PROPAIN tyee 2020 - How an Internal Gear Hub Drivetrain Works

// MANUAL
you’ve built up your condence. Learn not to use either the “smallest to smallest” or “largest
to largest” gear combinations because they may cause unacceptable stress on the drive train.
Learn to anticipate the need to shift, and shift to a lower gear before the hill gets too steep.
If you have diculties with shifting, the problem could be mechanical adjustment. Please
contact PROPAIN or 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 PROPAIN or a bicycle
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 innitely 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, nd the “starting gear” for
the conditions — 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 gears. At rst, practice shifting where there are no obstacles, hazards
or other trac, until you’ve built up your condence. Learn to anticipate the need to shift, and
shift to a lower gear before the hill gets too steep. If you have diculties with shifting, the
problem could be mechanical adjustment. Contact PROPAIN or your dealer for help.
c. 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 a bicycle dealer to have
it adjusted.