How To Use Road Bicycle Gears

[@gcn]

Do you have a friend who's new to cycling? Why not share this video with them! Let us know if you found this video helpful for your riding in the comments below 👇

[@callxm9922]

Can you describe what trim is and how it affects cycling

[@fergusdenoon1255]

I just bought a second hand road bike (the last one I had was in the 70's) and I was clicking those buttons, took me ten minutes to figure out that pushing the actual brake lever over is how to get the gears moving the other way. Now I'm like: left clicker for launch, Right clicker for might. Left lever for speedier Right lever for easier.

[@vascofaia6154]

@Global Cycling Network, as you can see here, the explanation wasn't clear. Make a video going back to basics. I've already bought two bikes to my wife, one for road and one for mtb and she's still struggling with the gear changing, no matter what I say... Can you give it a go?

[@jasmizar]

How to purchase your cycling jersey?

[@filipsobot7530]

@Jackian ww

[@AdamNigelDark]

We've all done the old 'pull away at the lights in the heaviest gear' malarky and the old 'go down the hill spinning like a lunatic' because we can't find a gear that turns lol. Ahhh good times, good times indeed!

[@tylerreid1789]

Even more fun is being in the tallest gear on a mountain bike and suddenly needing a low gear because a hill was a bit long than you though and you didn't shift.

[@SassySkylar]

I hadn’t a clue how to change gears as I’m new to the world of cycling. Thanks for informing us newbies so well Manon.

[@yannyburger]

Do yourself a favour. Do not run with the big chain ring up front and big cassette cog in back. Look at how the chain lines up if you do. You do not want it on such an angle, you want to keep the chain lined up relatively straight. If only 2 chain rings up front use the big ring for the upper half of the gears in back and the smaller chain ring up front for the smallest half of the gears in back. If a triple up front, split the rear accordingly using about 3 or 4 of the rear gears for each ring. Smallest up front smallest at back and so on. Your rear derailer will last longer. From an ex bike messenger with a decade of Canadian winters under his belt.

[@marmaladeyuki]

@@yannyburger That is very good advice.

[@siobhanmurdie4677]

I got back into cycling last year after about 10 years. I thought it would be a good idea to dust off my old road bike and take it for a 20mile spin. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that it had down tube gear leavers and wasn't working particularly well, jumping to harder gears. I also had forgotten how hard it was to unclip your shoes when your legs are completely goosed! I was reminded of all of this when I was half way up a very steep climb, my gears jumped, I could no longer pedal. Luckily, I managed to unclip one of my feet just in time. Unluckily, my bike was falling to the opposite side!

[@lerevenant5404]

Absolutely incredible video. Before watching this video I understood nothing about bicycle gears, and after watching the video I still understand nothing about bicycle gears.

[@therambler3713]

Yip, totally useless video.

[@charliedillon1400]

Two points to add: 1.Backing off on pedaling torque slightly fo a split second prevents most bad shifts and dropped chains. We all don't have top gear in top tune all the time. 2. It's important to not cross gear - i.e. big cog to big ring or small cog to small ring. Rookie move. It's possible to find a similar ratio with a different combo, without having too much slack in the chain or stretching out the rear mech.

[@ELthatsLoreel]

I need help understanding your second point. I just got a bike and I don’t know which gears to use. I’m so confused

[@meower6303]

I love slamming them on my bike it most likely wont do much damage just don’t do it too hard because it will snap the chain but over time it won’t. (Ride a marlin 5 1st gen btw)

[@csmcghee830]

I found that out the hard way with my gear hub on a previous bike, thing would pop out of gear and take the coaster brakes with it.

[@whitefox8868]

The presenter is such a lovely lady, thanks to her tips i already feel like a pro on my bicycle

[@gcn]

Glad we can help!

[@thomasczthomash1859]

She is super hot. She can come ride with me anytime.

