bicycle gears

[carmalee]

My bicycle has lots of gears and am not sure I'm using them correctly. No matter what I do the chain never seems to go on the really biggest toothed wheel. Am I supposed to back pedal when I try and change gear? It has a gear change thingie on both sides of the handlebars - I've really tried to work it out but am stumped. Please help - tia

[scotman]

Since you refer to two gear shift levers I assume you have multiple wheels on the pedal and on the rear wheel. Which is it you can't get engaged?

[carmalee]

the chain never seems to move on the set of gears by the pedal.

[scotman]

How many wheels have you got at the pedal and the rear wheel?

[carmalee]

3 x pedal & 5 x back wheel - then there are two little wheels configured like a dog leg below the 5 (back wheel)

[scotman]

My understanding of these things is that they need the chain to be moving for the derailling mechanism to work. I believe back-pedalling is not a good idea. Try it without.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I know the little dogleg ones are your shimano, to keep the tension on the chain.
Are you trying to change right up from it being on the smallest at the back to the biggest at the front?

[Buenchico]

Any use?
http://www.wikihow.co...With-10-or-more-Gears
and/or
http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/gears.html

Chris

[carmalee]

I'm just trying to find out how to make it easier to use - have had the bike for ages and it only occurred to me yesterday that I'd never seen the chain on the big wheel by the pedal - I do change gear with the right hand lever and that makes the pedals go around faster (but I don't go any faster!) - sorry to be such a wuss but I have tried to see what happens when I do various things and nothing really makes sense.

[scotman]

Try the old trick of putting the bike on its back, pedal by hand and try out the shift mechanisms. A modern 3-5 set should be able to select all options.

[carmalee]

Buenchico that is a brilliant link - I had googled in bikes/gears etc but not come up with such a clear one - thank you so much.
Will take your advice scotman and refrain from back pedalling (don't believe you are as stern as your avatar makes out either)
Mo jo jo will read through the link B sent and try and understand how it all works then give it a go - thanks

[Hopkirk]

There is probably a little screw stop to limit the movement, so that the chain doesn't go too far and derail.

It probably needs screwing out a bit, to allow the mechanism to push the chain a little bit further.

[carmalee]

will have a look Hopkirk - thanks for that.

[scotman]

Happy to help. Aavatar is closer than I usually admit.

[piggynose]

hi carmalee, personally i find gears bloody fiddly. even after taking my bike to the bike shop for them to adjust them it was always back to its worst.
So i joined a bike club, best thing i did, as youre guaranteed regular help with any repairs etc..
piggy

[carmalee]

good idea piggynose - will check out if there is one in the local area.thanks

[Answerprancer]

My advice for those not familiar with this system:

Lesson #1

Beginner's Gear Use.

1) DO NOT pedal backwards while changing gears - you may break something (that's for Sturmey Archer setups).

2) Keep the chain on the centre cog (controlled by the left gear lever) at the front most if not all of the time and just use all the gears at the back (right gear lever).

Ok, once you get used to that:

Lesson #2
Advanced Gear Use.

Now that you're used to all the gears at the back, you are probably finding that the highest gear isn't high enough (the one that lets you pedal slowly but go fast and is no good for going up steep hills). When you are on the HIGHEST gear at the back (smallest cog) use the LEFT gear lever to push the chain onto the largest ring at the front.
Similarly, when going up really steep hills with loads of shopping, you may find that the lowest gear (biggest cog at the back) is not low enough and you feel like you want to jump off and wheel your bike. This is the time to click the LEFT lever all the way back so the chain jumps down onto the 'granny gear' (smallest ring at the front)

ps. DO NOT go "big big small small" (eg. big ring at the front big at the back) because that will put the chain through a nasty S-bend.

[Answerprancer]

...also there are a pair of "limiter" screws on both of your gear *changers, usually labelled "L" (for low) and "H" (for high). These are what you adjust if the chain doesnt make it onto the largest and smallest cogs.

If your chain won't go onto the largest cog at the front, using a small screwdriver, turn the "H" screw on your FRONT gear *changer about half a turn anticlockwise.

*by "changer" I'm talking about the thing at the back with the two small wheels, and the curved thing that sits over the top of your front cogs.

[carmalee]

answerprancer what a brilliantly clear answer - thank you so much

[Answerprancer]

No prob carmalee - a couple of other details:

When changing gears try not to exert too much pressure on the pedals otherwise the gearchange will probably be 'crunchy', it probably all sounds a bit complicated - but you get used to it then you don't have to think about what your doing (like driving) - it's mostly about 'feel'.

If your front changer isn't working at all - in either direction, it probably means the cables are rusted and seized up, in which case they will both (inner and outer) need to be replaced, your local bike shop shouldn't charge more than tenner or so to do this.

[carmalee]

had the bike serviced not long ago AP - thanks again for all the advice - look around next time you go cycling, I'll be the one racing to over take you!