ABCs for Better Biking
A is for Air (in your tires) , check everything to do with tires… are they inflated? is there badly worn tread? are the wheels straight?
B is for Brakes are the levers away from the handlebars? are the brake pads in the proper position and not too worn? do the brakes tighten fully against the rim? are the cables worn? Also, check the handlebars for looseness (hold the front wheel between your knees and try to twist the handlebars from side to side, up and down)
C is for Chain or Cranks check the drive chain …is the chain on and lubricated? do the pedals spin freely?
I would like some instruction on how to use the gears on my bike. I grew up with a no speed bike. Graduated to a 3 speed in my late teens and eventually stopped biking for years. Now I have bike with gear levers for both hands and 3 gear wheels and I have no idea how to use them.
Can you help me? Or tell me where to go for help?
Hi Barb,
Sorry none of us got to your question earlier.
You want to keep your chain as parallel to your bike as you can to avoid stretching it, so not every setting at the front gear goes with every setting at the back. For instance, don’t have it in the smallest inner gear at the front crank gear, and the smallest outer gear at the back wheel.
Aside from that, however you use them is fine. The idea is to make it very easy for you to pedal when you get started, and then increase gears to gain power as you gain speed. It’s only possible to switch a gear while you’re pedaling.
Start at setting 1 on the front (left hand), and 1 on the back (right hand), then go to 1 – 2, 1 – 3, and then 2 – 3 to add more power but to keep the chain straight, and increase from there. When you’re stopping, try to switch back into a low gear like 1 – 1 again so it’s very easy to pedal to get started from a complete stop.
Wow! I had completely forgotten that I sent this email way back in the spring. I only biked to work 3 times this summer – pitiful. This will inspire me to try again. Thanks for the tips.
You’re welcome and enjoy the week, it should be beautiful outside with a little bit of cold in the morning only. If you get cold fingers and ears like I do, take gloves and a headband to work, and pack them in your bag for the return ride.
The hnroome haze is the worst! Glad you could put it into words! God probably designed us mommies to have the haze so we wouldn’t run away screaming from the shenangans thats goes on between pregnancy and…. one year? No? Five years? The rest of our lives!? Oh God, tell me there’s light at the end of the tunnel! I guess only a silver lining… We get to hang out with our offspring : ) Now I understand why my mom was a nut! It was all mine & my brother’s fault! Sorry, Ma : (