To shift gears on an old road bike, you’ll need to use the shifters on the handlebars. The left shifter controls the front derailleur, which shifts between the chainrings. The right shifter controls the rear derailleur, which shifts between the cogs on the cassette.
To shift up, you’ll need to push the appropriate lever with your thumb. To shift down, you’ll need to press down on the lever with your index finger. You can also use your middle finger to help guide the chain if needed.
- Check to see if your bike has an indexed or friction shifter
- If it is an indexed shifter, there will be a number next to each gear indicating what order you should shift in
- If it is a friction shifter, the gears will not be numbered
- Find the lever that controls your rear derailleur
- This is the component that moves the chain from one cog to another on the back of your bike
- Locate your front derailleur lever
- This shifts the chain between the two or three cogs on the front of your bike 4
- Get into a low gear before you start pedaling by depressing the rear shifter lever while you turn the pedals backwards with your hand 5
- Begin pedaling and apply pressure to the pedals as you begin to shift up through the gears using either your index finger or thumb, depending on which type of shifter you have 6
- Keep shifting until you are in your highest gear
How to Use Downtube Shifters
Downtube shifters are one of the most popular methods for shifting gears on a bicycle. They are simple to use and require very little maintenance. Here is a step by step guide on how to use downtube shifters:
1. First, locate the shifter levers on your handlebars. The left lever will be for your front derailleur and the right lever will be for your rear derailleur.
2. To shift into a higher gear, push the appropriate lever with your thumb.
For example, to shift into a higher gear in the front, push the left lever with your thumb. To shift into a higher gear in the rear, push the right lever with your thumb.
3. To shift into a lower gear, pull the appropriate lever with your index finger.
For example, to shift into a lower gear in the front, pull the left lever with your index finger. To shift into a lower gear in the rear, pull the right lever with you index finger.
How to Change Gears on Vintage Bike
Vintage bikes are beautiful and unique, but they can be a little tricky to ride if you’re not used to them. One of the most important things to know when riding a vintage bike is how to change gears. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Locate the gear shifters on your handlebars. On most vintage bikes, there will be two shifters – one for the front gears and one for the rear.
2. Use your left hand to shift the front gears.
To move up to a higher gear, push the shifter forward. To move down to a lower gear, pull the shifter back towards you.
3. Use your right hand to shift the rear gears.
Just like with the front gears, you’ll use your right hand to push or pull the shifter in order to change gears.
4. Practice shifting while pedaling so that you get used to doing it while on the move. It takes a little bit of practice but once you get used to it, changing gears will become second nature!
How to Use Downtube Shifters Video
The Downtube Shifters video is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn how to use downtube shifters. This video provides clear and concise instructions on how to properly use these types of shifters, as well as tips and tricks on getting the most out of them. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, this video is sure to be helpful.
How to Shift Gears on a Road Bike Shimano
If you’re new to road biking, you might be wondering how to shift gears on your bike. Shimano is one of the most popular brands of road bike shifters, so we’ll use them as an example.
Shimano shifters are operated by levers that are mounted on the handlebars.
The left lever controls the front derailleur, which moves the chain between the two or three rings on the crank set. The right lever controls the rear derailleur, which moves the chain between the cogs on the cassette.
To shift gears, you simply press down on the appropriate lever with your thumb or finger.
For instance, to shift from a higher gear to a lower gear (known as “downshifting”), you would press down on the left lever. To shift from a lower gear to a higher gear (known as “upshifting”), you would press down on the right lever. It’s that simple!
Of course, there are some finer points to shifting gears that you’ll want to learn in order to ride efficiently and avoid damaging your bike. But this basic guide should get you started so that you can start enjoying those hill climbs and long rides!
Road Bike Gear Shifter Types
There are several types of road bike gear shifters, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a look at the most common types:
1. Handlebar-mounted shifters: These are the most common type of shifter found on road bikes.
They’re easy to use and allow you to change gears while keeping your hands on the handlebars. However, they can be difficult to reach if you have small hands, and they’re not as aerodynamic as other types of shifters.
2. Down tube-mounted shifters: These shifters are mounted on the down tube of the frame, near the bottom bracket.
They’re more aerodynamic than handlebar-mounted shifters, but they can be difficult to reach if you’re in a high gear and pedaling hard.
