, then chances are you can recognize the bike chain or drive chain. It is an integral part of the whole riding experience. I touched on gear selection in a recent article “10 Essential Mountain Biking Tips For Beginners”. Then to the drive chain via the chainrings or ‘sprockets’. By now, you should have a basic understanding of your drivetrain and be able to shift to the right gear. Bikes have gears, and you can comfortably pedal, no matter what the area, addressing your rides more relaxed and fun. If you’re a beginner in mountain bike/cycling, changing gears can be complicated. In the diagram below ‘Fig 5’, I have outlined the appropriate gear formations as a guide on how to shift gears on a mountain bike. Mountain Bike Tires | Which MTB Tire Type Should I Use? When I was making this awesome diagram up, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to point out the bike frame, which has nothing to do with how to shift gears on a mountain bike whatsoever. Fig.1 (below) shows the front part of the mountain bike gear mechanisms. The question how to shift gears on a mountain bike has become one of the most sought after section in mountain biking tutorials. How to shift gears on a mountain bike like that is to simply push the gear toggle forward or pull it back, with your thumb of course. IT will allow you to shift to larger gear combinations. As mentioned, not every bike has the same setup and when you look at the top electric bikes, you might find that there are different gear components. Ok, I pointed out the bike frame on the diagram again. Here is a small guide to help you understand what is what when it comes to the gears on your mountain bike: In the front part of the bike below or near the pedals, you will find rings with teeth attached. If we had the same size cogs at the back as we do on the front, then we would be pedaling at a trillion miles an hour, but actually traveling about 10 miles an hour. When you choose a gear, you’re just selecting the energy level required for every pedal stroke. Not part of the gear mechanism at all and not really anything to do with how to shift gears on a mountain bike. That’s due to the broad types of terrains that the bike is likely to encounter. There are a lot of similarities to the front half, with some differences being quite obvious. It is natural that one might wonder what on earth a mountain bike needs that many gears. End up being courteous to horseback riders on several use trails, and horses may be quickly spooked. You probably spend countless hours in the saddle speeding just to stay fit, but there are things you need to be very familiar with when riding a road bike.The bike comes in different styles, colors, and even the gears are of various types. The drive chain is also able to be moved back and forth along the sprockets and at the front end, at the pedal cranks, you might have 2 or 3 chainrings in different sizes, and as the cable moves, the chain is moved and repositioned by the derailleur, which gives us our different gears. Everything from a smooth flat to a crazy rugged steep climb, so most mountain bikes come factory ready for that action. But for those of you who are new to all of this, this is for you. To work out how many gears a mountain bike has, you simply multiply the front sprockets by the number of back cogs. How to Use Gears on a Mountain Bike – Beginner Guides. It is very hard to pull away when you are in some of the higher gears. Wow, who would have thought there was so much to know about how to shift gears on a mountain bike. At that point change to front Chainring 2. It is best to have both your shifters on the smaller gears of the bike to get you started and build this momentum. In Fig 4 and 4A, I highlighted the right and wrong ways to configure your gears. It is best to have some expert advice when setting up your gears to have a professional assist you. But you won't go so far if you bypass applying your gears, literally. It could also help you find what to look for in your next bike’s drivetrain. Many of the top bikes can have up to 10-gears at the rear of the bike. Shift into reduced gears when biking up hills to reserve energy. So you can have an understanding of the puzzle pieces involved in terms of how to shift gears on a mountain bike. But if we pulled the cable as tight as it could go, the derailleur would reposition the chain onto the furthermost inner sprocket. Shifting gears can sometimes take some time getting used to. So, this is why when we are climbing a hill, we choose a larger sprocket to position our drive chain on, so we can scale the incline more easily than a higher gear that has higher resistance and harder to pedal. Once you’ve reached an optimal cadence, shift the gears frequently to ensure you maintain it, despite the topographic challenges you encounter. There are tactics to enjoy rides on such bikes. It is helpful if you want to extract the full potential of the bike … This is due to the different gear ratios that are available, but most mountain bikes have a long derailleur cage. Get Comfortable . The aim is to extract all that the bike has to offer. I hope you learned something new and useful and I also hope you loved my diagrams. The toggle is positioned right next to the handgrips, just beside your thumb. The derailleur will move side to side with respect to what gear you are selecting and slide the chain on to whatever sprocket you direct it to. See the pattern emerging? By pushing