[RollsUp]

Which way do I need to move the friction lever if I wanted to, say, climb a hill? The owner that lent me the bike showed me but, me being me, I forgot and he is out of town in an inaccessible area. I know I could just go out and play with the shifter but I haven't been on a bike in a lifetime, literally.

[link81]

to climb you want the smaller sprocket in the front, and the larger one in the rear. The opposite for speed.

Not sure what direction that corresponds to on the lever though, sorry.

[wombat2go]

Like this one?
It has been in the attic for years and I never rode it.

The right lever is for the rear cluster and you push it forward to change to a lower ratio ( for up the hill)
The left lever is for the front set and you push it forward to change to a lower ratio ( for up the hill)

[SpecialK]

Which way do I need to move the friction lever if I wanted to, say, climb a hill? The owner that lent me the bike showed me but, me being me, I forgot and he is out of town in an inaccessible area. I know I could just go out and play with the shifter but I haven't been on a bike in a lifetime, literally.

You will figure it out within 30 seconds of use. It is either forward or back :-)

[RollsUp]

to climb you want the smaller sprocket in the front, and the larger one in the rear. The opposite for speed.

Not sure what direction that corresponds to on the lever though, sorry.

Thanks for the info.

Like this one?
It has been in the attic for years and I never rode it.

The right lever is for the rear cluster and you push it forward to change to a lower ratio ( for up the hill)
The left lever is for the front set and you push it forward to change to a lower ratio ( for up the hill)

It sure looks like it but, the levers are on the frame rather than just behind the handlebar. The right lever's, closest one in photo, cable goes all the way to the rear, while the left lever's cable goes to the pedal. So then, I would need to push the left lever all the way forward to go uphill. Correct?





---------- Post added 08-02-15 at 04:30 PM ----------

You will figure it out within 30 seconds of use. It is either forward or back :-)

There are two levers on the bike I that I need to find out what the each will do. I'd rather find out the easy way than the hard way.

[wombat2go]

So then, I would need to push the left lever all the way forward to go uphill. Correct?

I am fairly sure the design will be similar generally. Yours is a lot younger than mine.
Anyway, just ride along the sidewalk slowly and try it out. Don't try to move the levers until you are riding. Change ratio before you need to push on the pedals, but keep rotating till the chain fully engages the next sprocket Make sure the cables are adjusted correctly so that the levers will pull the chain to all the sprockets. Also check that the brakes are effective and not dragging on the rims, and that the rims are true.

Happy cycling.

[reeftool]

I have an old Triumph 10 speed out in the garage that looks similar. It's still functional although the tires and tubes are rotted.

[RollsUp]

I am fairly sure the design will be similar generally. Yours is a lot younger than mine.
Anyway, just ride along the sidewalk slowly and try it out. Don't try to move the levers until you are riding. Change ratio before you need to push on the pedals, but keep rotating till the chain fully engages the next sprocket Make sure the cables are adjusted correctly so that the levers will pull the chain to all the sprockets. Also check that the brakes are effective and not dragging on the rims, and that the rims are true.

Happy cycling.

Thank you, wombat2go. I'll give it a try early in the morning when the temps are a bit cooler than now.

[wombat2go]

It's still functional although the tires and tubes are rotted.

Same here.
That Raleigh in post#3 was given to me. I told former owner I would cut it up for the parts and steel tubing. ( I am occasionally building special trikes.)
When he comes over he likes to talk about things then he asks a bit sadly "Have you cut up that bike yet?"

So I might get it restored a bit maybe with wider rims and softer tires for the roads around here and a more comfortable seat.

[Tom S.]

Wombat2go pretty much nailed it. You need to keep the pedals turning while shifting either lever but it's best not to have the pedals under much pressure if you can avoid it. Newer bikes handle shifting under pressure very well, but the older ones tended to get cranky (pun intended) and do things like throw the chain off.

[UncleVanya]

Turn the bike upside down operate the pedals by hand and shift the levers to see how they work. You may need an extra pair of hands.

[mohb]

The rear set are spring loaded and default (broken cable) to the largest sprocket, the uphill one, so either snap the cable or shift the lever up

[RollsUp]

So, last night I went for a quick short ride and found out that I was trying to shift gears with the the left lever, the lever for the front set. I ended my ride short thinking that the shifting was broken. This morning I came back here and reread everything and moved the right lever to find the shifting worked. I had the left lever set to where the chain was on the larger gear so when I got to an incline I pushed the right lever forward and the pedaling got easier. When I got to level-ish road I move the right lever back to change it to a higher ratio and to my surprise the chain on the front set also moved without me touching the left lever. Is this normal? I also found out I need to practice on my turns and also the seat is not very comfortable.

---------- Post added 08-03-15 at 10:09 AM ----------

Wombat2go pretty much nailed it. You need to keep the pedals turning while shifting either lever but it's best not to have the pedals under much pressure if you can avoid it. Newer bikes handle shifting under pressure very well, but the older ones tended to get cranky (pun intended) and do things like throw the chain off.

Thanks for the info.

Turn the bike upside down operate the pedals by hand and shift the levers to see how they work. You may need an extra pair of hands.

No extra hands here.

The rear set are spring loaded and default (broken cable) to the largest sprocket, the uphill one, so either snap the cable or shift the lever up

Thank you.

[UncleVanya]

Sometimes if the rear ring is pulling the chain diagonally it will pull the chain on the front to the other ring - but generally this only happens if the front gear shift is misaligned a bit.

[grhazelton]

Turn the bike upside down operate the pedals by hand and shift the levers to see how they work. You may need an extra pair of hands.

Excellent suggestion!