A method for shifting gear ratios of a transmission system comprising: a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side; a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon the first shaft and the gear activation system comprising a third device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the second floating gear, and a fourth device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the second floating gear, the second side opposing the first side; the method comprising: engaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft; engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft; disengaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the first shaft. a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side; a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon the first shaft and the gear activation system comprising a third device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the second floating gear, and a fourth device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the second floating gear, the second side opposing the first side; the method comprising: engaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft; engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft; disengaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the first shaft. engaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft; engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft; disengaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft; engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the first shaft.