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The gears
The gears on your bike serve to adjust your pedalling power to the respective sur-
roundings, wind conditions, and the desired speed. A low gear (where in the case
of derailleur gears the chain runs on the small chainring at the front and a large
sprocket at the rear) allows you to climb steep hills with moderate pedalling force,
but you also have to pedal relatively fast.
High gears (large chainring at the front, small sprocket at the rear) are for riding
downhill. Every turn of the pedals takes you many meters forward at correspond-
ingly high speed.
On level ground, your pedalling speed, also referred to as cadence, should be
higher than 60 strokes a minute. Racing cyclists pedal at a rate between 90 and
110 strokes a minute on level ground. When climbing uphill, your cadence will natu-
rally fall off somewhat. Your pedalling should always remain fluid however.
There are two types of gears in general use: The derailleur (a) and the multi-speed
hubs (b).
For more information on operating, inspection and maintenance see the chapter
on your type of gears.
For more information on your gears model, visit the website of the respective
manufacturer:
www.paul-lange.com / www.sram.com / www.campagnolo.com / www.shimano.com
Derailleur gears
Derailleur gears are currently the most effective types of transmission for bicycles.
With specially designed sprocket teeth, flexible chains and indexed lever positions,
gear shifting has become very easy. Most systems nowadays have an indicator on
the handlebars showing the currently used gear.
Modern bikes can have up to 30 gears. Using gears which involve an extremely
oblique run of the chain reduces power transmission efficiency and hastens wear
of the chain. An unfavourable run of the chain is when the smallest chainring (front
gearwheel) is being used with one of the two or three outermost (smallest) sprock-
ets (rear gearwheels) or when the largest chainring is being used with one of the
inmost (largest) sprockets.
Always wear straight-cut trousers or use trouser clips or the like to make
sure your trousers do not get caught in the chain or chainrings.
Derailleur gears – how they work
Derailleur gears always work according to the following principle.
Large front chainring - higher/harder gear
- big transmission
Small front chainring - lower/easier gear
- small transmission
Large rear sprockets - lower/easier gear
- small transmission
Small rear sprockets - higher/harder gear
- big transmission
Normally the shifters are mounted according to the following scheme:
Right shifter - rear sprockets (gear wheels)
Left shifter - front chainrings (gear wheels)
a b
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