Topic: Bicycle Terminology. Question.

[754]

This to settle an argument with some buddies.
When you are riding a bike, and either climb a hill, or are coming. To a stop.. You will be shifting,
 A up
 B down
 To clarify, you are going from a higher speed to a lower speed.

 What do you guys think?

[mrbreeze]

I would have to say the same as any other vehicle. You would be down shifting. It will be harder on you to pull a hill in 10th than in 3rd. It will be the same thing pulling away from a stop. On a bicycle you are the engine.....you don't want to lug it.

[70CB750]

Down shifting.

[evanphi]

Downshift.

You shift "down" to a "lower" gear.

[Duke McDukiedook]

When on the road I downshift in anticipation of the lower crank rpms going up a hill.
Masochists shift up I guess?

[ChrisP.]

Actually to get to a taller gear ("lower gear") the rear detailer goes up to the taller gears so it's shifting up to a taller gear ring but you are figuratively shifting into a "lower gear". Make since?


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[Blasbo]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

[ChrisP.]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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[FunJimmy]

Actually to get to a taller gear ("lower gear") the rear detailer goes up to the taller gears so it's shifting up to a taller gear ring but you are figuratively shifting into a "lower gear".

+1

While it's correct that shifting to a lower gear is the effect, several cyclists use the term shifting up.
I think this is the scenario Frank is dealing with.

[Stev-o]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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Only if you are talking about the rear sprockets. 

I have a 21 speed, you could downshift to a smaller sprocket on the crankset.

Frank - shouldnt this be in your dikshunary thread?!

[ChrisP.]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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Only if you are talking about the rear sprockets. 

Most (90%?) of your shifting is done with the rear unless you are stopping and then starting at the bottom of a hill, then you're just dumb! Ha! Ha!
Real men stay in the big ring on the cranks!

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[70CB750]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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Only if you are talking about the rear sprockets. 

Most (90%?) of your shifting is done with the rear unless you are stopping and then starting at the bottom of a hill, then you're just dumb! Ha! Ha!
Real men stay in the big ring on the cranks!

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That's not nice making fun of us girly men.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Or granny gear shifters!! You know who you are!

[70CB750]

Or granny gear shifters!! You know who you are!

I am one.

[Maurice]

You have it reversed: tall gear == slower spinning, harder, flat to downhill. Small gear == faster spinning, easier, hills, upwind.

The tall vs. small refers to the length traveled on a single crank revolution: big ring small cog this becomes tall, small ring big cog this becomes small.

Source: thousands of miles ridden and years of racing road, MTB and cyclo-cross.

[754]

The guy said the other me, it's going up the sprocket cluster, I said how do you know it isn't in your truck as well.
 I know lower gears are numerically higher, but most people on all other vehicles, consider lower gear= lower speed capability.

[ChrisP.]

You have it reversed: tall gear == slower spinning, harder, flat to downhill. Small gear == faster spinning, easier, hills, upwind.

The tall vs. small refers to the length traveled on a single crank revolution: big ring small cog this becomes tall, small ring big cog this becomes small.

Source: thousands of miles ridden and years of racing road, MTB and cyclo-cross.

regarding the crank rings...


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[grumpy]

usually it's down = easier
but it can be interchangeable:
one can be "down in the 11" or "drop it into the 11"
typically we just say the number of teeth on the cog. EG "Dude, that hill killed me! All I had was an 18 and I was totally pedaling squares!"

[754]

Well shifting up 5 times into 1st gear, does not sound right to me..never did.
 And I agree the front cogs are more like selecting a range.

[Maurice]

calj brings up a good point, nobody refers to shifting "up" or "down", it is confusing.

Just ride a singlespeed, grow some sideburns and wear tight jeans, and be done with it and those silly questions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

[Stev-o]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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Only if you are talking about the rear sprockets. 

Real men stay in the big ring on the cranks!

Maybe around Lake Conroe, but have you biked in the Hill Country lately??!

[ChrisP.]

Down shifting, but the chain actually moves "up" to a larger sprocket.

correct


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Only if you are talking about the rear sprockets. 

Real men stay in the big ring on the cranks!

Maybe around Lake Conroe, but have you biked in the Hill Country lately??!

I used to all the time when I was much thinner...


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[rtbmrgl]

Unless your Lance Armstrong, then juice up and up-shift.

[riverfever]

calj brings up a good point, nobody refers to shifting "up" or "down", it is confusing.

Just ride a singlespeed, grow some sideburns and wear tight jeans, and be done with it and those silly questions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

This. Minus the sideburns and those stupid jeans.

[grcamna2]

Bicycle gear charts are in inches traveled forward for each full 360 degree crank/pedals revolution;there is a decent 'sweet spot' in being in the correct gear for YOU w/ each climb,for most of us here that's the 'granny gear'  ....,until I start getting to climb more of these hills around Pittsburgh....,then I might have a more efficient 'spin' to 'torque it' in the next bigger gear w/ a lower cadence. I think to spin in a lower gear is better for me w/ my standard 170mm cranks that I've always used.