00:00Our gears are one of the most crucial components on our bike, and making sure
00:03they're running efficiently is not only key for our enjoyment but also for the
00:06lifetime of the bike itself. Riding in the wrong gear can also be really
00:10inefficient for our riding performance which is probably the most important
00:13thing of all. So here's our top five tips for getting the most out of your gears.
00:30First of all, let's talk about the basics of gears and you have two options when you do this.
00:34You can make large changes which revolve around the front two chainrings or smaller
00:38changes which involve the rear cassettes. Your front cassette can come in many
00:43different types. A standard, a compact or a semi-compact which is a mix of the two.
00:49The front chainrings are adjusted by using the left brake lever. These shift the chain onto the
00:54smaller chainring for uphill or particularly steep sections and back onto the big chainring for
00:59downhill and flat efforts. The right brake lever controls the rear cassette however shifting it
01:04onto the larger ring makes the pedalling effort easier and the smaller ring harder but this allows
01:09you to put out more torque and consequently more speed. Every bike may change gears slightly differently
01:15depending on the brand but you'll get used to this after just a few rides and giving the gears a go
01:20by clicking through the systems.
01:21Making sure that your front chainring and your rear cassette are working in perfect harmony
01:32is key to cycling performance. It's also really important for the lifetime of your bike that you
01:37don't cross chain. This can happen in two ways when the small chainring on the front and the smallest
01:42sprocket on the back are both in use at the same time or conversely when the big chainring on the front
01:48and the biggest sprocket on the back are both in gear when you are pedalling. This can both stretch the
01:53chain and also cause mechanical damage meaning more replacement parts and more cost.
01:59As a rule of thumb use the rear cassette to make small gear changes and use the front chainring once
02:04you're starting to reach the extreme ends of the cassette.
02:06This can be personal preference but a lot of riders do pedal a cadence that isn't suited to their
02:17ability or the terrain they're riding on. Getting on top of your cadence will mean you aren't chugging
02:22it uphill on the big ring at 40 rpm or spinning yourself out on the small ring going downhill at 120 rpm.
02:30As I mentioned, cadence can be a very personal thing but aiming for 80 to 95 rpm when riding on a
02:36flat road is a good cadence to aim for.
02:45Gears are a great way to affect your pedalling rate but making sure you're aware of what's up the
02:49road ahead is crucial for selecting the correct gear at that moment in time.
02:54Making sure you are aware of any potential nasty ramps up the road will give you the time to shift
02:59down a few gears or onto the small chainring. This will ensure you don't come to a grinding halt.
03:05Changing gear before you are on the climb is far easier for you and your bike whereas changing
03:10on the climb itself puts a lot of strain on the bike mechanism as well as your momentum going
03:14up the climb as well. Clicking through the gears one at a time also means you're less likely to have
03:19mechanical whether this is by dropping the chain or jamming the gears all together if you try to make a
03:24lot of gear changes all at once.
03:32Being aware of your gears isn't just for climbs and descents. When riding within towns and cities
03:38it is crucial to be aware of when you may have to come to a stop and push off again.
03:43Always be aware that pushing a massive gear moving away from traffic lights or a junction
03:47is going to be incredibly hard work and almost resemble a track start.
03:52Instead click through the gears before you come to a stop to a more manageable gear.
03:57This means you can move away far more gently.
04:01Those are our top tips for getting the most out of your gears and do be sure to practice in a quiet
04:05area before you head out and try it out on the open road.
04:09Thank you for watching and do let us know in the comments section if you have any top tips for changing
04:14gears and don't forget to like this video and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
04:19Until next time, we'll see you then.
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