Currie tech IZIP - Shifting the Rear Derailleur; Shifting the Front Derailleur

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happening at the front derailleur is the opposite of what’s happening at the rear derailleur (for details, read
theinstructionsonShiftingtheRearDerailleurandShiftingtheFrontDerailleurbelow).Forexample,youcan
select a gear which will make pedaling easier on a hill (make a downshift) in one of two ways: shift the chain
downthegear“steps”toasmallergearatthefront,orupthegear“steps”toalargergearattherear.So,
at the rear gear cluster, what is called a downshift looks like an upshift. The way to keep things straight is to
remember that shifting the chain in towards the centerline of the bike is for accelerating and climbing and is
calledadownshift.Movingthechainoutorawayfromthecenterlineofthebikeisforspeedandiscalledan
upshift. Whether upshifting or downshifting, the bicycle derailleur system design requires that the drive chain
bemovingforwardandbeunderatleastsometension.Aderailleurwillshiftonlyifyouarepedalingforward.

The rear derailleur is controlled by the right shifter. The function of the rear derailleur is to move the drive chain from one gear
to another on the rear gear cluster, thereby changing gear drive ratios. The smaller sprockets on the gear cluster produce
highergearratios.Pedalinginthehighergearsrequiresgreaterpedalingeffort,buttakesyouagreaterdistancewitheach
revolutionofthepedalcranks.Thelargersprocketsproducelowergearratios.Usingthemrequireslesspedalingeffort,but
takesyouashorterdistancewitheachpedalcrankrevolution.Movingthechainfromasmallersprocketofthegearclusterto
alargersprocketresultsinadownshift.Movingthechainfromalargersprockettoasmallersprocketresultsinanupshift.In
order for the derailleur to disengage the chain from one sprocket and move it on to another, the chain must be moving forward
(i.e. the rider must be pedaling forward).

Thefrontderailleur,whichiscontrolledbytheleftshifter,shiftsthechainbetweenthelargerandsmallerchainrings.Shiftingthe
chainontoasmallerchainringmakespedalingeasier(adownshift).Shiftingtoalargerchainringmakespedalingharder(an
upshift).
 b)WhichgearshouldIbein?
The combination of largest rear, smallest front gears is for the steepest hills. The smallest rear, 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or
othertraffic,untilyou’vebuiltupyourconfidence.Onceyou’velearnedthebasics,experiencewillteachyou
which gear is appropriate for which condition, and practice will help you shift smoothly and at precisely the
optimum moment.