HOW PUSH BIKE GEARS WORK
Understanding this mechanism can improve your control over your bicycle
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
Changing gears on mountain bikes allows riders to travel across varied terrain
When riding a bike, a high gear is optimal for sustaining high speeds and descending, while a low gear provides a comfortable pedalling speed for climbing hills. However, no single gear is optimal for tackling all terrain – this is why bikes have a gear system.
As the pedals on a bike turn, they rotate a chainring, causing the bike’s chain to circulate between the pedals and the rear wheel. At the centre of the rear wheel, the chain attaches to one of aseries of cogs. When the gear is changed, the chain jumps between them. The mechanism responsible for causing these movements is called a derailleur.