How to Use Gears Uphill

Bicycles with multiple gears can save you a lot of work and energy. When out on the flats, you can shift your bike into a higher gear and build up some speed, thus traveling greater distances with less effort. Conversely, when you’re confronted with an intimidating hill, you can gear down. Lower gears will let you tackle a hill like a pro. By pedaling in a lower gear, you won’t have to hop off your bike and push it up to the top.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle helmet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find your bicycle's gear shifters, and make sure you know how to use them. The left-hand shifter, on the bicycle’s handlebars, is responsible for changing the chain on the gears on the larger rings near the pedals. The right-hand shifter changes the smaller gears next to the rear wheel. The number of gears on any given bike varies by design. Lower gears will give you more power when you pedal uphill.

    • 2

      Shift into lower gears for power, and to conserve energy, when riding up a steep hill or uphill grade. By gearing down, you’ll decrease the amount of rotation in each push of the pedal. This will lessen your overall speed, but increase the power behind your pedaling, allowing you to fight the effects of gravity.

    • 3

      Anticipate hills before you arrive at them. Shift down into a lower gear a few seconds before you begin your climb. This way you won’t have to shift on your ascent, and you’ll avoid putting unnecessary stress on the pedals and the bicycle chain.

    • 4

      Shift while pedaling. The pedals must be in motion while you’re shifting gears, up or down. For this reason, it can be hard to shift gears on the middle of a hill. If you’re in a higher gear and get stuck on an incline, you might not have enough pedal momentum to shift down into a lower gear.