Updated 23/05/07 RAOM0507 Apollo Bicycle Company Pty. Ltd. ABN: 60 001 914 469
19
Operating Principles
Although the number of gears present on
multispeed bicycles varies greatly, how the gears
function remains the same. The right shifter
works the rear derailleur and the left shifter works
the front derailleur. If the pedals are stationary
or rotating backwards, gears cannot be changed.
They can only be altered when pedalling forward.
To achieve a successful gear change, either
moving up or down in gears, the pedalling
pressure must be relaxed. Failure to ease the
pressure when changing gears may result in
bicycle damage or could even cause the rider
to lose control. If a rubbing sound is detected
after attempting to alter gears, adjust the shifter
until the sound ceases. Generally the lower
gears are for ascending hills and the higher gears
are for descending. To extend the life of your
chain avoid using extreme gear combinations
as shown in the diagrams below.
123456
a
b
c
1
High
2
Medium
3
Low
123456
a
b
1
High
2
Medium