Global Cycling Network - even on SRAM, get into the habit of changing chain rings when in the middle of the cassette - cross chaining may be allowed, but it is still inefficient
Ride like a manual car. When you change gear, whether it's on a wattage bazooka or coffee cruise, let off power and then shift. I hear a lot of experienced riders grinding gears and they are hurting their already skinny wallets. Save your components and let off a little.
(Charlie) Many Amerikanz don't know no gear shifting :) They are the primary target for bike produce selling, but might not get your very precise comparison. I am hearing that click and grind noise most of the time playing green light sprint during (otherwise pretty boring) commute.
It's the Millionaire / Billionaire edition of "A Beginner's Guide." Afterall, what Saudi Prince wants to look foolish during their riding lessons with a current UCI road champion.
@Bjorn Arnesen Cross Chaining: Creating the largest angle on your chain from the innermost gear on the front to the outermost gear on the back, or vice-versa. 1) it makes your chain wear much more, as well as wear the gears / chainrings faster, and 2) it puts either a lot of tension on your Derailler ( Largest on front with largest on back) Or too much slack ( Smallest on front with smallest on back). The theory here is to try to use the more intermediate gears most of the time to give you the optimal cadence/ power zone. The gears at the extreme ends are for special situations when you either need to hill-climb ( smallest front, Largest rear- for maximum mechanical advantage. Your pedals will spin faster, but you will slowly and steadily be more successful in your climb), or for Maximum speed on a flat or downhill ( Largest front, smallest rear- pushing the maximum amount of distance on the ground with the fewest rotations at the pedals). Easiest way to remember it is Smallest + Smallest, or Biggest plus Biggest are bad for your derailler.
I'm doing a 33 mile marathon this week and I borrowed a Jamis from a friend and I'm trying to figure out when to change gears to what for each situation
I have ridden a fix gear bike for over ten years. Now that I have decided to challenge myself more, I decided to buy a road bike. Not knowing a single thing about gears and already a fan of your guy's work, I turned to you for information. thank you! This is helpful!
As explained in the video, changing chainrings should always be accompanied by a "counter-shift", that is, shifting up to a bigger chainring should be accompanied by a comparable downshift on the cassette and vice versa, usually at least two cogs, although this can change under certain conditions. When I change chainrings, I always think "Easier, then harder", that is, I do the shift that makes pedaling easier before doing the one that makes it harder. This way, I don't rob my legs of momentum. The nice thing about counter-shifting is that it always involves the same levers on both hands: When shifting to the big chainring, both shifts are done with the brake levers and when shifting to the small chainring, both shifts are done with the paddles. If you subscribe to my "easier, then harder" technique, the order will change. When shifting up to the big chainring, start by downshifting on the right brake lever (two cogs or whatever) and then upshift on the left brake lever. When shifting down to the small chainring, it's the opposite--start by downshifting to the small chainring on the left paddle and then shift up (two cogs or whatever) on the right paddle. (There is much debate about whether the chainring and cog shift can be done simultaneously. I prefer to do them consecutively as I don't like the idea of both ends of my chain being in transition at the same time. I'm no mechanic but this seems to beg for trouble.) With practice, these motions can be executed smoothly and quickly to minimize the time spent shifting chainrings when you have to lighten up on the pedals. This is my own technique, formulated and refined over several years of observation and experimentation. I welcome any comments and arguments.
Question for you, is there any danger when either side of the chain is in the transition area that it go halfway and get tangled? It seems like this equipment is made pretty fool proof, that you’ll either shift, or if the indexing Is improperly calibrated, you simply won’t change gears at all. I’ve never heard about the chain coming like halfway off the wheel or something. It always has to land somewhere.
@@ktrock77 Like I said, I'm no mechanic, but certainly there have been times when I've been biking when something didn't mesh quite right on a shift. Sometimes you hit the shifter and nothing changes, sometimes it moves but the chain doesn't mesh quite right with the cog or chain ring which is probably a sign of a drivetrain problem like a stretched chain or worn cogs or chain rings. I have rarely had a dropped chain but I'd prefer a dropped chain--which is easy to fix--to other problems.
For those commenters who complain that this video is too elementary, don't worry, an upcoming video will demonstrate how to install a kickstand on one's TT bike.
Because only Luddites and Retrogrouches ride cabled gearing. What do you expect GCN presenters to ride ANYTHING LE$$ than Top of the Line? What a dumb question.