[@Cyber_Kriss]

@@thomasczthomash1859 You'll be like this guy 0:34 "you go first" 😂

[@witheeeeeerx]

@@thomasczthomash1859 😂😂😂😂

[@afterschool_racer]

She is

[@JoaoRibeiro-fm5uy]

All those hints are excellent. Due the Coronavirus pandemic I bought a bike and I have no regrets.

[@gcn]

Great stuff!

[@floriandes6450]

Due the pandemic all bike stores are sold out so I can’t buy my first race bike 😞

[@macicana64]

João... A única coisa que você deveria se arrepender é de ter esperado uma pandêmia pra começar a andar de bike, eu tive bikes minha vida toda, mas a coisa pegou mesmo pra mim na metade dos anos oitenta, mas é isso ai, não pare agora! 👌 João... The only thing you should regret is that you waited until a pandemic to start riding a bike, I had bikes my whole life, but I got really serious about it in the mid 80"s, but that's it, don't stop now! 👌

[@5thElem3nt]

@@floriandes6450 My bike broke down two weeks ago and all near Stores around say, they only repair bikes, which were bought at theire store because they can't keep up with all the repairs. But I moved last year, so the store where I bought my bike is 500km away.

[@floriandes6450]

5thElem3nt oh that sucks! I also don’t wanna buy a bike in a store far from home (where they still have a little bit of stock) because of repairs etc.

[@yannyburger]

A note from a real pro, an ex bike messenger with a decade of bike courier service throughout Canadian winters. You DO NOT ride big ring in front and big cassette in back. You want to keep your chain lined up relatively straight. So on a 3 ring front with say a 9 speed cassette in back, you only want to drop or go up about 3 gears in back before switching front derailer rings. So, small ring for the biggest 3 or 4 cogs in back. Then the middle ring for the next 3 then the big ring in front for the tallest 3 or 4 gears in back. Big ring in front and big cog in back stresses out the rear derailer and can wear it out quicker. Plus you sometimes get the chain rubbing on the front derailer mechanism.

[@jiovannirosario]

I’ve watched three other GNC videos on this subject but Manon was the only who broke it down in a useful way. Thank you!

[@bassforhire555]

Just got a bike to get to work after my car broke down, first time I'd ridden a bike in about twenty years lol. First ride out with it, I had my gears so messed up, I popped the chain loose not a hundred feet down the street, really needed this video, thanks

[@kevin1049]

This is so much better than the past videos y'all made about changing gears it's simple. It is hard to find a video that explains it like I am a 5 year old which is what I am looking for.

[@reidwagner1508]

She makes the granny gear use very clear. I feel it’s best to shift when my feet are at the 9&3 position to not put too much stress on the chain. I avoid some chain noise getting to the next gear. Excellent teaching points here

[@robbchastain3036]

My funniest, in retrospect, gear-changing story was from just a couple of years ago, commuting home at night in sub-zero weather and the ice had frozen my triple in the big ring. And I had to climb a hill before I got into town and somehow, someway, I zig-zagged up it, no cars in sight so no interruptions, and got back to my apartment. And I had to get up that climb in decent time because my feet were freezing, it was just one of those rough rides that later becomes the stuff of a kook on a bike :)

[@michaelsingh843]

I always watch these types of videos to get that one golden tip that makes climbing a little more faster, like keeping the chain on the big ring and changing to a easier cog until a point then shifting to the small ring... a pro tip

[@JMcLeodKC711]

I'm old enough to have used down tube friction shifters. Index shifting on the brake levers was truly revolutionary. One of the only times pros actually accepted a weight penalty.

[@charliedillon1400]

I still have a '83 Nishiki with those. They're never out of tune because you can put the derailleur cage exactly where you need it. Lasts forever!

[@drooghead]

I still use those. They are precise and trouble free.

[@Antoine_Frs]

I just got a new bike, which is actually older than me and has the shifters on the tube. I’m still getting used to it, struggling to shift gears precisely and seeking for the lever, I must be pretty funny to see. I love how smooth it is though, precise indexing, direct pulling on the cable and little road casset feel amazing !

[@bscepter]

I ride an '86 Cannondale with down-tube shifters. My next bike will be a modern one with index shifting, so I was actually kind of glad to stumble across this video.

