K2 Bike K2 BICYCLE - Manual (Page 32)

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At first, practice shifting where there are no obstacles, hazards or other traffic, until you’ve built up your
confidence. If you have difficulties with shifting, the problem could be mechanical adjustment. See your
dealer for help.
2. How an Internal Gear Hub Drivetrain Works. If your bicycle has an internal gear drivetrain, the gear
changing mechanism will consist of:
• a 3, 5, 7 or possibly 12 speed internal gear hub
• one, or sometimes two shifters
• one or two control cables
• one front sprocket called a chainring
• the drive chain
a. Shifting Internal Gear Hub Gears. Shifting with an internal gear hub drivetrain is simply a matter of moving
the shifter to the indicated position for the desired gear. After you have moved the shifter to the gear
position of your choice, ease the pressure on the pedals for an instant to allow the hub to complete the shift.
b. Which Gear Should I Be In? The numerically lowest gear (1) is for the steepest hills. The numerically largest
gear (3, 5, 7 or 12, depending on the number of speeds of your hub) is for the greatest speed. 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 conditions — 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. If you have difficulties with shifting,
the problem could be mechanical adjustment. See your dealer for help.