How to use the gears in a road bike?
Learning how to ride a bike is not always easy, despite appearances. Often, we are mainly concerned about balance in order to avoid injuries, but what about other essential elements, such as the bicycle gears? It is essential to control them if we want to become professional, but it is not an easy task. At AURUM, we are committed to offer you the most complete information for you to discover the wonderful world of cyclism, so here you have our most completed guide on bicycle gears!
How do the gears on a bicycle work?
First things first: when we talk about bicycle gears and their use, it is essential to understand their functioning. Even if many concepts may seem complex, the reality is very different. There are some small elements that make it all work. Let’s meet them!
Sprockets, chainrings, and derailleurs
Estos tres elementos hacen que todo funcione. Los piñones de la bicicleta mueven las cadenas, que son a su vez las encargadas de hacer girar el movimiento del ciclista (es decir, la fuerza que se utiliza sobre los pedales). Esto quiere decir que cuanto mayor sea el esfuerzo, mayor debe ser la potencia de los piñones de la bicicleta para ayudar a transmitir dicho movimiento. Aquí es donde entran en juego los platos de la bicicleta, que son cruciales a la hora de pedalear una bicicleta, sobre todo si hablamos de las de montaña, ya que podrían beneficiarse de una mejor tracción.
Por último, pero no por ello menos importante, tenemos los cambios. En el caso de los cambios de marcha de una bicicleta, son una pieza clave: están compuestos por todos los componentes antes mencionados (piñones, platos de la bicicleta y cadenas simples) formando un sistema completo. Existen muchos tipos de cambios, como los traseros o los delanteros. Es el ‘salto’ de la cadena de un elemento a otro lo que determina el cambio de marchas.
How many gears does my road bike have?
The amount of sprockets and bicycle chainrings delimit the number of gears. The most frequent combinations are 2×10, 2×11, 2×12, 1×11 or 1×12, which represent the quantity of sprockets multiplied by the number of ‘jumps’ or levels of the bicycle’s chainring. For example, a bike with a 2×10 combination will have 20 gears to choose from. This means that there is no correct answer: every bike is different!
User guide of changing gears on bikes
The most important aspect you need to know is that the chain has to be in movement in order to shift from one ring or sprocket to another. If it is not the case, we can cause a huge damage to the mechanism of our bike. Even if it depends on the type of bike, at AURUM, we want to give you some tips for beginners in cycling:
- The left-hand shifter controls the front chainrings. This determines the strength that needs to be applied in order to move the bike.
- The right-hand shifter controls the chain on the rear chainrings, i.e., on the back. It adapts the pace when climbing or descending by making bicycle pedaling harder or softer.
Choose the gear according to pedaling intensity
Getting to know the mechanics of your bike would termine which gear to choose. However, the decision is often conditioned by the bicycle pedaling intensity. In general terms, bigger sprockets are used when climbing, since a harder pedaling is required. On the contrary, smaller ones are the preferred ones when descending. Here, the bicycle pedaling intensity is lower too
Learn how to combine chainrings and sprockets
The most important thing when combining chainrings and sprockets is to match sizes. At AURUM, our bikes already meet this requirement, but do not forget that we allow a full bike customization. For this reason, we will always advise you what to do in order to prevent accidents or unnecessary maintenance. Chains must always fit chainrings, and the latter have to be of progressive sizes to work together with sprockets.
Start pedaling in lower speed gears
If you want to optimize your energies, mainly if you are competing, it is preferable to start pedaling in lower speed gears. This will also avoid injuries, since the strength to be used when activating bicycle gears is lower. Moreover, this strategy allows a progressive adaptation to the terrain: you never know when your endurance will be needed!
When to shift gears?
It completely depends on you! At AURUM, we are extremely aware of the huge amount of different cyclists that populate roads and tracks. Each bike has diverse paces, and it is the biker’s responsibility to know and control them. Moreover, muscle fatigue, objectives, and even the weather may affect this decision. The general rule says that you must shift gears when it is too difficult to pedal (loads of effort and little movement). Our best tips for beginners in cycling will always be to look for the product that fits your needs, and we are experts at it!
Other gear shifting tips for beginners
Our most important tip on gear shifting for beginners is a basic one: try your bike out! It will be your best companion during your hardest climbs, and your trustworthy friend in the most adverse circumstances. If you want everything to work properly, do not forget to properly maintain all parts. Moreover, keep in mind that sometimes less is more: optimize your gear shifting whenever you can!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR BIKE
At AURUM, we understand that every cyclist’s bike is unique, so we offer you the opportunity to customize your high-performance bike. Don’t miss the chance to choose a high-performance road bike for your rides. At AURUM, we have the perfect bike for you!
WELCOME PACK
Con la compra de una bicicleta completa o de un cuadro, recibirás como regalo un portabidón, una gorra casual AURUM y una suscripción gratuita de 3 meses a BKOOL.
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