Advice need - new bike!

[Lilylass]

Hello, well my new bike's arrived & collecting it tomorrow (can't wait!).

However, it has EZ-fire shifters and I've only had grip shifters before. Everyone's told me the ez-fire ones are much better (including on here) so really looking forward to trying them out ....... but a bit worried all the same - don't want to wreak the new bike on the 1st outing!



All tips / advice on use / how to use would be hugely welcomed!


Thanks

 

[HLaB]

Hello, well my new bike's arrived & collecting it tomorrow (can't wait!).

However, it has EZ-fire shifters and I've only had grip shifters before. Everyone's told me the ez-fire ones are much better (including on here) so really looking forward to trying them out ....... but a bit worried all the same - don't want to wreak the new bike on the 1st outing!

All tips / advice on use / how to use would be hugely welcomed!


Thanks

Theres not much too them and yes they're far superior, just push the lever to change gear or pull the lever to go the other way, enjoy the upgrade (your hands will cetainly thank you). There's no problem as far as robustness AFAIK I've never had a broken rapid fire lever.

 

[gbb]

The Ezfire shifters are ...easy Lily.
Pull the trigger back with your forefinger to go up a gear..push the bottom trigger with your thumb to go up a gear. They're quite robust and you can go up and down gears really quickly, its that easy.
I have had one go kaput, but it'd had a lot of use and they're relatively cheap to replace...not that thats going to be an issue for a long time. I really like them.

 

[Lilylass]

Great, thanks guys.. fingers crossed - will let you know how I get on!

 

[summerdays]

The Ezfire shifters are ...easy Lily.
Pull the trigger back with your forefinger to go up a gear..push the bottom trigger with your thumb to go up a gear. They're quite robust and you can go up and down gears really quickly, its that easy.
I have had one go kaput, but it'd had a lot of use and they're relatively cheap to replace...not that thats going to be an issue for a long time. I really like them.

That only works on the right hand side.

When I first got them and was getting confused, my husband explained it as the more left hand trigger on each side was to go down a gear, and the right hand one to go up a gear. So as you read from left to right each side it would go up a gear... (Not sure I've explained it very well). So:

LEFT side ---------------------------- RIGHT side handlebar
Down ... Up ------------------------------Down ..... Up

Other things about them that I've learnt is to hold the trigger down on the left (front gears) when changing up especially, that it doesn't change if you just flick it. And that if you hold the thumb trigger down on the right hand side it will go down 2 gears in one smooth step.

I love my trigger shifters now.

 

[potsy]

Have them on my hybrid and they work flawlessly,even with a low spec front and rear mech the gear changing is great.
Hadn't been on a bike for 20 years before I got it,took a few rides to get used to,didn't change front cogs at first,concentrated on getting the rear change right.
Enjoy the bike

 

[PaulSecteur]

Hi,

Quick fires are great!

The way I remember what lever does what is...

The short lever always moves the chain to the small gear, so on the right the short lever is for going up the gears (and long of going down), on the left The short moves it to the smaller cog (the granny ring) the large moves it up. (assuming they are the same as SRAM x5 shifters)

To be honest though, it will only take a few rides untill its second nature.

 

[Lilylass]

Thanks everyone - it's arrived! (and is beautiful) - really frustrating as it's been chucking down all weekend so haven't been out yet. Fingers crossed for later on this afternoon, although it's still raining!

I kind of get the left - right bit but still a bit confused ... if I'm in 7th gear (1L:7R) and want to go to 8th (2L:1R) (or vise-versa going from 8th - 7th), can I go straight from the 7th gear to the 1st or do I have to go 7th, 6th, 5th etc down the gears on the right?

Hope that makes sense!

My last bike only have one "set" of gears so never had to switch cogs.

Cheers

 

[HLaB]

Thanks everyone - it's arrived! (and is beautiful) - really frustrating as it's been chucking down all weekend so haven't been out yet. Fingers crossed for later on this afternoon, although it's still raining!

I kind of get the left - right bit but still a bit confused ... if I'm in 7th gear (1L:7R) and want to go to 8th (2L:1R) (or vise-versa going from 8th - 7th), can I go straight from the 7th gear to the 1st or do I have to go 7th, 6th, 5th etc down the gears on the right?

Hope that makes sense!

My last bike only have one "set" of gears so never had to switch cogs.

Cheers

You'll soon get used to it, to go from 7th to 8th you do indeed have to switch to the second cog at the front and change down to the largest ring at the back. Its a bit of a chicken and the egg thing swapping to the 2nd cog 1st can make things really hard but swapping to the largest ring at the back 1st can make things too easy; you'll quickly find what feels right, most folk I believe do a combination. I think I usually (unless going down a steep hill) change down a few gears at the back and subsequent but almost simultaneous ( ) move I change to the 2nd cog. Steep hills give you more freedom to change up more rapidly as no change is too hard. I hope I haven't confused you more now
I must admit though, I like to make life simple and stick in one cog at the front (In my case the outer but I think most folk are more comfortable in the middle cog) and only change when I need to for steep hills.

 

[Lilylass]

Thank you, that does make sense - although I'm sure I will need to practice a lot before I get the hang of it!


I was thinking of leaving it on the 2nd cog most of the time so glad that's OK.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I was thinking of leaving it on the 2nd cog most of the time so glad that's OK.

I think thats what most people do. Middle cog for general riding.

Use the small front ring for when your on the huffety-puffety uphill bits, and the large one for the waaay-haaaaay downhill bits.

Paul.

PS-What sort of bike have you had? Get some pics up!

 

[Lilylass]

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Hope this works!

 

[Lilylass]

Arrrrgh
Will have another go!

 

[Lilylass]

 

[PaulSecteur]

Lookin good!

That saddle looks comfy.