| It can be confusing at first when you get a new bike | | | | back. The way they determine the number of gears a |
| and have a multitude of gears to choose from. To get | | | | bike has is by multiplying the total number of gears in |
| better at shifting you have understand why you need | | | | the front by the total number in the back. So for |
| to have a shifter and gears in the first place. The | | | | example a ten speed bike has 2 gears in the front and |
| reason why you need one has to do with efficient use | | | | 5 in the back to choose from, and so 2*5 equals ten. |
| of energy. The most efficient way to power a bicycle | | | | On the rear of the bike there is something called |
| is to be pedaling at least one revolution of the pedals a | | | | dérailleurs. There is one up by the cranks and |
| second. If you are in better shape then the ideal speed | | | | one in the rear. These are like the clutch and gearbox |
| for you to pedal is actually much faster. The | | | | of the bike. They work to derail the chain and force it |
| recommended speed for a racer is around 90 | | | | to jump from one gear to another so you can change |
| revolutions per minute. Thus gears have to do with | | | | gear. The way the shifting works is the rider shifts |
| efficiency. If you are in too high of a gear you will be | | | | gears up in the front. That moves a cable that runs to |
| pedaling too much to be ideal. If you are in too low of a | | | | the dérailleur, which forces the dérailleur |
| gear you will be pedaling to slow to be ideal. | | | | to push against the chain. The chain is shoved from |
| The gears on a bike are made up a chain, two or | | | | one side to the other and moves up or down the |
| three sprockets in the front with the crank and then in | | | | gears. |
| the rear somewhere between 5 and 9 gears in the | | | | |