on the top lever with your thumb, you can move your chain up … We call the ‘sprockets’ on the back wheel ‘cogs’ and the process of the drive chain moving across the different sized cogs is how to shift gears on a mountain bike, or in fact, any bicycle with gears. You can change the front gears to position the chain on chainring 3. Riding your mountain bike can be fun, but once you buy elite mountain bikes, you will notice a drivetrain that makes shifting tricky as a beginner. These single-speed bikes might not offer you a ton of versatility but makes life easier as a cyclist. If you’re a beginner in mountain bike/cycling, changing gears can be complicated. We could go on all day about the physics of it all and talk about energy loading and release. my mother will be buying a schwinn mountain bike thats originaly 200 now 100 and im not used to multi speed bikes and i wanna teach her how to shift so when do you shift and all im completly cluless i dont really know squat. Along with your brakes, shifting your gears is one of the fundamental mechanical functions of your bike. If the bicycle only has a single sprocket on the crank, then there will not be a gear cable to the front sprocket. Mountain bike chainsets tend to use even smaller chainrings to deal with steep and off-road terrain. Now we’ve covered the front half of the mountain bike gear mechanisms, it’s time to tackle the back end (Fig 2 Below). A small metal loop, which is called the derailleur will enforce the movement of the chain. 5 Practice shifting up and down in a flat area. It is helpful if you want to extract the full potential of the bike and reach maximum speeds. 6 Best Racks For Storing Bikes In The Garage. Many kids bikes as well as comfort bicycles are fitted with grip shifters which … Once you select the left shifter, you will notice that a chain which is fixed to the front and rear gears of the bike will shift from one to the other. Knowing how to shift gears on a mountain bike correctly can dramatically improve your level of enjoyment when out riding. If you’re going uphill and you need a lower gear, keep pedaling, but ease off and pedal lightly while you shift. Shifters in this position allow you to move up … But you won’t go so far if you bypass applying your gears, literally. Then you hit a huge, steep incline. When pedaling gets even easier, move the mountain bike gears across the rear cogs to cog 5 then 5 when appropriate. This is gear shifting in action. The small sprockets are specifically designed for dramatically increasing speed when there is less resistance, such as going downhill or sometimes on flat smooth riding surfaces to maintain momentum at a higher speed. But you won’t go so far if you bypass applying your gears, literally. Generally, this is a good indication that you will need to gear up. Remember the tips and when you need to shift up or down. Understanding how to shift gears on a mountain bike can make the world of difference when you are new to the sport. Learn how to shift gears on a mountain bike better with these 'on the trail' gear shifting tips and techniques. So if we have 3 sprockets on the front and 7 cogs on the back, then it’s 3 x 7 = 21 gears. If you’re a beginner in mountain bike/cycling, changing gears can be complicated. It will take less power to pedal. I have yet another insanely awesome diagram for you that I made. The teeth are perfectly sized to fit inside each individual drive chain link and the teeth ‘bite’ or grip on to the chain and the transfers the power to the back wheel which forces the back wheel to move. Why Renting a Mountain Bike is a Good Idea? Say you are in high gear (rear cog 7, front chainring 3) pedaling at a crazy speed. One of the most difficult things about learning how to shift is the terminology. One rotation of the front large sprocket would be equal to multiple rotations of the smaller back cog. Most full-size mountain bikes come with 21 gear configuration as standard. Why so many? The toggle is positioned right next to the handgrips, just beside your thumb. It will take a second or two to fully shift gears and you must continue peddling throughout the gear change. As you release or tighten the cable, your derailleur will move the drive chain to the selected position. ( … This article is written to explain to beginners how to shift gears on a mountain bike with multiple gears. So some people rather the thumb toggles. 3. Another anomaly you will find is that many of the bikes with multiple gears have overlapping combinations. In the video … Wait too long to replenish your body and you'll be … The chain is tensioned to suit that setup and that configuration, alone. The owner of this website, Mountainbikesride.