Speed shifters are responsible for initiating the mechanical gear changes on a bicycle. They are part of the bike's drivetrain and are used by cyclists to achieve the gear ratio they desire. They are the equivalent of a car's manual shifter. There are a variety of bicycle shifters and most are mounted so the left shifter controls the front derailleur and the right controls the rear. Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo manufacture most bicycle shifters.
Grip Shifters
Many hybrids and low-cost mountain bikes are sold with grip shifters. These are also known as twist shifters and are located on flat handlebars. As opposed to a trigger system of shifting that is activated by pushing a lever with your thumb, grip shifters are controlled with the twist of your wrist. To make the gear harder or easier, you simply twist the bar clockwise or counterclockwise.
Trigger Shifters
Found on most modern and high-end mountain bikes, trigger shifters are located just below the handlebar. Unlike a grip shifter, trigger shifters only move in one direction, forward. For this reason, both shifters contain two levers, also known as triggers. Shifting is fast and precise. SRAM's high-end trigger shifters are called XX and are 10-speed trigger shifters made of ultralight carbon. Shimano's top-end trigger shifters are called XTR and are also offered in 10-speed.
Integrated Brake and Shift Levers
Modern road bikes have an integrated brake lever and shifter. These are also popular on cyclocross and many touring bikes. They are one unit, which mounts to the ends of a drop handlebar. A cyclist pulls the brake lever forward to stop or swipes the adjoining shifter lever to the side to shift. This is beneficial because a cyclist doesn't have to change hand positions to brake and shift, and it allows for rapid shifting as cadence changes. SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo all have slightly different styles. Many utilize carbon to try to achieve the lightest shifters.
Other Shifters
Down-tube shifters were popular on older models of bikes, where the shifter lever was located on the bike's down tube. As the sport of triathlon gains in popularity so does the use of bar-end shifters. These shifters are separate from the bike's brakes and are attached to the end of the aerobars. The rider moves the levers up and down to shift while staying in an aerodynamic position. The most cutting edge shifter system is the electronic shifter. Riders tap a small shifter switch attached to wires and a battery pack, which shifts the bike. The result is virtually flawless shifting and automatic gear trimming.
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