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YOU-RIDE KILIMANJARO
7. Tech
The smallest rear and largest front combination is for the greatest speed. It is not
necessary to shift gears in sequence. Instead, find the “starting gear” which is right for
your level of ability (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 gear combinations. At first,
practice shifting where there are no obstacles, hazards orother traffic, until you’ve
built up your confidence. If you have difficulties with shifting, the problem could be
mechanical adjustment.
WARNING: Never shift a derailleur onto the largest or the smallest sprocket if the
derailleur is not shifting smoothly. The derailleur may be out of adjustment and
the chain could jam, causing you to lose control and fall.
2. HOW AN INTERNAL GEAR HUB DRIVE TRAIN WORKS
If your bicycle has an internal gear hub drive train, the gear changing mechanism will
consist of:
• a 3, 5, 7 or possibly 12 speed internal gear hub
• one, or sometimes two shifters
• one front sprocket called a chain ring
• a drive chain
A. Shifting internal gear hub gears
Shifting with an internal gear hub drive train is simply a matter of moving the
shifter to the indicated position for the desired gear.
After you have moved the shifter to the gear position of your choice, ease
the pressure on the pedals for an instant to allow the hub to complete the shift.
B. Which gear should I be in?
The numerically lowest gear (1) is for the steepest hills. The numerically largest gear
(3, 5, 7 or 12, depending on the number of speeds of your hub) is for the greatest
speed. Shifting from an easier,
“slower” gear (like 1) to a harder, “faster” gear (like 2 or 3) is called an up shift. 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, find 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 up shifting and
downshifting to get a feel for the different gears. At first, practice shifting where there
are no obstacles, hazards or other traffic, until you’ve built up your confidence. If you
have difficulties with shifting, the problem could be mechanical adjustment.