[@etherasux]

Horrible explanation lol. Thanks for letting me know to choose “Easier or harder” without explaining which ones arent or are easier depending on the slope.

[@shaydseka]

Simple and sweet. I love it. Also, the presenter is pretty, 🙂😁

[@Beelzebubba2024]

I see her face, I click on the video. I find her more informative than other presenters. And even if you don't have that technical knowledge, you understand it. She knows how to simplify and and then present the whole concept in a simpler way. You always learn something from her.

[@MrJock66]

The guidance is good and much needed as we learn how to ride but not usually how to use gears effectively. The only issue you haven't addressed is the mix of gear combination where there is a front derailleur to avoid chain strain like a 1 to 9, or 2 to 1.

[@faridrezaei8180]

This was one of the videos I really needed to watch. It is bloody basics that can change the course of your ride! Cheers!

[@afterburn2600]

20 years ago I was just getting into clipless pedals. I stopped while being in essentially biggie smalls. There was a very slight uphill, and when I stood on the right pedal my bike didn't move an inch. I slowly started falling toward my clipped-in pedal and got all the way to the ground before I unclipped. Not hurt, just embarrassed. Moral of the story, downshifting when you stop is a good idea lol.

[@jaydibernardo4320]

I'm ready for a spot of tea after watching this. Cheerio!

[@pyromaniac12345]

Still can't get over how bling Manon's forks are.

[@rubo1964]

Hi Manon Its a pleasure listening to you.You got that English classiness that is delightful.Great video thks

[@PaulGM]

Welsh classiness, surely? (Swydd ardderchog, Manon)

[@rivolinho]

Oh mate, you in trouble now!

[@rubo1964]

@@PaulGM Not expert on UK accents but nevertheless lovely lady.

[@kimalcoseba2199]

Already know about gearing.. Just watched the whole thing because of Manon. :D

[@stevem.3646]

Same, but feel like I just heard it for the first time.

[@Bes1997_]

Same

[@black_n5492]

I just started watching this channel and I said exactly the same thing when I saw the thumbnail. "Oh, that's Manon!"

[@mcv2406]

Me tooo

[@tobznoobs]

simps jk because i am a simp as well

[@munesri]

Fan from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 ❤

[@treyquattro]

Manon explains everything beautifully. She would make an excellent teacher

[@benmiller9952]

2:14 standard electric gear smug face, great video Manon 👍

[@emmapaignton69]

Im not new to the sport bit just been riding single speed too long and ready for the power of gears again.

[@stephenmoore7882]

Well played GCN, I have ridden a bike all my life and know full well how to use gears, I watched this because, Manon is in it!

[@ashwinmandan4115]

I agree mate

[@ianchristianredita2663]

Thank you ❤️

[@lt2143]

This is very helpful and it provided the information I was looking for. And the host is very pleasant. Thank you.

[@rquader]

Thank you

[@zacbenjamin142]

I had gear shifters on the top of my bar where the stem is and i was climbing up a really steep hill and my bike was too small for me so my knee hit it and i was stuck in the highest gear with a really badly hurt knee.

[@yameiimoto]

When she said "the very first bicycle-only had one gear" like it was crazy then I'm over here only using one gear when I'm climbing and riding

[@vivianhughes9347]

Very clearly explained. Your video has helped me with my cycling , thank you.

[@AUM_3000]

Very nice explanation. Short, clear and sufficient for me as beginner

[@slava_trushkin]

Bought a new bike few weeks ago. During test ride near shop it seemed fine. Then I went for a proper ride, found out that front derailleur couldn't switch back from small to big ring (had to manually drag it back to continue riding), chain was rubbing when rear was in 2 smallest gears. Bike shop did a very poor job. Spent about 3 hours aligning gears, now it works perfectly. Thanks to GCN Tech tutorials! Then fixed gears on my old bike just because I now have some basic idea how to do it.

[@rak2liga]

New gear cable often stretch for a few month. So, you need to adjust it from time to time. For that reason you have knob on derailleur and/or cable.

