... to ask how to ride a bike with gears?

[Seeingadistance]

As a child I had a very basic bike - no gears - to play about on. Now 50, I can still go a bike - as in getting it go forwards and stop without me falling off.

But, the bike I've got has gears and I have no idea, at all, how this works. I'm a car driver - if that helps with explanations.

The bike has 3 gears on the left and 7 on the right!

Help! Please!

We got our bikes out after two years yesterday. Possibly not such a good idea to start with a 6miler. Doesn’t sound far when you’re on wheels, but my arse is killing me today! I have a gel seat cover thingy but still.....

Op if you cycle regularly you will get a better arse as you say.

If it's still sore when you are used to doing rides of say 20m regularly then maybe look for a new saddle but you should be fine for now.
Have fun 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Well done, that sounds great progress.

With regard to the sore bum, check your saddle height, it's very easy to have it too low. Also you can get padded cycling shorts in places like Decathlon, if you don't fancy those, padded pants!

Saddle height should be a legs at nearly full extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke...it'll give you more power too.

Have fun!

Cycling will certainly give you a tougher arse. The soreness will go away when you get used to the bike.

I'm feeling quite proud of my self - a real sense of achievement!

I've had the bike for ages. It's a Raleigh that I bought online so I had to put it together myself and I wasn't confident that I'd done it properly. It's been languishing in sheds and garages as I've moved a few times since I got it. Where I live now is very rural with lots of single track back roads - lovely views over to the coast and wee hidden valleys and lochs. I'd been thinking about getting the bike out, and I happened to meet a man I know locally when he was out for a cycle, so he came and checked the bike out for me, reassured me that I had in fact put it together very well, and helped me to adjust the saddle height.

Very pleased that I've got it out the garage, cleaned it up and actually been out on it!

Looking forward to a new, leaner arse!

Sounds like you're getting the hang of it.

For descending hills, bicycles have "freewheel" hubs, so it's just the brakes to control the speed. There's no analog to engine braking in a car. So leave it in a high gear for hill descents.

I have trouble remembering the gears (like my left and right) so I made uo a memory link.
My bike has 1-3 gears on the left and 1-6 on the right. When going uphill I am using my legs and need gears 1/1 (I think "legs 11" in bingo) when I go downhill I'm in 3/6 and am rolling down the hill like a coin (3 n 6 in old money).
A bit conveluted but it has helped me remember.

I think normally I am in 2/3 ish on the flat.
Good luck with it.

Yay!
My bike is soooo old. I bought a man frame but a nice big women's gel saddle for comfort. (Not that it is THAT comfortable, but it is definitely better than my DH's razor blade seat)
Enjoy!
(And... if you don't... please wear a helmet... and maybe some hi-viz too. Car drivers are bastards at times.)

Great thread, and one I should have started a couple of years ago when I got a new bike. I've just figured it out through trial and error, though I still don't get it right all the time.

What's a pain is that I got a new 2nd hand bike a couple of months ago and took it immediately for a service, specifically mentioning that the LH brake is impossible to get above 2. Guy brought it back, said it was fine and he'd replaced the gear cables, but no, I still can't change that gear. Well, I have once, when I was at a standstill, by almost breaking my thumb, and then it was tricky to move back down again.

Can't be bothered taking it back as it's a way to go. Don't suppose anyone has any ideas I could try?

I'm actually really excited for you!

Also, you can buy gel saddle covers that you put over the saddle, and make it a lot more comfy for your arse.

After last night's success, I went out again today. Not so good!

Bit hit and miss with the gears on hills, and my legs were complaining! Arse was startled last night, and is now thoroughly disgruntled!

Think I'll have a rest day tomorrow, and have another shot on Sunday.

Not discouraged!