New cyclist - please guide....

Rule of thumb: you want to pedal at about 90 rpm for best efficiency.

From the sound you describe it sounds like your chain is dragging against the derailleur. No, it shouldn't do that. It's probabaly the front derailleur.

Rajesh-Target said:

New cyclist - please guide....

Hi,

I have just taken up cycling. Live in India.

Welcome to the forums. Whats the weather like in India at this time of year?

Quoted post said:

Interested in commuting and a little of simple non-challenging off-paved-road biking.

I have just (yesterday) purchased an ATB - has 21 gears. A bit too many for me - but I wanted the quick release feature for storing in my small car.

Question is: There are 3 gear wheels in the front and 7 in the rear.

Can you advice me - for commuting to work - normal roads:
1. On what gears (front/rear) would you start with.

Well what gear you choose depends on the terrain ie. flat, uphill or downhill. It would be best to put it in the middle gear though its not critical.

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2. If you are approaching a low-gradient steep how soon would you shift gears to and to which ones (front/rear)

3. When you going down hill (again low gradient) - when would you again shift and to what gears.

Thats a bit difficult to answer it takes abit of practice to know when is the best time but you want to choose a gear that allows you to pedal at reasonable rate ie. between 70 and 90 rpm. Some times it helps to stand up.

Use the smallest on the front for going up hill, use the middle one for the flat and use the biggest one for going down hill and then adjust things using the back cogs ie. the bigger ones make things easier and the smaller ones make things harder.

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Few other questions:
1. Should back pedalling not be done? Single gear cycles - you can back pedal - and there is no effect on the cycle's movement.

I dont think back pedalling does any harm.

Quoted post said:

2. Does the cycle make a "krrrrr-krrrrr-krrrrr" sound as you pedal (and this stops when you cruise and not peddaling). Is this normal - or something is wrong with the gear settings.

By the sounds of it you are trying to use the smallest cog on the front with the smallest cog on the back and this causes the chain to be at an extreme angle and rub on the front derailler. Try to avoid this by keeping the chain in a straight line for example when using the biggest cog on the front you can only use some of the smallest cogs on the back before the chain starts making noise.

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THANKS ! Appreciate your time !

Rajesh

Hopefull that made some sense,
Ben

Well thanks for the answers 🙂

Weather in India is cool - at about 15-16 deg C. 22 deg C would be the high. Pleasant.

Looks like I need to get out and work on the bike first. Then I'll gain some experience. I asked the question on the 2nd day of getting the bike 🙂

thanks for your time, Rajesh

I agree with reelbf. You never use all 21 gears. you never put the chain on the inner chainring in front, and the outer one in the rear. you never put the chain on the inner one in back and the outer one in front.

In general, you try to keep the chain from getting too much of an angle.

If the chain makes a sound only when it's like this, then just don't do that.