Something I just learned the hard way is that the wheels can wear out. And this can affect what gears you use. What happens over time is the spokes get soft and flex beyond adjustment. And this destroys power generation. The local bike shop told me the wheel were beyond adjustment. Their repair was going to be about $360. Rather than buy new wheels myself on Amazon, I opted for a new bike at $399. But in my case on a 27 inch bike I could have replaced the wheels and freewheel for about $155. My thoughts were that I still had an old bike. I may do it anyway for a backup. A lot of people do put on new wheels and Amazon prices look pretty good.. Hey, the new bike is a lot easier to peddle. As for shifting, I shift a lot. I ride 6.3 miles RT every day on a flat river-side trail. I want as little peddle pressure as possible at all times and never coast. I do not wear toe clips for safety reasons. Don't fool yourself. Even veteran riders fall with those things. But my shifting follows the wind. If I have a 20 to 30 second wind speed increase or decrease, I shift up or down. I want that steady almost no pressure peddling at all times and I try to hold 12 MPH on my bike calculator. Not bad for an old dude who has run over 11,000 miles at ages 77 to 81 (now). My wife at 82 rides along with me every day too. That is how you stay young. My dad was doing it into his 90's.

Finally! Someone who addresses all parts to shifting. Only taken me 3 days trawling google and youtube to find this lol

I was completely unaware of concepts such as "cross chaining" and "load bearing shift". I've ridden a bike on and off for many years and have been guilty of both malpractices. I'm now in my mid 60s , have just bought a new bike and decided to look on YT for some tips. Never too old to learn - sheesh, I've already learnt two things today. Many thanks. I've subscribed to your channel and will be exploring it for other little gems.

i am a beginner and you have explained it very well. Excellent video.

In A Simple Sentence…… The higher the gear, the harder the pedal but you're bicycle speed will run much faster..... The Lower the gear, the easier for you to pedal but you're bicycle speed will run like medium Slow

I was searching on Google for like hours trying to learn how to use my gears properly. By far this is the only video that has really step by step broke it down and taught me not just the mechanics but how to finally use my gears correctly. thank you so much, definite like and sub from me!

Thank you! All other vids on youtube assume that you've ridden a road bike before and are as clear as mud. This is really helpful!

I haven't ridden a bike in over 20 years. I decided on a whim to dust off the bike and take it for a spin. After struggling with a hill I decided to check out KZfaq since I never learned how to shift gears. This was very helpful. By the way, I was too self-conscious to try this on the road so I flipped the bike over and practiced that way to see how it actually works. Thanks!

I’ve been looking for a video that pertains gear shifting, lo and behold, I may have found the best person who explain on bike shifting. Nice video.

Out of the popular videos that tried explaining this concept, you’re the only person that actually explained how the button pressing works. Thanks !

Good explanation: I learned to shift road gears by remembering that the bigger lever=bigger sprockets, smaller lever=smaller sprockets-That should be easy to remember.

I'm a beginner and this was really helpful in understanding my bike to get better as riding.

This is great, thank you very much. I am new to cycling after being away from it for 25 years and much has changed. You have hit many points that I was thinking about.

That's the best explanations I found so far. 67 year young and still learning, thanks very much, I'll enjoy biking even more from now on !

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS VIDEO THANK GOODNESS everything else just talks about the mechanics and not the user end, and almost nothing explains what down-shifting and up-shifting actually corresponds to in terms of the numbers up at the handlebars. YOU ARE A GODSEND thank you!!

Thank you so much! My son is a beginner and didn't know how to shift but now that I showed him this he knows how to shift!

Thank you for an excellent training video. I started out a little over optimistic yesterday, getting stuck twice with less than stellar muscles and shifting skills going uphill. With your good advice I'm going out today to an easier trail to get to know the bike and the feel of shifting. Thank you!

One of the best videos I have watched explaining this matter, also I am thankful that you mentioned what does it actually mean to shift up or down, the graphical demonstration made it a lot easier to understand.

Very good video. I really appreciate the opening segment, identifying the various parts of the drive train and specifically noting which levers are used to move the chain up or down the cassette. I have watched at least 12 similar videos and not one of them gave as detailed an explanation on gear shifting as yours. Thank you! I haven't ridden a bike in a long time and bikes have really changed, but with a few more of your videos I'll get there! Thanks again!

I just started riding and this was by far the best explanation on shifting. I know it sounds so dumb but I could not find a video that explained how to shift up the cassette so clearly. Thanks for taking the time to make this video

Best video on youtube teaching the basics of shifting for beginners like me. Thanks a lot!

Wow. Clear. Basic. Comprehensive. You do a great job of demystifying the nuances of shifting. I really learned a lot and I can't wait to get out again and start approaching a hill.

*I really like the **Latest.Bike** . It is just amazing... very light weight so it is easy to take it upstairs in the apartment where I live. It looks great and it feels great while riding. I definitely recommend this bike. You won’t be disappointed 🙂*

It's the best video I have ever seen for beginners! Thank you for keeping it simple!

Damn! I was looking for a video like this everywhere. The graphics were very helpful to understand the cross chainning thing. Thank you!

I was looking everywhere for this video and finally i found it thanks a lot Gearist you help a lot

Finally a video I actually understand!!! Total beginner in need. Thank you

Probably the best video on Gear shifting basics!! Thank you so much

Excellent illustrations, simple explanations, superb production... Great vid for beginners like me! Thanks!

amazing vid explaining great shifts. i only ever kinda knew about how the rear ones worked but never how they worked WITH the front ones. very helpful! thanks! I'm saving this for later too.