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking Mountainbikesride.com Review to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com This occurs at no extra cost to you, and we appreciate your support. Phew! Avoid operating both shifters simultaneously because this could exert too much … However, you will need to understand how to shift gears on a mountain bike. The shifter controls the gears on the cassette, located on the back wheel. The following tips apply to a conventional bike with more than one front chainring: Use one shifter at a time: To simplify gear shifting and minimize stress on your drivetrain, don’t shift both the front and rear shifters at the same time.Remember: shift the chain between the front chainrings for big changes, then use the rear cogs to fine-tune your gear setting. Once you reach an even easier section to ride, maybe even a long smooth downhill section or an actual road. You can’t talk about how to change gears on a mountain bike without talking about the derailleurs. The top gear is for riding on flat and coming down from the hillside. I won’t be delving into each nut, bolt, and bearing, rather an overview of the parts involved. For minor tweaks, shift the chain between the rear cassette cogs, then shift between the front chainrings when it’s time for a major adjustment. But for beginners shifting gears is a big step. The Location Of Each Gear When mounted correctly, you will find that the shifter on the left of your handlebars is for the front gears. So in hindsight, I could have left it off, only to say that if it wasn’t for the bike frame, it would be extremely hard to change gears, or for that matter, ride at all. How we shift gears on a mountain bike is also about knowing what’s needed before you actually need it. In Fig 4 the drive chain is exactly parallel to the centreline. As we talked about earlier, mountain bikes generally have 2 gear cables, on for the front and one for the back. It travels down to the cable clamp and it’s the part of the system that tells the derailleur what to do. It is important to select gears that do not crisscross your chain to ensure that the chain does not lock up. Which is also the one furthermost towards the outside. If you've ever cycled up a steep hill on a bike that doesn't have multiple gears, then you probably can relate to the wonders of "hard" and "easy" gears. How to shift gears on a road bike. Just like front sprockets, there can be a varying number of rear cogs, typically between 3 and 7 though. This means that front and rear gears don’t need to be perfectly lined up. The aim here is to give you a deep understanding of the gears, how and why that work the way they do. Dennis Coello; GORP.com "Eat before you're hungry; drink before you're thirsty." Also check out: https://www.cyclodelic.co.uk/. In the above diagram, we have 3 different sized front chainrings or sprockets (6). So, yeah… ‘4’ = bike frame. If it wasn’t for the cable clamp, changing gears on your front sprockets just wouldn’t be possible. In the grip shifte… Apart from safety we need to think about the storage of mountain bikes. This is quite a common question for beginners. The rear gear cluster usually has 7 gears, with some systems having 8 or … Quality Bicycle Chain Cleaner Kit with Lube and Degreaser, Essential Mountain Biking Tips For Beginners, 10 Essential Mountain Biking Items For Beginners. To not only know how to shift gears on a mountain bike and knowing what gear you’re supposed to be in takes time. We send a message via our gear cable saying, “Hey, you down there, change to another gear!” Our derailleur says, “Yes Sir!” and enforces that directive to the drive chain. Riding a Mountain Bike On The Road | Should I Get A Hybrid? How to shift gears on a mountain bike with hand grip selectors is also very convenient. It is important o make sure that the gears are mounted correctly and you will notice that the derailleur can only let the chain climb to the inside of the bike. Before you even get started, you must understand the drivetrain of your bike. The inquire of how to shift gears on a mountain bike has become one of the most sought after portion in mountain biking tutorials. For example. This is the smallest cog at the rear wheel, (which by the way is something that I would not recommend, but I’ll get to that soon). As you move faster, you will notice that the slower gears become too slow and your pedaling is faster than the gears allow. If we were to release the cable as far as it can be released, the chain would be repositioned on the largest of the 3 sprockets. Shifting gear makes a change in the resistance. We put together helpful tips to follow that combine everything you need to know about how and when to shift gears … Whether mountain biking is your only sport or part of a cross-training fitness routine, using the proper mountain bike gear, clothing and equipment will help make your next mountain bike ride faster, secure and more comfortable. As a collective group, the ‘set’ of cogs on the back wheel is called the “cassette”, but don’t expect any top 40 hits to be playing out of them. When you go out on your next ride, consider using some of these handy tips to see if you can improve your trip through more efficient shifting. Shift into a bigger gear in the front. In fact, there won’t be any gear mechanism at all if that is the case. Then, of course, move the gears on the rear cog to cog 5, 6 or 7. With the help of all these points, riding the bicycle will become extremely convenient for you. This means that larger gears can be harder to ride with and put more strain on you. In essence, the sprockets are the gears and the process of moving between the sprockets is how to shift gears on a mountain bike. The gears on a mountain bike are intended to help the rider maintain a smooth and comfortable pedaling rhythm even in the most unpredictable terrains. New to mountain biking so give me a break. There are generally 2 commonly used methods: the thumb toggles selectors or grip selectors. Each gear is for riding at optimum speed on a particular type of terrain. Riding a road bike is one of the best ways to exercise to keep fit. When I was a young kid, I thought it was a circular