Chain Wheel - Canyon Mountain bike Manual

62 GEARS HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO USE THEM
Derailleur gears are the most effective type of trans-
mission on bikes. About 97 to 98 percent of the
pedalling force performed is transmitted to the rear
wheel with well-maintained and greased derailleur
gears. The control of the gear system as well as the
braking performance leave nothing to be desired.
With specially designed sprocket teeth, flexible
chains and clearcut lever positions, shifting gears
has become very easy. Most systems have an indi-
cator on the handlebars showing the currently used
gear.
THE GEARS - HOW THEY WORk AND HOW TO USE
THEM
Shifters in form of gear levers work in two different
ways. With most of them pressing the large shifter
moves the chain to the larger chainrings. The small
shifter located in front of the handlebars, from the
rider's viewpoint, moves the chain towards the small-
er chainrings. This means that any gear shift made by
pushing the large thumb shifter on the right produces
a lower gear, while pressing the large thumb shifter
on the left moves the chain to the larger chainwheel,
thus producing a higher gear.
Press shifter from SRAM
Press shifter from Shimano
Keep on pedalling without force while you
i
shift. This will lead to a smooth and quiet
gear change and reduce the wear.
HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO USE THEM
Shimano gear shifters are operated with thumb and
index finger, while SRAM gear shifters are exclusively
thumb-operated, i.e. in this case the bigger shifter
shifts to a bigger chainring, as well.
The principle of twist grips is different. Twisting the
right-hand grip towards you moves the chain to a
larger sprocket giving you a lower gear, while the
same movement on the left produces a higher gear by
moving the chain to the larger chainrings. The shift-
ing direction may vary in this case, as well.
The shifting of a gear lever is communicated to the
rear derailleur via bowden cable. Then the rear derail-
leur swivels, causing the chain to climb onto the next
sprocket. It is therefore important when changing
gears to continue pedalling smoothly without force
as long as the chain is moving between sprockets or
chainwheels! There are, however, special guides in
the chainrings which allow for changing gears under
force.
GEARS 63
Shift levers from Shimano
Twist grip shifter
Practise changing gears in a place free of
traffic until you are familiar with the func-
tioning of the different levers or twist grips. If
you do so in road traffic, your attention might be
drawn off from possible risks.