[@DrNick8002]

Nice knowledge sharing

[@framedge]

I love all the GCN presenters, but Manon is one of my favorites. Good presentation.

[@rahulbarca4112]

Being a layman and thinking of getting into roadbike discipline this is tremendously helpful.

[@ashwinmandan4115]

We'll all have to agree that Manon makes GCN videos 10X better

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Some of use use a wide range of cadence because we stick to Sturmey-Archer three speeds: Low-Direct-High. It’s still a matter of low gear uphill, high gear downhill, choice of high or middle on the flat. And you can shift at a stop. You can also shift on the move, just ease pedal pressure for a moment.

[@djparryn]

Best presenter Manon 👍🏼

[@alanherrera5421]

One time a classmate challenged me to a short race, him on its mtb and me on my road bike...he got a pretty good start and I go on a pursuit, some changes of ground put me behind but as usual I was on my low cadence gears (48*18)...in the last corner and a straight ahead I changed to a higher cadence gear...then from at least three meter behind I started to reach him, I was just warm and pretty confident that I will surpass him, but the memory that comes to me was his expression, he was just "what?!" He was very shocked how in few seconds I came from behind and took the lead lol ... The good use of gears can really surprise some people that don't really use them at all...

[@Michael-et1ys]

No joke the exact same happend to me

[@nicovinn411]

Am i the only one who think this is the smoothest bike commercials and biking lessons all at the same time?

[@MrPhulps]

"it even could be your gear cables" My funny gear story is that I changed my cassette, chain and bought all the right equipment to change these parts, while the problem was the gear cable being filthy and not releasing its tension smoothly. I bought €150 worth of stuff for my bike, but as it turned out I only needed €15. Moral of the story: don't assume the gear cable is the last thing you should check like I saw on numerous esteemed online sources. I'd advise to make sure you have a clean and functioning gear cable before you go changing half your group set. But I am also very happy with my new cassette and chain.

[@jeffnc]

Great length video with useful tips. Thanks GCN!

[@ytube777]

"So I just click these buttons and it will change the gears for me. " Sure, just rub it in there lassie.

[@fraancetate8759]

What are you on about?

[@arcoulant87]

and there free

[@LadyShadowSilence]

I'm still learning my gears especially since i never really biked/had any experience in using them. I think for me its those pesky inclines haha. I may speak with some bike shop guys near me while I get it maintenanced before winter hits about gears incase they have tips. Thanks from a bike commuter

[@conteudoanimal]

Manon you are the best on this channel !!! ... maybe a join with Matt Stephens would be the most perfect channel regarding road / track cycling

[@ThomasGMRossetti]

All the presenters on GCN seem like genuinely nice people. This makes me happy when I'm watching the videos. Good tip about getting in the right gear *before* you start a big climb. I'll have to remember that.

[@edstud1]

Manon is a great presenter!

[@Voraciously_Learning]

Newbie tip: if you have stopped at a traffic light, do not press the shifters, thinking "the gears will change when I get going". I did, got stuck as the bike wouldn't move, and fell off (feet still clipped in). It made me the entertainment of the day for the many people at that busy junction.

[@rp6760]

And remember to unclip our foot from BEFORE stopping...

[@Wildschwein_Jaeger]

That was you? Classic.

[@321bytor]

'if you have stopped at a traffic light' 😂 'if'

[@gossa24]

Your videos are the best! I'm getting ready to go on my first ride and your videos have introduced me to all that I believe I need to know. Big thanks! Let see how the ride goes

[@AndrewLohmannKent]

