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Shifting from an easier, “slower” gear (like 1) to a
harder, “faster” gear (like 2 or 3) is called an upshift.
Shifting from a harder, “faster” gear to an easier, “slower”
gear is called a downshift. It is not necessary to shift
gears in sequence. Instead, fi nd the “starting gear” for
the conditions — a gear which is hard enough for quick
acceleration but easy enough to let you start from a stop
without wobbling — and experiment with upshifting and
downshifting to get a feel for the different gears. At fi rst,
practice shifting where there are no obstacles, hazards or
other traffi c, until you’ve built up your confi dence. Learn
to anticipate the need to shift, and shift to a lower gear
before
the hill gets too steep. If you have diffi culties with
shifting, the problem could be mechanical adjustment.
See your dealer for help.
E. Pedals
1. Toe Overlap is when your toe can touch the front
wheel when you turn the handlebars to steer while a
pedal is in the forwardmost position. This is common
on small-framed bicycles, and is avoided by keeping
the inside pedal up and the outside pedal down when
making sharp turns. This technique will also prevent the
inside pedal from striking the ground in a turn.
!
WARNING: Toe Overlap could cause you to lose
control and fall. Ask your dealer to help you determine if
the combination of frame size, crank arm length, pedal
design and shoes you will use results in pedal overlap.
If you have overlap, you must keep the inside pedal up
and the outside pedal down when making sharp turns.
2. Some bicycles come equipped with pedals that
have sharp and potentially dangerous surfaces. These
surfaces are designed to add safety by increasing grip
between the rider’s shoe and the pedal. If your bicycle
has this type of high-performance pedal, you must take
extra care to avoid serious injury from the pedals’ sharp
surfaces. Based on your riding style or skill level, you may
prefer a less aggressive pedal design, or chose to ride
with shin pads. Your dealer can show you a number of
options and make suitable recommendations.
3. Toeclips and straps are a means to keep feet
correctly positioned and engaged with the pedals.
The toeclip positions the ball of the foot over the pedal
spindle, which gives maximum pedaling power. The
toe strap, when tightened, keeps the foot engaged
throughout the rotation cycle of the pedal. While toeclips
and straps give some benefi t with any kind of shoe, they
work most effectively with cycling shoes designed for use
with toeclips. Your dealer can explain how toeclips and
straps work. Shoes with deep treaded soles or welts which
might allow the foot to be trapped should not be used
with toeclips and straps.
!
WARNING: Getting into and out of pedals with
toeclips and straps requires skill which can only be
acquired with practice. Until it becomes a refl ex action,
the technique requires concentration which can distract
your attention and cause you to lose control and fall.
Practice the use of toeclips and straps where there are no
obstacles, hazards or traffi c. Keep the straps loose, and
don’t tighten them until your technique and confi dence
in getting in and out of the pedals warrants it. Never ride
