Gears

Bicycles have gears so that it’s easier to start, pedal up hills, and then go faster on level ground or downhill.

Bicycles have different numbers of gears. Some just have one and others have over 20. The gears let you change the amount that the bike moves forward with each full turn of the pedal.

The chain moves from cog to cog as you change gear.

Changing gear

The gears are changed by levers or twistgrip handles on the handlebars. In a quite flat area, practise and experiment with changing gear. You need to pedal at the same time as you change gear.

Remember: If it’s hard to pedal, change to a lower gear.

If it’s easy to pedal, change to a higher gear.