I have a very nice bike with a very nicely placed 4 speeds hub. It is ever so easy to change gears and very efficient 75 year old sports bike. So I wanted to try a number of bikes some are heavy to pedal and much harder on the wrists none others are as smooth and fast. Two have been deurailleur gears because I wanted to learn to use them. I tend to pedal faster, find them awful in towns otherwise okay. Not quite got used to which levers are up a speed when I have to think quick. Experimented with starting in a high gear lifting the pedal ready then selecting a lower speed front and back sprockets before going it sort of works but I could wobble and fall off. The bike I have is a dead frame that seems to encourage gear changing. By comparison the vintage bike has a very lively frame and does not feel the need to change often and as I say the spacing though. Called wide is very nice. I have also ridden a number of low speed 3 speed bikes some have lovely frames some have stiff heavy to pedal frames are comfortable at low speed just like most modern bikes and 3 speed s feel fine on that type of bike. Sort of like driving a car or a bus the style of the bike should feel right for that type of bike. Love to know another way of getting going in a gear that is too high or low without lifting the back of the bike.

[@AndrewLohmannKent]

Whatever the fact that a hub gear operates as easily and quickly as light switch is very nice and is one of the things I like about my 75 year old Lenton sports.

[@tonyk8368]

You guys should do a video on all the different internally geared hubs there are: Nuvinci, Pinion, Rohloff, Alfine, Sturmey Archer, Sram, Kindernay, Brompton, etc. Did I miss any?

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Long live Sturmey-Archer!

[@ErynnSchwellinger]

Never used a bicycle with gears before. Thaaaaaannnkk yooouuuuuuuu

[@rivkap242]

That was helpful. Thank you.

[@gcn]

No worries 🙌 Glad we could help!

[@matthewbaynham6286]

My gear cable snapped as well. I was lifting my bike out of the back of someones car. It was my first ever time trail and it was a nice 25 mile U18R. As you would expect my number was 119. If memory serves the guy behind me was Richard Prebble at that time he was the current 10, 25 and 50 mile champion, that's a good reason for him to have a 120 number. I wasn't going to just DNS just because of a gear problem. I adjusted the gear limiter on the rear mech so I was stuck in the second smallest sprocket and in the race my I started to have problems changing gear on my chain rings. The U18R is an out and back on a rolling dual carriageway where you always have a cross wind. At one point I just couldn't get the front mech to change down to the small chain ring and I was swearing like mad at my bike whilst pushing 53 / 14 up hill. When a confused looking man overtook me at speed and it was a very big speed difference, his bike looked really cool.

[@Kudamono72]

thanks for video. 👍

[@sagarkhese8458]

Good information

[@personal825]

Very useful

[@faisalectronica]

I thought my gears were broken because I couldn't downshift so I did my first ride in one gear. Went to LBS who was too busy to look at it. Turns out I just forgot how to downshift.

[@angelosegall5938]

Thank you Manon!

[@wiredcoffee9347]

i have a felt hybrid i got a few years back and when i started i couldn't handle a hill in the lowest gears struggling and eventually having to get off and push up those hills now i find i rarely need to to downshift and i make quick work of my commute.

[@francisaaronrelevo2988]

I Love Manon

[@melihsaruhan2462]

What kind of wahoo mount is that on Manon's black-grey orbea?

[@tvijay6074]

My funny story is my Derailleur completely broke off when I was literally at the furthest point from home in my ride. Someone had to pick me up in the end which wasn't great :P

[@contessa.adella]

4:45 If you snap the gear cable..or the shift buttons fail….You can manually select a useable gear by winding in the derailleur stop screw to limit the highest gear it will sit in. So instead of eighth on the cassette you could make it sit in forth for an easier ‘get you home’ gear.

[@brianwilcockson8899]

Or if it breaks long enough you cn tug the cable to a bottle cage bolt and cinch it down moving it to a mid gear set it and forget it lol

[@andrewwilson5154]

Rode Tour of the Peak sportive a good few years ago, couple of hours in there was quite a fast descent into a forest area with sharp left hander at the bottom, what you couldn't see was this went straight into a very steep uphill ramp. All you could hear was that awful crunching noise of people desperately trying to get down their cassette under load. I rode this 3 times over the years and I didn't get it right until the third one

[@ebospeed3339]

What about the left gear. What are the best gear combo for both shifters on flat road and steep slope?

