Sometimes, the simplest skills in biking are the most overlooked, and changing gears is one of them. Perhaps you have already seen cyclists grinding along even on perfectly flat roads or, on the contrary, moving their knees up and down insanely fast, while the bike is barely crawling. Both issues have the same root cause: poor understanding of how to use cycle gears. So, this guide aims to clarify things, helping you ride faster, easier, and more efficiently on any terrain.
What Are Bicycle Gears?
Bicycle gears are a system of different-sized sprockets that adjust the bike's resistance and pedaling difficulty. This genuine invention allows you to tackle hills more easily and maintain a comfortable speed and effort ratio regardless of the terrain. By understanding how to gear on a bike, you can get the most out of each ride. Still, we should first puzzle out what components make up the system and how they actually work together.
Basics of Bicycle Gears: Understanding the Components
Understanding bike gearing system is not difficult since it consists of several simple components that work together to transfer power from your legs to the wheels in the most efficient way possible. Let’s consider these parts in more detail:
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Shifters: trigger the process of changing gears. They are located on the handlebars and connected to the derailleurs with metal cables.
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Rear cogs: the collection of different-sized cogs on the rear wheel.
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Chainrings: toothed rings turned by the pedals. Bikes typically have one (1x or single), two (2x or double), or three (3x or triple) chainrings.
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Rear and front derailleurs: guide the chain from one cog or chainring to the next by moving from side to side, thanks to the cable connected to the gear shifter. However, in e-bikes, derailleurs move using little electric motors called servos.
Understanding Bicycle Gear Ratios
Gear ratio determines how many times the rear wheel will spin with every turn of the pedals. And to calculate it, you need to divide the number of teeth on the front chainring by the number of teeth on the rear cog. Notably, understanding bike gear ratios is not about doing math on the road – it’s about knowing why some gears feel easier than others and being able to choose the right one before you get exhausted.
For example, if your chainring has 34 teeth and your biggest cog at the back also has 34 teeth, this is a low 1:1 gear ratio. So, the rear wheel will turn once for every pedal stroke, which makes cycling easier, especially when climbing hills.
At the opposite end, if you shift to the fastest and hardest gear, the ratio becomes much bigger. For example, if your largest chainring has 50 teeth and your smallest cog has 11 teeth, this results in a high ratio of 4.5 to 1. Hence, the rear wheel will spin 4.5 times for every rotation of the pedals. Although this is one of the hardest gears to get going, it is optimal when descending or riding at high speeds.
Understanding Bicycle Gearing Terminology
When learning how to use gears on a bike, some terms may seem complex to beginner cyclists. We have explained them in simple words below:
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Shifting - moving the chain from one cog or chainring to another while changing gears.
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Front shifting - using the left shifter to move the chain between chainrings.
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Rear shifting - using the right shifter to move the chain between the rear cogs.
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Cross-chaining – running the chain at extreme angles. For example, on the biggest chainring and the biggest rear cog, or on the smallest chainring and the smallest rear cog. This makes drivetrain components wear out faster, so it’s better to avoid cross-chaining.
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Cadence – the number of rotations your pedals make per minute. It's expressed in RPM (revolutions per minute).
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Granny gear – the easiest gear achieved by combining the smallest chainring and the biggest rear cog.
When to Shift Gears on a 2 Wheeled Bike
Understanding when to shift gears on a bike will help you make every ride smoother and more enjoyable, whatever hills or descents come your way. Here are some practical guidelines on how to use bike gears on different terrains:
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Hill climbing: switch to an easier gear by downshifting the rear cog for 2-4 clicks as you approach the hill, and then drop the front gear to a smaller ring if needed.
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Descending: shift to a harder gear so that you can keep pedaling smoothly at higher speeds. If the descent is long, switch to the biggest chainring and the 2nd or 3rd smallest cog.
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Flat terrain: make small adjustments with the right shifter to keep a comfortable rhythm as wind changes or you get tired.
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Uneven, rough surfaces (e.g., rocks, gravel, or sand): stay in the small or middle chainring and middle-to-large cogs to maintain better traction.
Easy Tips on How to Use Bicycle Gears Correctly
Although bike shifters come in different types, all of them are quite intuitive once you get to know how to switch gears properly. Keep in mind the following tips:
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Understand how to use plus and minus on gear shift ("minus" switches your bike to the easier gear, while "plus" – to the harder gear).
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Ease off leg pressure when shifting gears so that the chain can move smoothly without grinding or clunking.
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Shift one click at a time for precise control.
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Make sure that the front and rear derailleurs are well-adjusted.
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Drop gears before you start climbing a hill to keep the ride smooth and avoid quick chain wear.
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Use the rear shifter for small adjustments and the front for big ones.
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Keep your chain and drivetrain clean.
Types of Bike Gears: Understanding the Most Common Gearing Systems
Let’s see how the gearing systems may differ on the most common bike types so that you can choose a suitable setup for your needs:
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Road bikes: typically come with two chainrings and a 9-12-speed cassette, giving you 16-24 gears in total. Plus, there’s a fairly close spacing between each cog, allowing you to maintain a high cadence on paved roads.
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Mountain bikes: lots of modern MTBs have a single chainring and 10, 11, or 12 rear cogs. Since there’s no front derailleur, bike maintenance is easier.
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Hybrid bikes: while understanding gears on a hybrid bike, it’s crucial to note that these cycles come in all shapes, from commuters to cargo bikes. Therefore, you may find 1x, 2x, and 3x chainring setups with a 7-12-speed cassette. However, the most common configurations have 21-24 gears in total.
Read Also: Commuter Bike: How to Choose the Best Model for Your Needs?
Common Mistakes When Using Bicycle Gears
When learning how to use gears on a bicycle, be aware of these common mistakes and try to avoid them:
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Waiting too long to shift gears on climbs
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Keeping the chain at extreme angles (cross-chaining)
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Changing gears when putting a lot of pressure on pedals (especially front shifts)
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Clicking the shifter multiple times at once
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Replacing cogs or chainrings while other drivetrain components remain worn out
Conclusion
Understanding bike gears will make a huge difference in your cycling experience, since it’s all about removing the unnecessary struggle from every ride. So, the next time you hit the road, remember that the right gear combination at the right moment can turn hard work into pure joy. And it does not even matter which bicycle you have, the basic principle never changes: bigger rear cogs and smaller chainrings result in easier pedaling, and vice versa. With practice, you will become more confident on your rides, whatever terrain you find yourself on. Leverage the tips we have mentioned in this guide and enjoy every pedal stroke!
