Question: How To Use Thumb Shifters On A Bike

How do thumb shifters work?

On a thumb shifter you will click one lever with your finger to move the gears down and your thumb to move the gears up They work opposite to the right-hand shifters On a twist-shift system grip the handlebar and turn either clockwise to go to an easier gear or counterclockwise to go to a harder gear

How do you use a road bike thumb shifter?

What are thumb shifters on a bike?

Thumb shifters are mechanically very simple so they are harder wearing than STIs and other integrated shifters Later models have a friction mode and an index mode Thumb shifters allow the cyclist to shift a large number of gears (eg from smallest sprocket to largest) in a single action

Do you shift gears while pedaling?

Rule 1 You must be pedaling when you change gears If you click the shifters without pedaling, the gears won’t change until you do start pedaling, and when you do, you’ll hear some very disconcerting noises You also don’t want to shift the gears while standing still

What is Rapid Fire shifting?

Mountain bikers have used RAPIDFIRE PLUS since 1985 RAPIDFIRE PLUS is suited to quick shifting, giving riders the ability to downshift three gears in one stroke RAPIDFIRE PLUS shifters from DEORE to XTR all feature 2WAY-RELEASE, which means release shifts by pull of the index finger or push of the thumb

What gear should I bike in on flat road?

Middle Gear This is a great gear for everyday terrain when you’re cruising along on a flat road or on undulating terrain You want some resistance, but not too much If the road goes up and down a bit, you’ll probably flick between the rear gears to cater for changes

How do you use gears on a bike for beginners?

Get to grips with shifting your bike gears with these super quick beginner tips Practice Makes Perfect Right = Rear, Left = Front Don’t cross the chain! Anticipate the hill Left = big changes, Right = fine tuning Don’t shift too quickly

How do you shift gears on a bike?

To operate the shifters you push the lever sideways until you hear a click For most mountain and hybrid style bikes with flat bars, you shift the gears by using set paddles that you operate with your thumb Some bikes operate with “grip shifters”, or a dial that is located to the inside of where you place your hands

Are bar end shifters indexed?

What are bar end shifters? These are gear shifters that sit at the end of your bars, whether that’s drop or straight bars They have levers that you click one way to shift up and one way to shift down, so are also indexed

What is trigger shifter?

Trigger shifters: Also known as ‘rapidfire’ shifters, these are located below the handlebar Riders use a thumb button to shift to larger sprockets and a small index-finger operated ‘trigger’ to downshift They have their fans among commuters as well as racers looking to shed weight, but trigger shifters dominate

How do you adjust a shift lever on a bike?

Here’s how to do it: Step 1: Shift into the smallest gear I also like to drop my cable tension as low as possible Step 2: Adjust the high limit screw, usually marked with an “H” Step 3: Tension the cable properly Step 4: Carefully shift up into the largest gear Step 5: Fine adjustments

Should you pedal downhill?

If it is a relatively short downhill and you have considerable speed you are typically better off coasting and then pedal when you get to a flat or flatter section You are better off exerting yourself on the lower speed ascent

When should I shift gears on my bike?

Tips for Proper Shifting Anticipate the terrain: Shift right before you start climbing, not halfway up when you’re slowing rapidly and applying maximum pressure on the pedals If you do shift on a hill, shift one gear at a time, and momentarily relax pressure on the pedals as you’re shifting

What gear do you use to go uphill?

While going uphill, use the D1, D2, or D3 gears to maintain higher RPMs and give your vehicle more climbing power and speed Note: Most automatic vehicles have at least a D1 and D2 gear, while some models also have a D3 gear

What is the easiest gear on a mountain bike?

The low gear is the “easy” gear and is primarily used when climbing The low gear is the smallest chain ring in the front, and the largest cog on the rear cassette In this position pedaling will be easiest and the least amount of force will be required to push the pedals

How do you use shifters on a mountain bike?

A Quick Summary on Shifting To shift onto a different chainring/gear up front, use your left shifter To shift one of the rear gears (and how you’ll shift most often), use your right shifter For smoother shifting, pedal lightly while using the shifter

What is SRAM shifting?

Shifting SRAM Gears SRAM shifters have two levers – the front lever, however, just controls the brakes, the smaller, little lever is used to control the gears Double tap means you can use a ‘long swipe’, which creates a double click sound, or a ‘short swipe’, which makes a single click sound

What is Shimano 2 Way Release?

RAPIDFIRE PLUS shifters from DEORE to XTR all feature 2WAY-RELEASE, which means release shifts by pull of the index finger or push of the thumb

Is Shimano or microSHIFT better?

If you are in the market for entry-level drivetrains for a Hybrid Bicycle or MTB which are equivalent to Shimano Tourney, then the microSHIFT Mezzo groupset is a perfect match The derailleurs and shifters work efficiently and microSHIFT ensures improved durability and reduced maintenance

Which gear helps you go faster on level ground?

Bicycles have multiple gears so that it’s easier to go up hills, and so you can go faster on level ground