[@ashleyschang]

Manon is so cheerful and positive, great video though! I just got my first road bike from Halfords, the Carrera Vanquish Road Bike 2020. Already done like 3 or 4 rides, an hour each. Watching this video has taught me very well. I am trying to increase distance/time each ride but I'm new to riding more on the road as I made the switch from mountain biking. Will be watching more of your videos in due time.

[@dawitsolomon3847]

Love GCN videos. They are great. Can you pleqse please please tell me what the music that starts at 4:21 is. Tried all of the songs on the description and was not able to find it. Thanks a bunch.

[@AdamNigelDark]

Next week on the GCN channel: Wheels, what are they? How do they work? Why are they round? Would square wheels work better? Do we really need 2 wheels? Isn't that just extra weight? All these questions and less answered in the next show.

[@sshhaamm]

A quick explainer about trimming would have been good here (imho). I've met a couple of people who had no idea their FDs could do this.

[@charliedillon1400]

My Campy has two clicks for each front ring.

[@tommccafferty5591]

That's one of the benefits of electric shifting. It trims the front mech for you.

[@Quarky_]

Thanks to your comment, I looked up what is trimming! I really need this, particularly when using my GRX on the road. Although, I'm not sure I quite understand how to do it :-/

[@sshhaamm]

@@Quarky_ The best way I can describe it is a "half-push" or "half-click" on the FD lever (i'e not a full push to change ring). As you've gathered the point is to adjust the FD so it doesn't rub the chain as you go up and down the rear gears, and the angle of the chain goes left and right accordingly. Like Charlie above, my Shimano 105 has two positions for each ring. A way to practice trimming is to put the chain into the big ring (pushing the lever all the way to the highest postion) and while stationary (or on a turbo) just try shifting the FD lever to go back to the little ring until you hear a click, and you see the FD change position by just a few millimeters. Once you get a feel hit the road and make a point of listening for rubbing on the FD as you change gears and trim accordingly. It sounds a bit fiddly, but even as a novice rider like me it became second nature after a while. As Tom said, electronic shifting does this auotmagically, but I wish I had the $$ for that. Hope this helps.

[@Quarky_]

@@sshhaamm Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, I think I get the mechanics a bit better now. I'll try it today :)

[@rahulsony569]

Nice video as always. I started cycling since last 4 months. Currently riding single gear cycle and I cycle around 20 km every day. (Max was 40 km). I will be upgrading to Polygon Premier 5 with 9x2 speed. Can you tell me the best gear combination for uphill, downhill and flat road? Also please tell me if 9x2 is better or 9x3 ?

[@andyhwaiting]

That awesome DIY bike stand.

[@A190xx]

I was hoping for a better explanation for the standard 21 gear bike. I knew on the left side of my handle bar that cog 1 was good for hills and cog 3 for speed, but I wanted a little guidance on the 7 gears on the right. You mentioned the largest one, but is that number 7 or 1? Is this for the steepest hills? To date, I find I only use 3 + 5-7 for speed; 2 + 3-6 for ambling on the flat; and 1 + 2-4 for hills.

[@stephenturkLA]

I recall, back when I was at university, borrowing my friend's bike - a "10-speed" back when that meant 2x5 with friction shifters on the downtube. Before then, I had only ridden single speed and 3-speed Sturmey-Archer internal hub gears so there was a lot of trial and error on that first derailleur-equipped ride!

[@13ballom]

My funny gear story is... Well... Haha.. hahahahahaha.... I ride a single speed.

[@Ed.R]

I'm laughing to because I've got an infinite speed.

[@MichaelRei99]

You should do all of the videos from now on!!!

[@Enigma71559]

What are you talking about? She DOES do all the videos!!

[@Enigma71559]

@Alien On a Bike I guess I'm just a boring old fart too. I love Si and Dan. I honestly think Manon is pretty awful. But that's probably more me than her. I haven't enjoyed GCN nearly as much since Matt left. I'm not that fond of James and Ollie either. I don't like change.

