How do you change gear on a bike with a Sturmey Archer gear shift?

Do you continue to pedal whilst changing gear, or back peddle, or freewheel.How do you change gear on a bike with a Sturmey Archer gear shift?
Sturmey Archer shifters are used with internally geared hubs, NOT derailleur systems.



Both their 3 and 5 speed hubs require that you either stop pedalling or ease up on the pedals as you shift. Pedalling full force will cause internal damage eventually.



The only internally geared hubs that I can think of where you continue to pedal at near full force is the Rohloff hub.How do you change gear on a bike with a Sturmey Archer gear shift?
Sturmey Archer made one of the popular internal geared 3 speed hubs. The shift these you continue to pedal and shift the gear. In reality you don't really have to be, but I always found it smoother.
back-pedal..........................wow that brings back memories
Ahh yes, the old Sturmey Archer !! As seen on the classic UK bicycle, the Raleigh Grifter !! The best way is to just keep pedalling, and change gear. Remember to keep plenty of grease or oil packed in that hub, or it will make a crunching sound that you will never forget ! :)
Just take the strain off the gears when you do it, you can't actually have to backpedal, just don't be applying force to the pedals as you change. That way there's less resistance on the gears and they will change smoother.
Keep on pedalling, softly, nice, round, smooth, ... feel how they change without a problem? ....
The Sturmey Archer 3 speed gear shift. Whilst going downhill you push the lever forward and continue to pedal slowly forward until the gear is locked.
I remember this from my youth, on my old chopper sprint if you stop pedalling for a sec while changing your gears will work better and last longer.
You just pull the lever is all. It helps to keep pedalling I guess... but if you don't I believe it changes gears anyway. Besides, if you stop pedalling, you'll stop altogether!



Back-pedalling is used for two reason - on a freewheel you back-pedal when you are going backwards, for example on a BMX going backwards down a ramp, and for non-freewheel hub, pedalling backwards effectively acts as a back brake, as the back wheel will stop pushing you forward, and lock out.
no, you keep pedaling or the gears wont shift to low or high gears...