Shifter (bicycle part)

A bicycle shifter or gear control or gear levers is a component used to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio. Typically, they operate either a derailleur mechanism or an internal hub gear mechanism. In either case, the control is operated by moving a cable that connects the shifter to the gear mechanism.

A twist-style seven-speed indexed shifter made by SRAM

Location
Example of downtube shifters.

Traditionally shifters were mounted on the down tube of the frame or stem. For ergonomic reasons, they tend to be located somewhere on the handlebars on modern bicycles.

Mechanisms
Example of road bike "brifter".

There are various types of shifter:[1]

  • Grip shifter - a wheel with click stops surrounding the handlebar is turned until the desired gear is reached, though typically one gear at a time
  • Trigger shifter - a lever is pulled or pushed to change gears one at a time
  • Thumb shifter
  • Road bike shifter - integrated with brake levers, sometimes known as a "brifter".[2]
gollark: No, you will ruin the ratios!
gollark: Fun fact: the name `Acausal Negotiator` actually means something!
gollark: You'll need to wait or get one from someone else then.
gollark: Oh? Is it on cooldown too?
gollark: Oh, if you have two slots free <@425054801798234124> I can breed another one?

See also

References
  1. How to use bike gears
  2. Road bike groupsets: everything you need to know
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