Bike shifters are essentially triggers that begin a process that changes the gears. The mechanism behind the gear system and bike functioning will involve many elements. From the lever on the handlebars to the cassette on the bike hub, a shifter sets off a series of events that affects how you ride the bike. Using shifters allows a rider to control the resistance of the pedals. When looking at the complex functioning of a gear system, you have to examine the key components that work with the shifters.
Hub Gears
On the back of the bike, sitting in the center of the wheel hub, are the gears. Depending on the bike, there may be just one gear or many. For bikes capable of multiple speeds, this part is referred to as the cassette or cluster. Gears are part of what controls the opposition from the pedals --- in other words, how much effort it takes to turn the wheels. The shifter on the right side of the handlebars controls the hub gears. By changing the right shifter to a different number setting, you move the chain to a different gear of the rear wheel.
Chain Rings
The chain rings sit near the pedals, and there may be up to three different sized rings. The bike chain wraps around the one chain ring and one gear in the cassette. It is the combination of the chain ring and hub gear that determines how hard the pedals are to move. If your bike has just one chain ring, there is no shifter for it. Multiple chain rings require an additional shifter that usually sits on the left side of the handlebars. Adjusting the setting on the left shifter moves the chain to a different ring.
Derailer
Derailers are critical components in the gear system. It is the derailer that responds directly to the shifter. When you change the right shifter, you activate the back derailer. The derailer lifts up and will dislodge the chain. Next, the derailer shifts position and secures the chain to the proper gear based on the shifter setting. Bikes can have one or two derailers. If your bike has several chain rings, it will have a front derailer system that works about the same way, but looks different.
Shifters
The shifters are how you get the other components to work together. Shifters attach to cables. In the center of the cable is a wire that connects directly to the derailer. When you move the lever on the shifter up or down, the wire moves and triggers the derailer. Once the derailer kicks in, the chain moves from one place to another. The lower the number on the shifter, the less resistance there is in the pedals. If you set both shifters to the highest number, that slows down how fast you can turn the pedals. Low numbers mean turning the pedals is easier.
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