Jul 08, 2025

How to Use Bike Gears: a Beginner Guide to Bicycle Gearing System

Gears are an ingenious invention that allows you to maintain a comfortable pedaling speed and ride more easily, regardless of the terrain or gradient of the road you are on. The very first bikes had only one gear, so no matter how steep the climb, you just had to keep pressing on the pedals, even if it was really hard. Gears on modern bicycles are much more diverse, allowing you to pedal uphill and downhill comfortably. However, they can seem a little bit confusing at times, especially if you are new to cycling. Understanding bike gears is crucial, but don’t worry. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about them to get the most of your riding.

Understanding Bicycle Gears

For a proper understanding of your bike gears, you should first learn about the components that make them work. All the moving parts involved in transferring the power from the pedals to the rear wheel and, hence, driving your bike along are called the drivetrain. Its basic components are:

Cranks: long arms that connect the chainrings to the pedals.
Chainrings: toothed rings located at the front part of the drivetrain and attached to the cranks. A bicycle may have one, two (double), or three (triple) chainrings.
Cassette: a set of cogs (or sprockets) at the rear part of the drivetrain. Each cog has a different number of teeth on its edge.
Derailleurs: special mechanisms for moving the chain between the bike cogs and chainrings (from a bigger to a smaller one and vice versa). Cycles typically have both back and front derailleurs.
Shifters: components used to change and control or shift the gears on your bike. You will find them on the handlebars.

Also read: How to Choose the Right Bike Helmet Based on Your Needs

Understanding Bicycle Gear Ratios

Understanding bike gear ratios is when beginners typically get very confused. To put it simply, the gear ratio is how many times the rear wheel rotates for one turn of the crank. The value is calculated by dividing the number of teeth on the chainring by the number of teeth on the cassette cog you are currently in. For example, if you put the chain on a 48-teeth chainring and a 24-teeth cog, the gear ratio is 48/24 = 2:1. Hence, the rear wheel rotates 2 times per one crank turn.

Why is it important to understand bicycle gear ratios? The point is that it directly affects your comfort and efficiency during rides. A higher gear ratio makes the bike move faster, although pedaling gets harder. Lower ratios (e.g., 1:1) are perfect for riding uphill, but you will need to pedal quicker to maintain speed.

How to Use Gears on a Bike?

Gears can make or break your rides, no matter if you have a road, commuter, mountain, or hybrid bicycle. Therefore, understanding how to use gears is valuable for every cyclist willing to get the most out of their riding experience. We have explained the basics in detail, so the following information will help you sort things out.

How to Use Gear Shifters?

You can control gearing mechanisms using the shifters installed on your bike's left and right handlebars. Although they come in different designs, the working principle remains the same: the left shifter typically controls the chainrings, and the right shifter – the cassette. To change the gear, you will need to push/pull, twist, or move the levers sideways, depending on the type of shifters you have. Consider the most common options:

Trigger shifters: have two levers on each bar, and you need to use your fingers to switch the gears up and down.
Grip shifters: mounted into the bar grip, requiring you to twist them forwards and backward to change the gears (similarly to a motorbike throttle).
Integrated Shimano shifters: combine gear shifting and breaking into a single handlebar unit. That is, you can use a brake lever to both stop your bike and switch the gears. There is also a small paddle mounted behind each brake lever. Here’s how to use bike gear shifters from Shimano:

Right-hand shifter: move the brake lever sideways to set a larger gear on the cassette. Push the paddle to the left to move the chain to a smaller cog.
Left-hand shifter: move the brake lever sideways to choose a higher gear on the chainrings. Push the paddle to the right to switch to a smaller chainring.

Higher vs. Lower Bicycle Gears: How to Use Them

Your bicycle will work irrespective of the combination of rear and front gears you choose. However, selecting the most appropriate option will make your ride much smoother. Remember these two simple concepts:

Higher gears – more speed and harder pedaling
Lower gears – less speed and easy pedaling

To choose higher gears, move the chain to the biggest chainring and one of the smallest cogs (those with 10, 11, or 12 teeth). Hence, you will get a high gear ratio, perfect for downhills and fast riding on flat roads.

Opt for lower gears when you climb hills, ride into headwinds, or need an easy start after stopping. You can do this by switching to the smallest chainring and one of the biggest cogs (the first, second, or third).

Understanding Bike Gearing on Different Terrains

When cycling, it’s much better for your body to keep a light pace rather than push it hard all the way long. However, there also comes a point when hitting the pedals too fast becomes ineffective. Understanding when to shift gears on a bike will help you strike a perfect balance. Consider the best gear practices for flat roads, uphill climbs, and downhill rides:

Uphill climbs: depending on the gradient of a hill, you should switch to low or middle gears to increase the torque and maintain speed without much effort.
Downhill rides: switch to higher gears to keep riding fast and easy, even after the hill ends.
Flat roads: use middle or high gears to keep consistent speed and prevent exhaustion.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Inappropriate gear usage can not only affect your speed and convenience but also damage the drivetrain. Let’s sort out the most common mistakes cyclists make so that you can use bicycle gears efficiently and properly.

Cross-chaining: this is the most common and arguably the most serious mistake riders make a lot. It implies using the biggest chainring and the biggest cog at the same time or the smallest chainring and the smallest cog. Hence, the chain works at an extreme angle and bends in several places, which increases its wear and tear, makes pedaling less efficient, and may even cause noise. To prevent these issues, keep the chain as straight as possible by using appropriate bike gear combinations.
Shifting under heavy loads: changing gears under big loads provides a lot of friction between the chain and the cogs, which accelerates the wear of bike components. Since you cannot shift gears at full stop, try reducing the tension on the pedals to do this smoothly. Plus, it’s not recommended to change gears while climbing a hill – it’s better to shift down beforehand.
Poor maintenance: dirty or rusty gears may crunch and affect your riding performance. Therefore, clean them regularly, especially after riding in wet weather. Additionally, lubricate the chain and inspect the drivetrain components for wear and tear. If the gears are rubbing or jumping, fix them as soon as possible.

Advanced Tips for Efficient Cycling

Familiarize yourself with a few additional tips on how to use cycle gears even more efficiently:

Try different gear ratios on various terrains to determine which ones feel the most comfortable for you.
When riding uphill on a pedal-assisted family cargo bicycle with your kids or dogs (or other pets), turn on the motor to reduce the load on the bike’s drivetrain.
Use the left shifter for quicker gear change and then fine-tune bike performance with the right shifter.
When going downhill, shift up gradually to prevent the chain from jumping off the cogs.
Measure your comfortable pedaling speed (cadence). It’s recommended to keep it around 70 to 100 RPM.
If you purchase or rent a bike, check if the gears work smoothly before taking the deal.
Switch to lower gears when riding on slippery or wet roads.
Watch expert tutorials for a better understanding of bicycle gears and shifting.

Conclusion

There you have it! Now you know how to use bicycle gears to improve your cycling experience. Remember that practice makes things perfect, so take your time to explore all the gear combinations on your bike and get a feel for how each of them affects pedaling. With patience and perseverance, you will become more confident in shifting, regardless of the terrain you are on.