Left hand lever | Right hand lever |
Thumb Shifters (Top Mounted)
Most mountain style bicycles are equipped with shifters
mounted on the top of the handlebars and operated by the thumbs. To select a lower, easier gear, shift to a bigger rear cog and a small chainwheel. Pull the left shifter back to operate the front derailleur, and push the right shifter forward to operate the rear derailleur. To select a higher, harder gear, shift to a smaller rear cog and a larger chainwheel. Push the left shifter forward for the front, and pull the right lever back for the rear.
Top Gear
(Harder)
Small rear sprocket Large chainwheel
Left hand lever forward Right hand lever back
Bottom Gear
(Easier)
Large rear sprocket
Small chainwheel
Left hand lever back
Right hand lever forward
19
Left hand lever | Right hand lever |
Below the Bar Shifters
Many mountain style bicycles now use a shift lever arrangement mounted on the underside of the handlebars, which use two levers operated by the thumb and index finger. To select a lower gear push the larger (lower) right shifter with your thumb to engage a larger rear cog. One firm push shifts the chain one cog, continuing to push will move the chain over multiple cogs. Pulling the smaller (upper) left shifter with your index finger moves the chain from a larger to a smaller chainwheel. To select a higher gear pull the smaller (upper) right lever with your index finger to engage a smaller rear cog. Pushing the larger (lower) left lever with your thumb will move the chain from a smaller to a larger chainwheel. Please refer to page 98 for additional instructions in “How Things Work”.
