00:00 Our gears are one of the most crucial components on our bike.
00:02 Making sure they're running efficiently is not only key for our enjoyment,
00:06 but also for the lifetime of the bike itself.
00:08 Riding in the wrong gear can also be really inefficient for our riding performance,
00:12 which is probably the most important thing of all.
00:14 So here's our top 5 tips for getting the most out of your gears.
00:18 Gears
00:22 Gears
00:25 Gears
00:28 Gears
00:30 First of all, let's talk about the basics of gears.
00:33 You have two options when you do this.
00:35 You can make large changes, which revolve around the front two chainrings,
00:38 or smaller changes, which involve the rear cassette.
00:41 Your front cassette can come in many different types.
00:44 A standard, a compact, or a semi-compact,
00:47 which is a mix of the two.
00:49 The front chainrings are adjusted by using the left brake lever.
00:52 These shift the chain onto the smaller chainring for uphill or particularly steep sections,
00:57 and back onto the big chainring for downhill and flat efforts.
01:01 The right brake lever controls the rear cassette.
01:03 However, shifting it onto the larger ring makes the pedalling effort easier,
01:07 and the smaller ring harder.
01:09 But this allows you to put out more torque and consequently more speed.
01:13 Every bike may change gears slightly differently, depending on the brand.
01:17 But you'll get used to this after just a few rides,
01:19 and giving the gears a go by clicking through the systems.
01:22 Cycling Performance
01:27 Making sure that your front chainring and your rear cassette are working in perfect harmony
01:32 is key to cycling performance.
01:34 It's also really important for the lifetime of your bike that you don't cross-chain.
01:38 This can happen in two ways.
01:40 When the small chainring on the front and the smallest sprocket on the back
01:44 are both in use at the same time.
01:46 Or conversely, when the big chainring on the front and the biggest sprocket on the back
01:50 are both in gear when you are pedalling.
01:52 This can both stretch the chain and also cause mechanical damage,
01:56 meaning more replacement parts and more cost.
01:59 As a rule of thumb, use the rear cassette to make small gear changes.
02:03 Use the front chainring once you're starting to reach the extreme ends of the cassette.
02:07 Personal Preference
02:13 This can be personal preference, but a lot of riders do pedal a cadence
02:17 that isn't suited to their ability or the terrain they're riding on.
02:20 Getting on top of your cadence will mean you aren't chugging uphill on the big ring at 40 rpm,
02:25 or spinning yourself out on the small ring going downhill at 120 rpm.
02:30 As I mentioned, cadence can be a very personal thing,
02:33 but aiming for 80 to 95 rpm when riding on a flat road is a good cadence to aim for.
02:39 Gear
02:45 Gears are a great way to affect your pedalling rate,
02:47 but making sure you're aware of what's up the road ahead
02:50 is crucial for selecting the correct gear at that moment in time.
02:54 Making sure you are aware of any potential nasty ramps up the road
02:58 will give you the time to shift down a few gears or onto the small chainring.
03:02 This will ensure you don't come to a grinding halt.
03:05 Changing gear before you are on the climb is far easier for you and your bike,
03:09 whereas changing on the climb itself puts a lot of strain on the bike mechanism
03:13 as well as your momentum going up the climb as well.
03:16 Clicking through the gears one at a time also means you're less likely to have a mechanical,
03:20 whether this is by dropping the chain or jamming the gears altogether
03:24 if you try to make a lot of gear changes all at once.
03:27 Control
03:32 Being aware of your gears isn't just for climbs and descents.
03:36 When riding within towns and cities,
03:38 it is crucial to be aware of when you may have to come to a stop and push off again.
03:43 Always be aware that pushing a massive gear moving away from traffic lights or a junction
03:48 is going to be incredibly hard work and almost resemble a track start.
03:52 Instead, click through the gears before you come to a stop to a more manageable gear.
03:57 This means you can move away far more gently.
04:01 Those are our top tips for getting the most out of your gears
04:04 and do be sure to practice in a quiet area before you head out and try it out on the open road.
04:09 Thank you for watching and do let us know in the comments section
04:12 if you have any top tips for changing gears.
04:15 And don't forget to like this video and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
04:19 Until next time, we'll see you then.
04:21 [MUSIC PLAYING]
Comments