1. Changing gears at load on the back is fairly harmless, especially on the road. 2. Cross chaining, when done sporadically, is also harmless. 3. Changing gears at load at the front from small to big is nigh impossible, technically 4. Changing gears at load at the front from big to small requires a bit of a finesse, but is certainly doable.
Great video! The filming is top-notch - I appreciate the alternate views of the shifting and the actual gears in action, along with the rider diagrams. Also... holy hell... you narrated that whole thing on that long climb.... I don't much enjoy changing my gears - but I see it's worth learning how to do well
I've been riding a hybrid bike now for a couple of years I love how comfortable it is. But I really need a road bike as my new job requires me to travel around inner city, I was thinking about getting a road bike but having never used one before the gear system seems quite daunting to me. Any recommendations on a beginners road bike, also what gear system is easier for a noob like me?
I still don' t understand how to efficiently change gears when going from fast descent into steep climb.. It's either too hard and i burn out super fast or it's light and i'm getting freespins that messes with my rhythm and I lose momentum.
that dual shift sometimes called a counter shift... moving from big to small up front... and slipping 3-4 sprockets in the rear... at the same time.. will get it for you. But if it's a really steep climb, well, we're just shit out of luck. Try to get the most out of your momentum coming down off the descent, and let the natural slow-down going uphill bring your speed down to match your gearing. It's better to over-spin a little bit than to be stuck in too high a gear mid-way up, and then have to grind and force downshifts the rest of the way.
If you look closely, Mark's head hit Peter's upper arm, not his elbow. Mark was falling long before Peter's elbow came out - Peter's elbow barely even brushes Mark because he's already on his way down. The way I see it, Mark misread an opportunity and tried to take a line that Peter already had. It's nobody's fault, the (very quick) decision to disqualify Peter is disgraceful.
Sattva Vasavada Sengupta - they were not changing gear, so you are a bit off topic here. And it was not a quick decision, Sagan was initially given a 30 second penalty and loss of points After Cavs manager complained, they went over the video a second time and then DQd him from the race. If you watch the overhead, Sagan deliberately rides Cav into the barrier, there was plenty of room for both riders, but Sagan deviated OFF demares wheel to block Cav on the right and then blocking him further with the elbow And don't forget, Sagan had already done something similar earlier in the race - Griepel was also complaining that Sagan went for him But I agree, it was a bit harsh, the initial penalty seemed about right
There is no elbow from Sagan. Cav's left hood is under Sagan's right forearm, all Peter did was to lift his arm to disconnect from a doomed rider. Sagan operates in the Matrix, his moves are moves that Cavendish STILL doesn't understand, nor do the race jury. Sagan got kicked out because he's Neo, The One.
Philip Hern From the description: "Thanks to Bellwether for the products used in this video". That means they didn't use GCN kit because they where doing product placement.
3 day bike beginner here: Mine has 2 gears in the front. Is it bad to only change the front gear? What I mean by that is that I don't know if the big jump from the small to the big gear in the front(or vice versa) damages the chain or something. I leave the rear gear on the 6th smallest one(of 8) gear always for downhill and flat road riding(no difference for me. I've done stationary bike for too long), and only change the front one to the small gear uphill and right back to the big gear once the road is flat again. Is this bad? Like I said, I don't know if the big jump(even though it is only "1" jump, but a big one) damages the chain. Thank you in advance! 🛐 Bike: Giant Escape 2 Disc
I still prefer triple chainring, yes it's heavier but the gap between each chainring is lower so a bit more comfy. Also with a 30tooth chainring you can climb pretty much everywhere with a narrower range on your cassette, making shifts even more progressive 12/27 vs 11/32 is not quite the same thing. In practice I don't use the small chainring that often except when I hit the wall and have to climb a pretty steep climb (>10% and more than a few hundred meters)
Absolutely marvelous advice. However what happens for those poor sods who actually purchase a bike with Campagnolo gears, or don't those exist any more?
I have 3X7 gear system. When Im on 2 and 7, and I know its time to upshift to 3 on the front, I downshift the back to 5 from 7 and then upshift from 2 to 3 on the front. This makes the jump a lot easier. Was this the pro tip that he was trying to explain?
