How to Shift an Eight-Speed Shimano

Shimano Bikes makes components for road and mountain bikes. Shifting these gears, much of them eight-speed off the right-hand shifter, is done in one of two ways. The shifting method used depends on whether you are riding a road or mountain bicycle.

Instructions

  1. Mountain Bike Shifters

    • 1

      Place your right thumb onto the handlebar attached Shimano shifter. Look at the front of the shifter; you'll notice a thin red line indicating the gear position.

    • 2

      Pedal the bicycle to achieve speed. As you move, push your thumb on the shifter button and listen for a click as the gears begin to change. Watch the red line move one gear up or down. Push in with your thumb to increase the level of difficulty in pedaling with your gears, and use your forefinger to click down on the opposite side of the shifter.

    • 3

      Practice moving the gears through the eight speeds by pushing one gear at a time, going up and then clicking one gear at a time down on the shifter.

    Road Bicycle Shifters

    • 4

      Grip the road bicycle shifters on the right-side drop of the bar. This is where the handlebar curls down and under the top of the bar. Road bicycle shifters are integrated into the brake grips. Take care not to pull the shifter in to the bike unless you wish to brake.

    • 5

      Push the inner lever on the shifter/brake levers. Push to the inside of the bicycle to increase the gear. Push to the outside of the bicycle to decrease your gear.

    • 6

      Pedal the road bike to gain speed while practicing shifting through the available eight gears on the shifter.