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CAUTION: Never move the shifter while pedaling backward, nor pedal backwards after having moved the shifter. This could jam the chain and cause serious damage to the bicycle.
WARNING: Never shift a misadjusted derailleur onto the largest or the smallest sprocket. The chain could jam, causing you to lose control and fall.
1) Shifting the Rear Derailleur |
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The rear derailleur is controlled by the right shifter. |
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The function of the rear derailleur is to move the drive chain from one gear to |
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another on the rear gear cluster, thereby changing gear drive ratios. The |
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smaller sprockets on the gear cluster produce higher gear ratios. Pedaling in |
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the higher gears requires greater pedaling effort, but takes you a greater dis- |
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tance with each revolution of the pedal cranks. The larger sprockets produce |
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lower gear ratios. Using them requires less pedaling effort, but takes you a |
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shorter distance with each pedal crank revolution. Moving the chain from a |
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smaller sprocket of the gear cluster to a larger sprocket results in a |
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downshift. Moving the chain from a larger sprocket to a smaller sprock- |
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et results in an upshift. In order for the derailleur to disengage the chain |
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from one sprocket and move it on to another, the chain must be moving for- |
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ward (i.e. the rider must be pedaling forward). | 55 |