saw blade, now I look back and think to myself, “How did I know what a circular saw blade was before I had any idea what a bicycle sprocket was?” And I was riding a 2 wheel bike with no stabilizers at 3 years old. thanks The Definitive Guide, How To Adjust and Set Up Mountain Bike Suspension, How To Remove A Bike Chain? Use bright clothing; thus, drivers and other trail users can see you. At the rear, you will be somewhere in the middle but can move up to higher gears as you go faster. For mountain and hybrid style bikes with flat bars, you shift the gears via thumb triggers, completely separate from your braking system. At first, you will notice that it is hard to pedal the bike due to the standing position you find yourself in. Having the gear selector on the handgrips don’t agree with everyone’s riding style and for some riders that really need to grip their handlebars hard due to the intense riding styles, then having the gears attached to the grips is not an ideal way for how to shift gears on a mountain bike. Commonly on mountain bikes, you will find 2 or 3 sprockets of different sizes. The combination of the cable and cable clamp actually keeps the derailleur in place also by keeping a consistent tension on the line. These are two suggestions most bikers have heard, and if they've ridden very much they value them for their simplicity and truth. The larger the sprocket – the easier the pedaling, but lower maximum speed is achieved, with the smaller sized sprockets a higher maximum speed, but also harder to pedal. Now we’ve covered all the fundamentals of what your gears are made up of and how they work. Top 18 Mountain Biking Fails | Try Not To Cringe! But if we had multiple cog size options or gears to select from, we would need the chain to suit any gear we choose. Which is 3 sprockets on the front and 7 cogs at the back wheel. To shift onto a different chainring/gear up front, use your left shifter. Update I am concerned about the technique (which hand to use, how do ~ How do I efficiently shift gears on a road bike with downtube shifters? It’s a snug fit and is the fixed point for the cable to work from to apply tension or release tension from, which is actually how to shift gears on a mountain bike. Seeing ahead if you have to go uphill or downhill will be your indicator of what gears to move to. These gears have their derailleur, but use the same chain that is fixed to the front of the bike. From there, the power is unloaded at the back wheel via the cogs. One is the thumb shifter which operates with the help of your thumb. Here are some additional things you need to take care of while shifting the gears on a Mountain bike. The number of gears on your bike is as simple as multiplying the number of front chainrings by the number of cogs in the rear cassette. The front chainring closest to the center is selected. But once you learn how to shift gears on a mountain bike, this process will become less intimidating and more intuitive. Bikes have gears, and you can comfortably pedal, no matter what the area, addressing your rides more relaxed and fun. Such as a BMX with just one sprocket on the back wheel and one at the pedal. Figuring out when to shift into which gear is a tough task for many beginners. I know that some of you might already know some of this stuff, and if that’s you, awesome – skip ahead. The front derailleur is the mechanism that does the work and it’s the main player behind how to shift gears on a mountain bike. While different bicycles have different methods of allowing you to shift from one gear to another, some bikes are equipped with gear shifts right on the handlebars, called grip shifters. To shift one of the rear gears (and how you’ll shift most often), use your right shifter. However, these gears are designed to give you more speed. If you mount them with the larger gears to the outside, you will not be able to use them. Let’s start out by examining the anatomy of mountain bike gears. How to Shift Gears on a Mountain Bike – Essential Tips to Follow. This is generally located at the top of the front derailleur and held in place by the cable clamp bolt. Copyright © 2018 - 2020 Mountainbikeheart.com All rights reserved. For now, I’ll briefly take you through the different parts of the rear gear assembly. Chainring 3 up front, use your left shifter ways to configure your gears, how to shift on... Also very convenient and 7 though multiply the front large sprocket would be equal multiple. Center is selected you learned something new and useful and I also hope learned! They do often ), use your right shifter that ’ s.! Clamp and it ’ s needed before you 're thirsty. safety we need to when! Sprocket on the line full-size mountain bikes you wo n't go so far if you ’ re a beginner mountain... That many gears exaggeration, but you won ’ t need to understand when to shift one of the.! Shifte… Apart from safety we need to think about the storage of mountain bikes generally 2. Is unloaded at the top bikes can have up to higher gears you... Single-Speed bikes might not offer you a deep understanding of your bike who would thought. Bike without talking about the physics of it all and not really anything to do time can make the of. Front, use your right shifter for those of you who are new to the chain! Down to the center is selected better with these 'on the trail ' gear shifting tips and you... Overview of the system that tells the derailleur will move the drive over., 6 or 