Bike question

Ok, no whining ya'll, I've been at the same weight since February.  (I was unfilled for awhile and then have just now gotten back with some good restriction)...and I AM grateful for not gainng any back really really really, but ready to move on down a bit.

The way I learned my gears is to put it in the middle.  (If your bike has like 21 gears or something like that you want to be in the middle ring in the back)...and then the middle on the right hand side too.  Then go somewhere flat and gear up or down and notice how it feels on either side of the middle.  Once you get that, you have three gears down and honestly, those are the ones' you'll use most often.

As to hills, you need to figure out what gear you'll use to go up the hill (an easy one) and be in that gear before you start up the hill.  Shifting gears once you get on a hill (it's called shifting under load, how rude) is rough on your bike. 

 

Thankfully, your past bike ... my current bike : ), has dial up gears! ; ) I just turn the handle to the number of the gear that I want. Otherwise, I'd still be learning.

Oh, and I think the bike would agree that *shifting under load* is an appropriate description for it now... even when a hill isn't involved!

I think all my shifting is under a load!!!  HA! Ha!  That would be my tushie pushing down on the poor bike! Denise

Oh, and until you get used to your brakes, don't even put your hand on your front brake-the back brake will work and you won't flip over the handlebars.  On the street I still don't really use my front brake.

I played with a couple of gears tonight on my ride.  It was hard to tell a difference since I am still getting the seat and handle bars set to the right height.  I do brake really well though!  I avoided smushing a 3 year old on a baby bicycle that darted out in front of me!  No one lost any skin or lost their balance!  Yeah, me! I sure feel better about the whole stall thing after some fresh air.  I love my bike!

I am frightened of children on bicycles.....I don't want to hurt them and I don't want to get hurt either.

Parents-take your kids up to the local school and give them a couple of lessons and handling skills before putting them out on public trails-they are KIDS-it takes them about 3 seconds to learn how to ride straight.  Teach them my other pet peeve too-teach them to pull over to the side before braking-those little buggers can stop on a dime, and we more seasoned riders cannot.