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Completely stupid newbie bike question
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 2007-03-24 1:24 PM |
Member 25 |  Subject: Completely stupid newbie bike questionThe answer to this question is probably so obvious that I will have to change my screen name after posting. I have a (new to me) road bike with index shifting ( Trek 1220 ). It was so beautiful today I couldn't help taking it out for my inaguaral spin. The first mile or so went great, nice and flat. I was getting used to the Index Shifting. Then I needed to upshift. Meaning I went all the way down to gear 1 on the rear tire ( 7 gear spoke on the rear tire ) and I needed to shift up to a higher gear. I couldn't do it! What is the trick to upshifting? I had never had a road bike before now. Plenty of mtn bikes but this is my first road bike..... Please help.... and try not to laugh.... to much.... |
| 2007-03-24 1:29 PM in reply to: #735539 |
Pro 4481   Reston | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question Dufresne11 - 2007-03-24 2:24 PM The answer to this question is probably so obvious that I will have to change my screen name after posting. I have a (new to me) road bike with index shifting ( Trek 1220 ). It was so beautiful today I couldn't help taking it out for my inaguaral spin. The first mile or so went great, nice and flat. I was getting used to the Index Shifting. Then I needed to upshift. Meaning I went all the way down to gear 1 on the rear tire ( 7 gear spoke on the rear tire ) and I needed to shift up to a higher gear. I couldn't do it! What is the trick to upshifting? I had never had a road bike before now. Plenty of mtn bikes but this is my first road bike..... Please help.... and try not to laugh.... to much.... Are the shifters integrated into your brake levers, or do you have shift levers mounted on the downtube? If its part of the brake levers, it probably has two parts to it (for lack of a better way for me to put this into words.. the part you squeeze to apply the brakes, and then another smaller part behind that ). On my bike, pressing both pieces together gets me into higher gears, pressing the one alone (smaller part of it) gets me to the lower gears. If you are talking about levers on your down tube, just move it in the opposite direction to shift back up. Hope that helps. Edited by 3558 2007-03-24 1:30 PM |
| 2007-03-24 1:42 PM in reply to: #735539 |
Extreme Veteran 353 Brookhaven, PA (Philly Burbs) | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question Heheh its very simple. The brake lever on STI shifting systems, which is what you have (what was commonly refered to as "index shifting) also acts as a shifter it you move it from side to side. Push the right hand braker lever (rear derailleur) towards the left (towards the stem). You'll hear a click and the chain will start moving to the larger gears. Remembers, shift gears while pedaling, and dont "power shift" which is trying to shift while going uphill, and standing up on the pedals, or anytime you try to shift under "full load" Same thing for the front derailleur, only your moving the left brake lever towards the right. |
| 2007-03-24 5:42 PM in reply to: #735539 |
| Member 25 | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question Thanks all..... he said a little sheepishly.... tomorrows ride should be much easier.....  |
| 2007-03-24 6:14 PM in reply to: #735661 |
Veteran 148 Perth, Australia | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question If it makes you feel any better .. my first time out on a road bike, I ended up in the hardest gear and couldn't figure out how to down shift. After flagging down a couple people also on bikes, I got a lesson on how to shift my gears. It was embarassing but at least I learned how to shift!  |
| 2007-03-24 6:42 PM in reply to: #735539 |
| Member 25 | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question Feeling a whole lot more confident about tomorrows ride.... Tomorrow maybe I will have a shoelace question or something... |
| 2007-03-24 7:47 PM in reply to: #735539 |
Champion 5522  Frisco, TX | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question Don't laugh about the shoelaces, see there are these things called yanks..... |
| 2007-03-24 9:50 PM in reply to: #735539 |
Master 2299 New York | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question No worries - the day I got my first road bike I rode home proud as can be. Then had to ride back to the LBS to get them to explain to me how on earth to shift out of the biggest gear. |
| 2007-03-25 9:19 AM in reply to: #735539 |
Member 97 Woodland Park, CO | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question If it makes you feel any better, I had the exact same experience when I took my new road bike out for a spin a couple of weeks ago... My husband and I spent 30 minutes examining the shifting mechanism before we finally figured it out... Doh! Glad you (and I) got that out of the way! How's it going with the clipless pedals? I still have bruises the size of softballs on both sides of my leg from falling... |
| 2007-03-25 1:52 PM in reply to: #735539 |
| Member 25 | Subject: RE: Completely stupid newbie bike question The clipless are fine thus far... I think they are set very sensitive.... |
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