Mountain Bike Drivetrain (Shifter/Derailleur) Guide

Mountain Bike Drivetrain (Shifter/Derailleur) guide

The mountain bike shifter is the lever we find on the handlebar, which controls the position of the rear mech (Derailleur) allowing you to change gear. This is done via an internal pulley system which adds tension to a cable moving the mech into position, alternatively we now see gear systems with bluetooth shifters that control a series of motors in the rear mech allowing the gears to be adjusted wirelessly.

Cable Vs Wireless Shifting

Cable: 

• This style of shifter was found on bikes from the start of geared bicycles. They are slightly more complicated with set up as the correct tension has to be achieved, however once set up there is very little to go wrong on these drivetrains.

• Cable drivetrains are often a lot more affordable than their wireless counterparts and they are still found on many models of bike.

Wireless:

• Wireless shifting, involves no physical connection between the shifter and rear mech, the drivetrain uses a battery to power motors on the rear mech which move the mech in the same way a cable would. 
• These are often easier to set up for both riders and mechanics and they have the advantage of no cable stretch as the gears are used.

Does one look better?

If you’re a fan of clean lines, carbon fibre is definitely the way to go. Carbon fibre frames are produced in molds meaning there are no joins as it is all one piece. Aluminum frames will often feature welds at these joins.

We see two types of wireless shifting:

• AXS - This is SRAM’s wireless platform and is found in multiple different components. If you have an Ebike you are able to plug the mech directly into the bike meaning no additional battery requires charging

• DI2 - Is Shimano's wireless shifting system again you can link this to your ebike and the mech will auto shift to keep you in the correct gear at all times.

Please note:

This guide by MTB Monster is designed to help you understand the technical aspects of bike components. The information is drawn from industry knowledge and the experience of our team. While we strive for accuracy and unbiased comparisons, occasional errors or updates may occur. We always recommend doing your own research before making a final purchase decision..

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