When you're accelerating, the gears are under load and very difficult to remove from gear. The instant you let off the throttle, you can pull the transmission out of gear. This would be in the 1400-1600 rpm range (depending on the motor). As the motor spools down in rpm, there is a single point where the speed of the motor about (900-1000 rpm, IIRC) exactly matches the speed of the rear end, and the HIGHER gear of the transmission. You just slide it into gear and start accelerating again. You should be into high range by the time your front bumper passes the crosswalk on the opposite side of the street. BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM; 5 shifts in a few seconds.
1500 rpm in 4th is the same mph as 1000 rpm in 5th, or something like that.
This process is exactly the opposite for downshifting. As you coast down from 1500 rpm to 1000, the gears are again under load, although lighter than when accelerating. As you reach 1000 rpm or so, lightly tap the throttle and pull the stick out of gear. Blip the throttle towards 1500 rpm and the LOWER gear of the transmission will be a match at the engine speed and road speed.
When you get good, you can left foot the brake and downshift at the same time until you're done downshifting. Or you can ride the brake with your right foot and roll your ankle onto the throttle to downshift. Don't try this your first week. :P
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