Just reading another post and I realise I know nothing about the correct use of gears on my bikes.
Posted by LargeNerdKid@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 15 comments
So I've been going around in 7th gear constantly using the throttle to get started each time I take off and keeping it in 7th going uphill. Which was fine on my dual 750w didn't slow it down an iota. But now I'm riding a qusi-legal bike (250w 25kph but has a rocket mode that puts it upto 500w and about 45kph). I notice the resistance against me peddling a lot when going up hills.
What is the proper way to utilise gears going up hills? The guiding principle? Thanks in advance.
tomxp411@reddit
If it gets hard to pedal, down shift (to a smaller number / larger cog). If your feet are moving too fast, upshift (to a larger number / smaller cog.)
When you slow down to a stop, always downshift to maybe gear 2 or 3. As you speed up, upshift until you're in maybe gear 6 or 7 (assuming you have an 8 speed cassette.)
Finally, never shift under load. Always slow your pedaling, so the chain is not under tension, then shift. After you hear the chain move to the new gear, then start putting pressure on the pedals again.
LargeNerdKid@reddit (OP)
Ok sounds simple enough.
I suppose I don't like changing gears because of the way the chain slips forwards when I do. Would that be because I'm doings so under load?
loquacious@reddit
Yes, chain skipping is common if you shift under load, especially heavy load.
On a normal analog bike you shift while you're coasting and just lightly spinning your pedals as you shift, so the chain has time to move to the next gear, and then re-applying power when it's well engaged with the gears.
On a hub drive you do it just like an analog bike since it doesn't matter if the hub is driving the wheel while you shift. Just spin with very light pressure on the pedals during shift and keep tension off the chain.
This means remembering to downshift to slower gears before coming to a stop, or downshifting before you start climbing hills.
With mid-drives it's the same concept but if your bike doesn't have a gear sensor, you feather your brakes just a little to activate the power cut off switches, to unload the chain (kind of like a motorcycle clutch) as you lightly spin between shifts, then release and re-add motor/pedal power.
There are modern drive trains that can handle shifting under heavy loads but they're expensive, and it's still better to unload and spin between shifts for smoother, cleaner shifting.
This becomes second nature after a while and you just do it automatically like driving a manual transmission car.
Remembering to downshift before coasting to a stop or approaching a climb takes some practice.
If you do forget to downshift before a stop, or in the middle of a hill there's a bicyclists trick to this: Click down one gear (just one) while stopped with both fee on the ground, put one foot on a pedal and reach back and grab your seat or frame and lift your back wheel, then push your pedals forward with the wheel off the ground.
Repeat this until you've dumped enough gears for a clean start. It looks doofy but it lets you downshift while stopped at a light, or in the middle of a climb, so you can start in your lowest gear.
Something else to know is that most rear derailleurs are better at shifting from slow/big gears to smaller/faster gears under load by design, because you're usually shifting under some load while trying to increase speed.
It's when you forget to downshift before a stop or climb and you start trying to shift under load that makes it REALLY grind gears because the chain has to "climb" up to the bigger/slower gear and it's not good for the drivetrain, chain or gears.
LargeNerdKid@reddit (OP)
Ok thanks for the info.
I just went out for a 5k cycle to try get the hang of it. I think I've got the principal down just learning the right times and gears will take some time
Kevintj07@reddit
+1 for loqua great advice couldn't of explained it better.
E28forever@reddit
Excellent description.
Significant-Pen-6049@reddit
Is it a mid drive? Gears are important on mid drives.
chuckwolf@reddit
Use the gear that most closely matches the cutoff speed for the PAS level you're in while on the flat.
when climbing hills most people tend to just put it in PAS 5 and either throttle or pedal in whatever gear they're currently in.
However, to make things as easy as possible when climbing a steeper hill shift your bike into the lowest gear and start out in PAS 1 if is starts to bog down, go to PAS 2 but stay in first gear, up the PAS levels 1 at a time if you need more power, on a cadence sensor geared hub each PAS level is about 20% of the peak power so your 500 watt motor is putting out 100 watts in PAS 1, and adding another 100 watts with each level
i_am_blacklite@reddit
The gearing on a bike works the same way as it does on a car.
You should change gears in the same way, to keep the engine (which is you) in a suitable power band.
NewKitchenFixtures@reddit
Most people shoot for a consistent cadence when pedaling. Like 60-80rpm of they’re not a pro. 100 if you’re going to win the Tour de France.
Usually people will adjust gears until cadence is in desired range. I don’t track it so I am usually just dropping gears when I notice my cadence is slow.
LargeNerdKid@reddit (OP)
So change gears when my cadence is below 1 revolution per second at the latest. Got it.
Thanks for your input.
Bluesky83@reddit
Yeah it's not too complicated. Just use a lower gear. This will mean you go slower. Shift down so that you are maintaining the same pedaling cadence as you were before the hill, instead of slowing down the pedalstrokes and grinding your way up.
You should also be downshifting before stops (unless it's an emergency stop, obviously), even if you have a throttle to get yourself going. The reason is that using the same gear constantly wears it out faster, especially if that gear is the smallest cog-- the force is concentrated on a smaller number of teeth, vs. on a larger rear cog (lower gear), the force is more spread out. Also, the cogs and chain tend to wear together, so check your chain wear and replace it before it becomes too worn.
LargeNerdKid@reddit (OP)
Ok that's sounds simple enough. I don't know what I've got against shifting gears. Its all a bit clunky.
I never even considered that I was wearing that 1 gear out faster. Its seems obvious now.
Thank you for your input.
MoFauxTofu@reddit
Explaining gears ratios is hard, easiest way to understand them is to use them.
Ride the bike with the motor turned off, and play with the gears, it will become very obvious what's going on.
LargeNerdKid@reddit (OP)
I will try that. Thank you for your input 😃