3. integrated brake/shift levers: These levers are combined into one unit, so you can change gears and brake with just one hand. They’re very convenient, but they can be expensive, and they add weight to your bike.
Credit: ilovebicycling.com
How Do Old Road Bike Gears Work?
Road bikes have come a long way since they were first invented. The gears on old road bikes were much less sophisticated than the gears on today’s models, and they didn’t work as well, either. The chain on an old road bike was much narrower, so it tended to slip off the sprockets more easily.
And the sprockets themselves were not as precisely made as they are now, so they didn’t mesh together as smoothly.
The result was that pedaling an old road bike up a hill could be a very frustrating experience. You would often have to stand up out of the saddle to get enough leverage to keep the chain from slipping, and even then you might not make it to the top without having to dismount and walk your bike for a while.
Thankfully, modern road bikes are much better equipped to deal with hills. The chains are wider and don’t slip as easily, and the sprockets are precision-machined so they mesh together perfectly. This means that you can usually stay seated when climbing a hill on a modern road bike, making it a much more pleasant experience overall.
How Do You Shift Gears on a Road Bike?
Assuming you would like tips on how to shift gears on a road bike:
There are generally two types of shifters that come on road bikes- trigger shifters and paddle shifters. Each type has its own way of shifting gears.
To shift gears with trigger shifters, you place your thumb over the top of the lever and push it in the direction you want to go- up to shift into a higher gear and down to shift into a lower gear. You can also click the lever with your index finger to change gears without taking your hand off the handlebars.
Paddle shifters are located behind the brake levers and look like large paddles.
To use them, you simply push on the paddle in the direction you want to go- again, up for a higher gear and down for a lower gear. Some paddle shifters have two paddles- one for each hand- while others have just one that is used for both shifting up and down.
No matter what type of shifter you have, it is always best to make sure that you are pedaling when youshift gears.
This will help protect your chain from getting damaged or caught in between the teeth of your cogset (the collection of cogs at the back wheel). It is also important not ot shift too quickly, as this can also cause damage to your drivetrain.
How Do You Shift Shimano Gears on a Road Bike?
Shimano is a Japanese company that manufactures cycling components, including shifters. Their products are used on both road and mountain bikes. Shimano shifters come in two main types: trigger and Rapidfire.
Trigger shifters are most common on mountain bikes, while Rapidfire shifters are more commonly found on road bikes.
To shift gears with a Shimano trigger shifter, you push the lever with your thumb. The lever is usually located at the front of the handlebar, near your left hand.
You can also push the lever with your index finger, but this can be difficult to do if you’re also gripping the handlebar with that hand. To shift up to a higher gear, you push the lever away from you. To shift down to a lower gear, you pull the lever toward you.
With a Shimano Rapidfire shifter, shifting gears is done by pressing buttons with your fingers. The buttons are located behind the brake levers, so you’ll need to take your hands off the brakes to shift gears. Toshift up to a higher gear, you press the button behindthe right brake leverwith your right index finger.
Toshift down to alower gear,you pressthebuttonbehindtheleftbrakeleverwithyourleftindexfinger.
How Do You Shift a 7 21 Speed Bike?
The 7-speed bike is the most common type of bike on the market. It has seven gears in the rear cassette and two or three chainrings in the front. To shift a 7-speed bike, you need to use your shifters.
The left shifter controls the front derailleur and shifts between the two or three chainrings. The right shifter controls the rear derailleur and shifts between the seven gears in the rear cassette.
To shift up to a higher gear, you need to push the appropriate shifter lever with your thumb.
For shifting down to a lower gear, you need to push the lever with your index finger. For both types of shifting, you should pedal lightly while making the shift. Once you’ve made the shift, pedaling will feel easier or harder depending on which direction you shifted.
If you’re having trouble making shifts, it could be because your chain needs lubrication or adjustment. You can also check that your derailleurs are properly aligned by looking at them from behind while someone else pedals (the chain should run straight between them).
First And Last Dura-Ace Downtube Shifters: Index Vs Friction
Conclusion
If you have an old road bike, don’t be discouraged from riding it! With a few simple adjustments, you can make it work like new. First, check the chain for any rust or damage.
If it looks good, then clean and lubricate it. Next, inspect the brakes and tires to make sure they are in good condition. Finally, adjust the seat and handlebars to your desired position.
Now you’re ready to hit the road!