Cannondale Bicycles manual Toeclips & Straps

Shifting from an easier, “slower” gear (like 1) to a harder, “faster” gear (like 2 or 3) is called an upshift. Shifting from a harder, “faster” gear to an easier, “slower” gear is called a downshift. It is not necessary to shift gears in sequence. Instead, find the "starting gear" for the condi- tions -- a gear which is hard enough for quick acceleration but easy enough to let you start from a stop without wobbling -- and experiment with upshifting and downshifting to get a feel for the different gears. At first, practice shifting where there are no obstacles, hazards or other traffic, until you've built up your confidence. Once you've learned the basics, experience will teach you which gear is appropriate for which condition, and practice will help you shift smoothly and at precisely the optimum moment.

E. TOECLIPS & STRAPS

Toeclips and straps are the traditional means which experienced cyclists use to keep their feet correctly positioned and engaged with the pedals. The toeclip positions the ball of the foot over the pedal spindle, which gives maximum pedaling power. The toe strap, when tightened, keeps the foot engaged throughout the rotation cycle of the pedal. While toe- clips and straps give some benefit with any kind of shoe, they work most effectively with cycling shoes designed for use with toeclips. Your dealer can explain how toeclips and straps work.

58