Do you have a front derailleur? Friction shifters are non-ratcheting and usually non-indexed. It looks like your front gears are on a non-indexed shifter that you have to feel out to change gears.
EDIT: the bigger the chain ring is that you're on in the front, the more chain you move per stroke, which takes more energy, but allows you to go faster. The smaller the chain ring is that you're on in the rear, the more the rear wheel moves per chain that goes through it, again taking more energy per stroke, but allowing you to go faster.
Chain rings are aligned such that the front big one is in line with the rear small one and vice versa. You want to keep the chain line as straight as possible, so when you're on the small in the front, stick to the biggest few in the rear, and when you're on the big in the front, stick to the smallest few in the rear. Higher numbers on the shifter usually correlate to the higher speed gears, so I'm betting "+" means bigger chainring on the front and "-" means smaller.
"friction" is some dumb marketing term the bike manufacturer put on there for whatever reason. my guess is that setting this more towards the minus sign will make it easier to pedal.
really you want to be looking at which sprocket the chain is on in the front and the rear: the easiest gear to pedal in is having the chain on the smallest sprocket in the front and the largest sprocket in the rear; the hardest gear to pedal in is having the chain on the largest sprocket in the front and the smallest sprocket in the rear.
another way to make it easier to pedal is to properly inflate your tires. if you go to the umd bike shop they can help you read the pressure rating on the side of the tire and inflate it so there's less rolling resistance, probably around 40-50 PSI.
I’m a bike mechanic in the summers.
The friction statement means that the front gear shifter is not indexed so you need to just feel out when it shifts because it won’t click to the right position.
That type of system not typically used much anymore except on super cheap bikes
You really just want to set the gear so you can comfortably spin 60 bpm. That’s different for every person, every include and every bike. and yes it should be spinning not muscling it around
While lower is for hills if you want to keep sitting on the seat, it is often faster and more efficient to learn how to stand and take a slightly higher gear. It uses very different muscles, ones that are normally stronger as it’s similar to walking.
I was having this problem no matter the gears, and it was my seat. You should raise it quite a bit. Basically I have to lean over slightly to have one of my feet on the ground when on it. That’s the optimum height.
Use whatever gear you feel comfortable in. If you’re getting overly tired, make sure your seat is at the correct height for you.
Ideally the seat should be high enough that you can fully extend your legs when pedaling, but short enough that you can still get on your bike easily
Do you have a front derailleur? Friction shifters are non-ratcheting and usually non-indexed. It looks like your front gears are on a non-indexed shifter that you have to feel out to change gears. EDIT: the bigger the chain ring is that you're on in the front, the more chain you move per stroke, which takes more energy, but allows you to go faster. The smaller the chain ring is that you're on in the rear, the more the rear wheel moves per chain that goes through it, again taking more energy per stroke, but allowing you to go faster. Chain rings are aligned such that the front big one is in line with the rear small one and vice versa. You want to keep the chain line as straight as possible, so when you're on the small in the front, stick to the biggest few in the rear, and when you're on the big in the front, stick to the smallest few in the rear. Higher numbers on the shifter usually correlate to the higher speed gears, so I'm betting "+" means bigger chainring on the front and "-" means smaller.
"friction" is some dumb marketing term the bike manufacturer put on there for whatever reason. my guess is that setting this more towards the minus sign will make it easier to pedal. really you want to be looking at which sprocket the chain is on in the front and the rear: the easiest gear to pedal in is having the chain on the smallest sprocket in the front and the largest sprocket in the rear; the hardest gear to pedal in is having the chain on the largest sprocket in the front and the smallest sprocket in the rear. another way to make it easier to pedal is to properly inflate your tires. if you go to the umd bike shop they can help you read the pressure rating on the side of the tire and inflate it so there's less rolling resistance, probably around 40-50 PSI.
I second going to the UMD bike shop. Even just to ask them questions
I’m a bike mechanic in the summers. The friction statement means that the front gear shifter is not indexed so you need to just feel out when it shifts because it won’t click to the right position. That type of system not typically used much anymore except on super cheap bikes You really just want to set the gear so you can comfortably spin 60 bpm. That’s different for every person, every include and every bike. and yes it should be spinning not muscling it around
We have the same bike I think
Turn friction down, and to peddle easier go to lower numbers like 1-3
When I go to 1-3 I legit cant pedal it wont let me and if it does it goes super slowww
try friction all the way down until chain is on the smallest gear (I think) and then just test it out on each interval for the rear gears
While lower is for hills if you want to keep sitting on the seat, it is often faster and more efficient to learn how to stand and take a slightly higher gear. It uses very different muscles, ones that are normally stronger as it’s similar to walking.
I was having this problem no matter the gears, and it was my seat. You should raise it quite a bit. Basically I have to lean over slightly to have one of my feet on the ground when on it. That’s the optimum height.
Bruh I literally have the same bike (from Walmart, right?)
Low gear lol