Just getting to grips with the gears of my new racing bike, having great fun cycling up and down rolling hills near by....just wondering though when I've reached the top of a hill and am in a really easy gear do I need to then change to a hard gear at the peak of the hill to allow myself to start cycling sooner on the descent rather than just freewheeling? It seems like a big jump and I'm still struggling with changing between the big cogs - they never seem to 'click' firsttime and I have to change up/ down a few times to get them to catch - think maybe my hands are too small! right hand gears are fine though!
Also what is an avaerge time for a hilly 10 mile ride - like in terms of 10 minute miling for runners, or can't you say this for cycling?!!
I can only tell you what my Bfriend told me - still being a newbie and all.
I experienced the same issues with the left gears feeling much stiffer than the right shifter, apparently they are ment to be that way and apparently will feel different, and now im used to it, it does feel fine.
my bike has 2x 1/2 gear shifts on the left shift, so between the big cog and small cogs there are half gears that are mearly there to help with the transition from big to small - which will stop any strain on the chain, they are not another gear. so make sure if you hear any clicking or grinding that you are actually in a gear and not just in a 1/2 gear.
In terms of going down hill I personnally would put it in a bigger gear and drill down thre hill as fast as possible - how ever with a road bike(as my bfriend has explained again) you need to have your legs spinning with some tention but to try and avoid the big hard gears - apparently I have to learn to spin..................... Now I completely trust what hes telling me as hes been doing this for a very long time - how ever i would suggest that as a beginner you go and do what your comfy with and then perhaps go out with some experianced riders who can give you some tips.
I hope this helps - again this is what ive been told
I find that when I get to the top of a hill I like having a bit of a rest and freewheeling down! But if I'm trying to push myself then I change down a few gears and keep pushing.
The gears on the left are often harder, but shouldn't be hard really on a new bike, I'd take it back to the shop and explain you are struggling, it may need a new cable!
Where are you based? Road biking is great fun and I love riding in the hills.
thanks for the tips, the half gear thing sounds like what I'm having problems with so I'll try to get used to that when I go out this weekend! If not I'll ask the bike shop to check it when it has it's service!
I'm in Mid - Hampshire - near Winchester - it's not the hillest place granted, but hey are big enough and often enough for now!
It really depends on the hill, but generally; as the hill eases off start to change up, no need to go straight to highest gear, change one at time, keep legs spinning, as time goes on you will learn that can go 2 jumps or more as you assess the descent almost automatically.
If you are cycling behind someone on an ascent you can always tell the inexperienced rider, they tend to stop pedalling and "slump" on the bike instead of continuing to pedal, once they reach the top.
Some of those hills in the south can be worse than our northern ones, they can be quite short and sharpish whereas ours go on for ever.
Big ring changer has to change over greater number of teeth/bigger jump, my current road bike the lever needs two clicks to change it.
Well left shifter will always feel harder than right shifter as it has to pull a lot more cable.
Then since I changed for a rapid rise rear mech my life has been transformed (like the day I've discovered tabasco mild). Unless you're a rocket or you can pull massive gear ratio, you hardly need the Big ring. Middle ring and smaller cog on the back will do as good. So no need to shift to the very big one.
