What Are the Different Types of Bicycle Gears, and How Do They Work?

Bicycle gears are essential to any bike, allowing riders to adjust their pedaling effort to match the terrain they are riding on. But how exactly do these gears work? By engaging different combinations of chainrings, cogs, and shifters, riders can adjust their pedaling effort to match different terrain demands.

Understanding the different types of bicycle gears and how they work is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride. Throughout this article, we’ll explore bicycle gears, their functions, and some tips on maintaining and upgrading your bike’s gears.

Before we get started, here’s a tip: switching to Vee fat tube or 20×4 Bike tube can provide additional cushioning and protection. For instance, the Vee fat tube is made from high-grade rubber and provides superior performance and kinematic energy absorption compared to standard tubes.

Types of Bicycle Gears: Internal and External

There are two main types of bicycle gears: internal and external. External gears are the most common type of bicycle gear, consisting of derailleurs, chainrings, cassettes, and shifters.

On the other hand, internal gears are housed inside the bike’s wheel hub or bottom bracket, making them more protected and less likely to get damaged.

Having external gears is like having an external hard drive; it’s more vulnerable to being damaged due to its exposed nature, but it provides convenience and flexibility.

Internal gears are like having an internal hard drive; they’re more difficult to access, but they’re also more secure and protected from the elements.

External Bicycle Gears: How They Work

External bicycle gears are comprised of several components that work together to shift gears.

The chain is guided between chainrings at the front of the bike and cassettes at the back of the bike, which are held in place by the derailleur.

When the rider shifts gears using the shifter, the derailleur moves the chain from one cassette to another, changing the gear ratio and making pedaling easier or harder.

Common issues that can arise with external gears include misalignment, worn chain or cassette, or a bent derailleur hanger. To fix these issues, you may need to adjust the derailleur, replace the chain or cassette, or replace the derailleur hanger.

Internal Bicycle Gears: How They Work

Internal bicycle gears are housed inside the bike’s wheel hub or bottom bracket and consist of planetary gears that rotate around a central sun gear.

Unlike external gears, which use a chain to transfer power between gears, internal gears use a system of interconnected gears that operate inside the hub. This makes them less prone to damage and easier to maintain.

The most common types of internal gears are hub gears and bottom bracket gears. Hubs gears are housed inside the rear wheel hub and can be shifted using a twist grip or trigger shifter.

Bottom bracket gears are housed inside the bike’s bottom bracket and are less common but offer a wider range of gears.

Gear Ratios and Shifting

The gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on the chaining and cassette.

A higher gear ratio means the bike will be harder to pedal but will move faster, while a lower gear ratio means the bike will be easier to pedal but will move slower. Choosing the right gear ratio depends on the type of riding you will be doing.

To shift gears smoothly, riders must maintain a consistent pedaling cadence while shifting. It’s best to shift gears before reaching a hill or obstacle, as shifting under load can damage the gears.

When shifting, riders should ease off the pedals and shift smoothly, waiting for the gear to engage before pedaling again.

Maintenance and Upgrades

To maintain your bike’s gears, regular cleaning and lubrication are necessary. Use ProGold lubricants to keep your gears clean and lubricated. Check your bike’s gears regularly for signs of wear, misalignment, or damage.

Upgrading your bike’s gears can improve its performance and make it more versatile. For example, upgrading to a Vee Huntsman or GT LP-5 tire can improve traction and handling.

Conclusion

Understanding the different types of bicycle gears and how they work is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride.

Whether you prefer external gears or internal gears, keeping them well-maintained is crucial for optimal performance. With the right gear ratios, shifting techniques, and maintenance routine, you can keep your bike’s gears running.

For instance, you should perform regular maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating the drivetrain, inspecting cables and shifters, and adjusting brakes and derailleurs.