How to Use Shimano Rapidfire Shifters

Shimano is a leading brand in performance bicycle gears and brakes, and its Rapidfire shifters are found on many popular bike models. The Rapidfire shifters work with two levers that you operate with your fingers, as opposed to a twisting handle gearshift design.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Press the lever beneath your left handlebar with your thumb to shift into a higher gear set. On a multispeed bike, where you'll find a Rapidfire shifter, the gears are organized on both handlebars. The left handlebar, for example, will offer three choices and the right will offer seven, on a 21-speed bike.

2. Trip the lever above your left handlebar with your forefinger to shift into a lower gear set. Each of the gear sets that you control on the left handlebar contains several gears, within that setting, which are controlled from the right handlebar shifter.

3. Press the lever beneath your right handlebar with your thumb to shift into a lower gear.

4. Trip the lever above your right handlebar with your forefinger to shift into a higher gear.

5. Learn the balance of the gears. On a 21-speed Shimano Rapidfire system, for example, the lowest gear of the second gear set is approximately equal to the sixth gear of the first gear set. Knowing the relationships can help you shift between gears and gear sets more easily.

References

• Shimano Cycling

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