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Mountain bike gears typically use a 2x or 1x drivetrain system. The 2x system meaning there is a double front chain ring that can be switched between for low/high speed.
The 1x system is simpler with no front chairing and gear changes only happen at the rear cog. 1x systems typically have 9-12 rear cogs with a wide range to make up for the lack of double front chain ring.
Mountain bike shifters are mounted to flat bars within easy range of fingers or thumb for easy access. Shifting on some mountain bike shifters can be done by either pushing or pulling on the shift lever.
This allows you to either shift with your fingers or thumbs. This is the case on shifters such as the newer Shimano Deore.
How to Operate Gears on a Mountain Bike
To shift on a 1x mountain bike system you’ll have two shifters on one side to control the up and down shifts. The big shifter moves the chain up the cog making it easier to pedal. Useful on uphill sections.
You’ll need to ease off putting too much pressure through the pedals before shifting to execute a smooth shift. Shifting under load can wear the drivetrain out prematurely
To do this you must ease off the pedals at the same time you push the shifter. This is done while still turning the pedals to allow the chain to move its way up the rear cog.
The same is done to shift down a gear. You’ll do this when you need more speed or when spinning out in a lower gear. Use the smaller shift lever and ease off putting power through the pedals the moment you shift.
Dual Operation Shifting
On a 2x system the shifting is done in the same way. The big lever however will move the chain onto the big ring which will make it harder to pedal, for more speed. You can shift both the front chainring and the rear cogs at the same time on a 2x system for faster more efficient shifting.
Double Throw Shifting
Many mountain bike shifters such as Deore have the capability to shift up multiple gears at the rear with a single push/pull of the lever. The double throw shift is done by pushing or pulling the big lever further into the motion than you would for a single shift to move the chain 2 places up the cog.
More expensive shifters such as the Deore M6100 can multishift up to 3 times.
Shift before you need the gears
A mistake many newbies make is not shifting in time before requiring an easier gear. If you’re about to encounter a hill you need to shift to the gear you need just before starting to climb.
This is because as you’re climbing it is hard to ease off putting power through the pedals while shifting gears without losing momentum going uphill.
You can find yourself stuck in the wrong gear and not have enough speed to carry yourself forward while shifting to a bigger rear cog or small front chainring in time.
Summary
To shift gears ensure you ease of pushing heavily through the pedals when using the shifter while still rotating the crank to allow the chain to move to the new cog.
To move up multiple cogs with one throw of the shift lever (double-throw shift), push or pull the shifter further into the motion than you would normally for a single shift.
For faster gear selection on a 2x system you can use the front and rear shifter simultaneously.
Lastly always shift to the gear you need in preparation for steep uphill sections before you get there to avoid losing momentum.
