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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 or other traffic, until you’ve built up your confidence. Learn to anticipate the need to shift, and
shift to a lower gear before the hill gets too steep. If you have difficulties with shifting, the problem could be mechanical adjustment. See your
dealer for help.
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.
e. What if it won’t shift gears?
If moving the shift control one click repeatedly fails to result in a smooth shift to the next gear chances are that the mechanism is out of
adjustment. Take the bike to your dealer to have it adjusted.
2. How an internal gear hub drivetrain works
If your bicycle has an internal gear hub drivetrain, the gear changing mechanism will consist of:
• a 3, 5, 7, 8, 12 speed or possibly an infinitely variable internal gear hub
• one, or sometimes two shifters
• one or two control cables
• one front sprocket called a chainring
• a drive chain
a. Shifting internal gear hub gears
Shifting with an internal gear hub drivetrain is simply a matter of moving the shifter to the indicated position for the desired gear ratio. 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 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 upshift. 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
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