Two wheels, you, and the wide open roads of Dubai. There’s nothing more to riding a bike than having those elements, right? But to get more joy out of riding without too much effort, you’ll need to know about your bike’s gearing system.
What are gears on a bike, and how do they work?
What Are Gears on a Bike?
Bike gears work like a tool, helping you control how hard or easy it is to pedal. Shift into an easy gear for climbing hills and a harder gear for going faster on flat roads and descending. These components determine how much energy you need to put into riding, ensuring a comfortable pedaling speed (cadence) regardless of terrain or gradient.
Your muscles can only do so much; changing gears according to the terrain or gradient allows you to move forward efficiently. As such, the gear you use to ride the mountain trails of Mushrif MTB Park will be different from the ones you use for the Al Qudra Cycle Track.
How many gears does a bike have? It depends on the bike.
A standard road bike usually has an 11 or 12-speed cassette at the rear and two chainrings, which means 22 or 24 gears. Some mountain bikes have a 1 x (one by) gear system, which means one front chainring and 12 rear sprockets.
You can also determine your bike’s gear count by looking at its setup and multiplying the number of chainrings at the front by the number of sprockets at the rear.
For example, a standard double setup has two chainrings and can have anywhere from 6 to 12 or even 13 sprockets at the rear. If your bike has 12, then it has 24 gears.
Most people will ride the gear that came with the bike, but you can also swap and change your gear to match your riding needs.
If your kid has mastered balancing, can pedal smoothly, and maintain their course, they’re ready for a kid’s bike with gears.
How Do Bike Gears Work?
Every component in the gear system works to transfer the rotational force from your pedaling to the drivetrain. The drivetrain is where all the moving parts are, including the gear system.
In learning how to use bike gears effectively, you must understand the components first:
- Chainrings – toothed rings at the front of a bike, connected to the crank and secured through the frame’s bottom bracket. They drive the chain, ensuring smooth pedalling and optimised efficiency.
- Chain – connects the front chainring and the rear sprockets, allowing the wheels to turn as you pedal.
- Cassette – a cluster of sprockets mounted at the rear of the wheel. Most bike cassettes have 12 sprockets (also known as “speed,” so 12-speed). You change gears on the cassette, using the shifter that controls the rear derailleur.
- Derailleurs – the front and rear derailleurs move the chain from chainring to chainring or sprocket to sprocket.
- Shifters – the levers, twist grips, or other controls that operate the derailleurs. On some bikes, the left-hand shifter controls the front derailleur and the right-hand shifter controls the rear derailleur. If you have electronic gears, then the controls can be customised to suit your needs.
The gears make pedalling easier or harder, depending on what gear you’re in: a higher or lower gear. Higher and lower gears describe the feel of the pedal and the gear ratio, which is the number of times the rear wheel turns for every revolution of the crank. A ratio of 2:1 means the wheel will turn twice in one pedal stroke.
If you’re cycling in a higher gear, you’re putting more resistance on the pedals and transferring more power to the back wheel. Higher gears are for speeding on flat roads or cycling downhill. The wheel turns more times for every revolution of the crank.
If you’re cycling in a lower gear, you’re shifting to a smaller chainring in the front and a larger sprocket at the rear. Lower gears are best for climbing hills or riding against the wind. The wheel turns fewer times for every revolution of the crank.
How to Use Bike Gears
If your bike has more than one chainring in the front, use the left-hand shifter to switch between them. The small chainring makes pedalling easier (good for climbing hills), while the large chainring makes it more challenging (better for speed on flat roads). If you have three chainrings, the middle one is usually best for everyday cycling.
If you want to make minor adjustments, you can move the chain on the back cassette using the right-hand shifter.
To shift gears, shift before coming up to a different terrain, from flatland to uphill. If you change gears while going up, do it one gear at a time and briefly relax pressure on the pedals. A grinding noise will tell you there’s too much pressure on the pedals.
Always shift gradually and smoothly to ensure a safe ride and to maintain your bike. Also, never shift gears on an external drivetrain while you’re at a standstill because it can damage the bike components.
The best way to master bike gears is to get on the road. Join a community ride in Dubai and experiment with the gears until you can shift gears like a pro.
If you’re still shopping for a road bike or mountain bike, we suggest booking a bike fitting service to ensure the correct size, optimal comfort, and riding performance.
You can ride without fussing over gears, that’s true. But if you’re looking for more enjoyment or excitement every time you ride with friends, family, or on your own, understanding bike gears allows you to move forward, upward, and off-road comfortably.
BICYCLE SERVICE Enjoy smooth, worry-free rides with Bikeera’s professional bicycle service |
| Feature | Carbon Bike Frame | Aluminum Bike Frame |
| Vibration Damping | Excellent, provides a smoother ride | Good, but less effective |
| Frame Weight | Lighter, enhances speed and agility | Heavier, may affect climbing |
| Riding Performance | Stiff, responsive, ideal for racing | Stiff, but offers more feedback |
| Impact Resistance | Okay for road or city rides | More durable, easier to repair |
| Bike Frame Repairs | Expensive, complex repairs | Generally more affordable repairs |
