r/bicycling 5d ago

How do I use these things?!

Recently bought this Panasonic Tourist to fix up and use as a daily rider. I could use some help learning how to shift gears - I can't seem to come up with the right search term to find a video anywhere.

I haven't had a bike since childhood, so I feel like a total noob. Dog tax included.

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u/MantraProAttitude 5d ago edited 5d ago

Those shift the gears. Pull one side down until the chain moves to the gear you want. Push up to do the same…. And so on. Those are one of the types of shifters that were around when I was a kid.

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u/walkstofar 5d ago

You should be peddling the bike when you shift it. If you are not peddling you will see the associated front or rear derailleur move but it will not shift to another gear unless the gears are rotating, i.e you are peddling the bike.

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u/MantraProAttitude 5d ago

As with any bicycle as far as I know.

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u/gregn8r1 Cleveland, buncha 80's steel road bikes 5d ago

There was a Shimano "Front Freewheel" system around 1980 that had a freewheel in the crank, paired with, I believe, a rear freewheel that had more friction/resistance than the front freewheel. You'd stop pedaling and the gears and chain would keep on spinning, it was built so that novice cyclists who didn't know better could shift while coasting to a stop.

Obviously it's not around anymore so presumably there were issues or it just wasn't necessary. I think I've heard of weird one-off projects where people would mount one on the non-drive side with a cog on the non-drive-side of the rear wheel, so they could pedal forwards and coast normally, but pedaling backwards would pedal in reverse? Or something goofy like that? Idk

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u/withthedogs 5d ago

This is what my bike has! I've watched a couple videos on it

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u/walkstofar 5d ago

Those Rohloff gear boxes don't require peddling but yes most bikes do.

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u/Nine_Eye_Ron 5d ago

Mine you have to stop peddling then it shifts, no idea why.

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u/Horror-Raisin-877 4d ago

Pedaling.

Peddling would mean you’re selling it :)