[@maxs6775]

I have just upgraded from a boardman hybrid ( owned for 3 years )that had such a tiny small ring ,the chain used to fall.off trying to get on the big ring if it was not judged carefully ! Gave up using the small ring ! Just upgraded to half decent road bike Scott addict 20 and after a 1000 km of cycling I just tried the small ring today going uphill ! Would sub 22 kmh be ideal for the small ring up hill

[@chrisucl]

Sorry, I still didn't understand. What is an "easy gear". Is that a 1? A high gear or low gear? For complete beginners who know nothing at all please explain a bit more. While I understood the cadence concept, it would have been helpful to show us: Which gear to start peddling on from stationary, which what gear we should be aiming for going uphill and downhill. I didn't understand what she meant by easy or hard gear. It's that a 1 or a 5?

[@christrickett3291]

I changed gear today and my derailleur fell off. Just snapped off. Good job I hadn't got far.

[@williamb4652]

"Funny gear selection stories" are possibly a tiny bit niche

[@dunnerak1]

Except the ones that have teeth

[@dragonlex4]

I only had 3 bikes 1 fixie (my first) and 2 geared. Those 2 geared broke on the first test runs both (i live uphill on quite the slope). I was trying to figure out how much each gear changes the difficulty and i was going down hill when changing, snap and i was later stuck with 2 single speed bikes. I know fixies are hard, like i said my first was a fixie, but god i prefer that to this headache that i only have bad memories about. Also i prefer feeling something when pushing the pedals. Seriously it feels like your doing nothing when theyre too free.

[@leehewitt9559]

Nice one Manon

[@andypandywalters]

I own a fairly new Boardman hybrid bike with 18 gears. I'm pretty much a novice rider (and 63 y/o!) and seem to struggle on the easiest of gradients, so much so I always seem to run out of gears! Am I doing something wrong with my gear selection, or am I simply not yet fit enough?

[@hughoxford8735]

If I see a sign saying 25% the question of gear choice becomes irrelevant: either up or down.

[@ayazkhangingercyclist]

Hey Guys, Another interesting video, I will take your tips and use them to my advantage. I have a really bad habit of changing gears going up hills, it's because my paws get sore and start getting numbness. Is there any particular road shoes (with spd cleats) you recommend because I have extra wide feet which are close to looking square and can be very annoying. Thanks again

[@DunnageGoblin]

I am trying to learn bicycles on a road bike. Is there anything i can do about the rear gear shifting to the most difficult when i haven't gotten the hang of balancing yet?

[@vicodinfreeman5504]

Just had a bike accident a couple days ago. I was hospitalized but hopefully in 2 weeks I'll be able to ride again.

[@vancortez8894]

it is a lovely video..👍 nice explanation. not to forget to mention the lovely lady 😍☺️. thaank you sweet heart made me smile a whole vid.

[@KilometroFinal]

GCN I have a video idea! "How to take care/clean white cycling shoes" please that would be lovely

[@LtStone1]

Hello u can use those handy cleaning wipes they are brilliant. If you want to go all out remember that a lot of things about bikes are the same as automotive. So if I get rained trough I use say the leather/synthetic car interior stuf from Meguiairs I use on the car (and al the other detailing/cleaning stuf for the bike as well as the degreaser, polish wax rubber compound and that sort)

[@KilometroFinal]

@@LtStone1 that's a good tip! My biggest problem with white shoes is when they rub on the wheels. Those are almost impossible to clean

[@meneldil7604]

@@KilometroFinal rubbing alchool work really well

[@sandiegocyclingnutz]

Suggestion: For beginner videos like this you should really use your beginner hosts like Hank and Ollie and save an expert like Manon for the more technical videos. ;-)

[@7Comic7mischief7]

First video I've found that actually explains what combinations to be in for various situations, thank you.

[@arrowsmithism]

Lo I’m pretty sure mechanical gears change at the press of a button/lever too! It’s not like you have to get off the bike and move the chain yourself

[@bscepter]

They did back in the old days... well, the *really* old days, like when Tullio Campagnolo was racing.

[@cristinasantana6602]

My story is that I was riding my bike to work for a week before I knew what the gears did