Cross chaining ain't a big problem. it's greatly exaggerated. I never use small-small because it never comes naturally to do so. But i do use big-big sometimes
I've been watching your video's for over 8 months. I love your content it's amazing and all your riders are so funny. I just bought my first road bike and I'm loving it!!! Keep up the amazing videos you are the best. :D
#TorqueBack speaking as someone who is a bit above average height (6 foot 5) is it normal for me to have a much lower cadence average 50-60 rpm or am I just over gearing myself?
I dont think its about height, i think is about the make up of your muscles. I've quite a low cadence despite having very short legs and thus usually 'over gear' compared to my friends. I'm no slower as a result, but I'm not waiting on the call from Sky any time soon... I dont think even the Cervelo test team would have me.
Gareth Major honestly, you might just be putting 150 more watts into your pedals than your mates. Nothing wrong with it, you should be quite proud of yourself, really.
When I changed gears on a Schwin Hybrid bike, it went from a high 2 to 1 by itself and the chain just fell off, my low always stays around 6 or 7. My question is why did the chain just randomly fall off? Any help would be nice I'm new to biking.
Watching the tour I thought of a question for gcn to test. Drafting on flat or down hill makes a difference. Going up hill with little to no wind, does drafting behind someone give any benefit?
nah, when ur on the small ring at the front stay between 6-11 on the back and small ring on the front stay between 1-6 on the back is a good benchmark.
I think I understood......in principle, now to put it into practice! New to biking and the wrong side of 50!! More advice on gears is massively appreciated. Using shimano claris
🚲 Nice video mates, translation to spanish is pretty decent, might be a bit awkward cultural wise on the joke/reference but it'l work 😅 I'll be sharing this with a newbie rider who didn't feel comfortable shifting and rode middle gear all way through. It was kinda windy so I just said "¡Luego te paso un video RU-vid mejor!" [I'll share you a RU-vid video later! ] 😀
Wait so I have to push them both at the same time to make it easier? I just got my bike and I was able to make it harder to peddle but then I couldn’t find out how to make it easier
i still have shimano 600 tricolor. Only had to change the pulleys of the rear derailleur and clean it from time to time, still works perfect and you can use it i think up to 9x.
Is a bike that’s 7x2 better than one that’s 7x3? Please help me! My Univega is a 8x3 but I’m thinking of selling it and buying a 1988 SR600 Canondale 7x2. Which is is better?
I thought this video would be helpful but then I realized I own the one bike in the whole world that literally can’t be pedaled backwards yes that’s right I have a single speed with a coaster brake
With Si and Lasty on the ground at the TdF, I was hoping we'd get an in-depth GCN piece on the Cavendish/Sagan controversy today. So far, all I see is this how-to-change-gears vid and the Kask helmet infomercial?????????????? Sad!
I have a problem on my shimano tiagra 4700. after about 6month ride as a 6km commute each day in Paris, the rear deraillker cable is cut inside the liver. Does any one suffer the same kind of problem? this append 3 times. Bike is set up and maintained by my bike shop technicals. photos at t.co/oahJ8LlBsR. Now I ride a "double speed" /o\
I rode 42. 17 up la jolla grade or 42 19 for the steepest grades. Never used my 21 really. Senior 2 veterans usually ride 21. 13 rear and 52. 42 chainrings. Nowadays probably the 54 is still used I don't know. I stopped riding in the 1990s Too much traffic nowadays and faster.
I went from a single speed with double hand brakes to a 5 speed gear hub with a coaster brake and hand brake. Now I’m on a 7 speed with double hand brakes and single chainring. I didn’t grow up in a very hilly area, enough to affect visibility of crosswalks but not enough to need gears. Figuring out whether you can pedal while changing gears or if you’ve got to stop pedaling to change can be tricky. My 5 speed popped out of gear if I pedaled while shifting and it took the coaster brake out with it. I’m still not sure if that was normal or not for that type of bike.
I don't have that kind of gear system... I'm on a kids size bike as I'm under 5ft tall and my gear shift is a ring on the right hand handle only. I don't have gears under my peddle (its a folding bike) I just want to make it easier to peddle on flat land. :(
Cycling isn’t too popular in America so when I go to look for tutorials I hardly ever find fellow American cyclists and I end up watching a lot of European tutorials. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but I bring that point up because when I heard you say, “blooming top tip” I was like... what does that mean? LOL thanks for the tutorial they’ve helped me plenty.
Even if ize allowed to cross-chain i wouldnt, its a like a deadly sin..... Got to respect smashy and nicey here for talking on a gradient like this ! :p
