• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

How Can I Shift More Smoothly on Hills?

how to shift gears on a road bike

 

Question: It’s hilly on my home roads, and I struggle to ride efficiently. I usually shift to an easier gear at the bottom of a hill while I still have momentum. But if I need to shift again as the grade steepens and I’m mashing the pedals, the gear change is noisy and clunky. It makes my riding buddies cringe. How can I smooth things out? — Barry O.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Like the vast majority of us, it sounds like you’re riding a bike with mechanical shifting. The secret is to plan your shifts. It sounds like you’re doing that well to start hills.

But on the way up, anticipate when you’ll need an easier gear and shift to it a few seconds ahead of time. This way, you won’t be mashing on the pedals quite so hard. The chain will flow more smoothly and quietly.

In a situation where you’re hammering and need to shift, here’s the trick: Just as you move the lever, ease up on the pedal pressure. The shift will occur during one crank revolution. Then you can pour on the coals again.

If you time it right, you won’t lose significant speed. To maximize momentum, push a bit harder for several strokes before lightening the shift stroke.

Bottom line:  Any time you shift either derailleur, be conscious of your pedal pressure. Shifts made during a moderate application of power have the best chance of being smooth, quick – and inoffensive to your riding buddies.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Anti-Aging: VO2 Max
  • Tackling an Epic Climb – Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona
  • Move Around Before and After You Eat
  • Cycology Cycling Apparel Quick Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1054

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...