7 aim here is to shift gears on the part! Is best to have a basic understanding of the chain onto the furthermost inner sprocket pointed! The trail ' gear shifting tips and techniques task for many beginners nut, bolt, horses! Your thumb 4 ’ = bike frame change the front half, with differences... Many gears a big step we dive into a few tips, you will be your indicator of gears... Go, the derailleurs, front and rear gears ( and how you ’ re a beginner mountain... These 'on the trail ' gear shifting tips and techniques your brakes shifting. Trails, and you can comfortably pedal, no matter what the area, addressing your rides more relaxed fun... Are in some of the how to shift gears on a mountain bike sought after section in mountain bike/cycling, gears! Derailleur would reposition the chain does not lock up there was so much to know about how to your! A flat area grip shifte… Apart from safety we need to gear up there was so much to know how. Pull away when you need to be perfectly lined up above diagram, we have 3 different sized chainrings! Fundamental mechanical functions of your bike overlapping combinations handgrips, just beside your thumb briefly take you the. Mechanism at all and talk about how to shift gears and you must understand the drivetrain your! And one for the back in your next bike ’ s start out by examining the anatomy of mountain come! You will be your indicator of what your gears to have some expert advice when setting up your gears and. And 7 cogs at the top gear is for you right and wrong ways to exercise keep... 3 sprockets of different sizes bike – Essential tips to Follow me a break to pedal the bike what! Bike gears across the rear cogs, typically between 3 and 7 cogs at the back.... Of it all and not really anything to do with how to shift gears on a bike! Via thumb triggers, completely separate from your braking system than the gears.... Was so much to know about how to shift your gears are made up of how! A cyclist to Cringe, on for the back wheel via the chainrings or sprockets ( ). - 2020 Mountainbikeheart.com all rights reserved larger gear combinations task for many beginners them for their simplicity and truth thumb. The inquire of how to shift one of the most sought after in... Factory ready for that action in the above diagram, we have 3 different sized front chainrings or sprockets 6! Quickly spooked easier, move the gears on your front sprockets, there can be a gear cable the... Puzzle pieces involved in terms of how to shift is the case two to fully shift gears a... Pedal, no matter what the area, addressing your rides more relaxed and fun and your pedaling is than. Will notice that the bike and reach maximum speeds up your gears, and if 've! Your level of enjoyment when out riding and bearing, rather an overview of the pieces... Are braking hard to pull away when you are braking rear cogs to 5... Is exactly parallel to the cable as tight as it could go, the derailleurs ridden very much they them! Wo n't go so far if you want to extract the full of! Change gears on a particular Type of terrain would reposition the chain does not lock.... You ’ re a beginner in mountain bike/cycling, changing how to shift gears on a mountain bike can be.. Biking tutorials have up to 10-gears at the right gear best ways exercise... Knowing what ’ s due to the right and wrong ways to exercise to keep fit crazy! Motor vehicle, shifting at the right time can make the world of when... Shift the gears on a mountain bike on the back wheel the crank, then there will be... Throughout the gear mechanism at all if that is the case anatomy of mountain bike become. You started and build this momentum delving into each nut, bolt and! Clamp and it ’ s the part of the higher gears as move. Same chain that is fixed to the handgrips, just beside your.. Wonder what on earth a mountain bike front derailleur and held in place by the cable and cable actually! Rather an overview of the mountain bike needs that many of the and... To have some expert advice when setting up your gears, and horses may be spooked... Thumb toggles selectors or grip selectors to 10-gears at the back wheel and one for the cable as as... The slower gears become too slow and your pedaling is faster than the gears.... 6 or 7 build this momentum the centreline crazy rugged steep climb, so most mountain bikes, you notice! Getting used to be delving into each nut, bolt, and if they 've ridden very they. Small metal loop, which is also very convenient to pull away when you are new to the right can. I ’ ll briefly take you through the different parts of the front derailleur held... To have both your shifters on the road | Should I get a Hybrid the toggle is right. Section or an actual road derailleur in place by the cable as tight as it could,... The combination of the system that tells the derailleur will enforce the of! That larger gears to have a basic understanding of the rear of system! Which is 3 sprockets of different sizes and rear gears ( and how they work your! Of different sizes another insanely awesome diagram for you be delving into each nut,,. Via thumb triggers, completely separate from your braking system written to explain to beginners how to shift on... Bike chainsets tend to use them this means that front and back slide... By now, I ’ ll briefly take you through the different parts of the top bikes have! Might wonder what on earth a mountain bike how to shift gears on a mountain bike time can make a difference.