Just got my own mountain bike and this video really helped with basic bike stuff. Nice job!

Brilliant video, I've looked a lot to understand how to work the gears on my new bike, this was an excellent explanation, thank you.

Thank you so much. I've never understood gears and now I do :)

Great video and job well done on explaining this topic. I really found it beneficial that you take the time to explain the parts and terms of a shifting mechanism. Thank you.

Man you are a life saver!! You have no idea how much help this video is.

SOOOOO glad I watched this. Best explanation of gear shifting for a beginner. Much more confident now, THANK YOU!!!

Absolutely excellent speaker! His explanations are the best I've heard.

Most informative video I've seen on this topic and I've been searching

Great video! Absolutely fantastic job explaining gear shifting. The best I've seen on You Tube. Thanks so much

Wow! This was in-depth and so helpful. I've never understood shifting gears but I tried today and felt like I was doing it right for the first time. Thank you!

Thank you very much for your help, your explanations were very clear and informative. I am no longer able to ride bikes, but my wife has recently bought a Cannondale Synapse to compete in a triathlon, she is not very bike savvy and your video has come in very useful, boy, bikes have changed a lot since I used to have one.

Best explanations on shifting gears !! Thank you very much !

Fantastic! Best explanation I have come across.

Been looking for something simple and informative. Great job explaining.

Awesome video, it's given me a lot of insight (as a new cyclist) on how to think about gearshifts. Thanks!

Haven't been on a bike in over 30yrs.. That's about to change 🙄 This is the best explanation of gears on you tube and this 51yr old novice cyclist thanks you for that! 👍 Subscribed.

Thanks for the intro. Helped a lot.

Thank You...gonna go ride my bike now that I know how to shift!

Great video - finally found a clear and complete explanation on shifting - thanks!

Excellent explanation! Thank you.

Very well explained, the best I have seen . Thank you !

just one word.... Excellent!

just got myself a merida schutura 400 and your explanation is indeed superb thanks

Thank you!!! I am a extreme beginner and I just got a bike. Shifting is very confusing but you made it easy to understand. Now I have to get more on the road. I think my bike was cross chaining. I was on the small asset and the smallest ring in the bike and it would click everytime I pedal.

Thank you for a great explanation of gear shifting. It's made me lose that fear of making a mess of changing gears up hill!

Being new to cycling this really helped. Thanks

Thank you so much for this video. I was clueless

Thanks so much for this informative and clear instruction, this is exactly what I need as a beginner.

Thank you. I finally got a road bike and this was very helpful. I learned from another video that I have the wrong air pump! I am making progress towards getting out there.

This video is really clear and helpful for beginners! Thank's

Great video. Perfect for all new riders. In fact, it’s a must watch for all new riders.

One of the better explanations on KZfaq for us beginners

Awesome awesome video! Very informative for us beginners!

Thanks, this helped so much more than hearing an hour long explanation from my dad that sounded like gibberish.

I just got a new to me bike and haven't ridden in a couple of years. This bike has shift levers like you described so I need to learn how to use them. Best video I've watched to describe practically and non technically what the heck I'm supposed to do! My old bike had the levers on the down tube which I was so used to. So hope I can get used to these! Practice and fun! Thanks again!

This is everything I needed!! ❤❤❤❤

Hey...Very well expained. That was very helpful. Thank you!

This is a great video! Thanks for the lesson.

excellent! took me a while to find what I was looking for - this presentation was perfect for me. Great job - thanks!

Outstanding, particularly the practical advice about learning at the 13-minute mark or so. Thanks much!

Best video on the subject I've seen mate thank you very much.

Thanks so much! Best video so far on this topic!

Very good explanation. I have never been shifting properly. This make good sense

Really great explaining, I’ve been riding for a couple of years but not understanding the gears so it has been frustrating at times. I could never climb a hill as easily as my friends even though I am quite fit. You’ve given me some useful advice which I plan to implement next ride.

No BS. Straight talking and explanatory and short. I’ll be showing this to the missus later!

Thanks for the great explanation! Best video on KZfaq explaining the process by far. 👍🚴‍♂️

Great video! Thx for being so clear

Excellent presentation the best I’ve seen about gearshifting on KZfaq

Excellent, easy to understand video, I'll definitely watch it again still need a little more clarification, thanks

Thank you this video is a really great help!

Yikes I am getting my back in a few days. This is the best gear shifting video I have watched. And I have seen some good ones. Notice how he answered question like gearing increments and equivalency. Good work!

Great video, concise with all the information about the subject! Thanks!

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and techniques.

Awesome explanation !

Excellent really learned a lot...

Simply superb!

Extremely helpful. Finally a video that helps!

This is very helpful. Thanks for the clear instructions.

Excellent vid.....good info and well presented...concise and clear. and useful....Thanks

Great video, covered it all. Now I just wait for my bike to come

Cool video thanks. this helped me with questions i have, as am looking into a road bike.

Perfect explanation and can't wait to receive my Merida schutura 400 nx week :)

Wow thanks purchased my first endurance racer two weeks ago. Seen many vids on utube, some not enough info others too complicated to understand.. This video was great.. Thankyou now i have a idea on shifting..

Such a good explanation on using gears! Thank you.

Thanks. Very educational.Great job!

Fantastic explaination. Great video!

This is the best video i watch about shifting.. i feel relax and full of information about all the explanation.. thank you sir 😍🥰🙏❤️

Great video!

Very informative! I need to know how to use bicycle gears because I am going to order a new bicycle soon! Thank you for helping me.

You have made things easy to understand, remember and apply in this video. I just bought two new bikes, FX2 Disc. Liked and subscribed. Thank you.