{"id":55354,"date":"2023-10-17T19:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T17:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=747304"},"modified":"2023-10-17T19:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T17:35:37","slug":"mountain-bike-gears-explained-how-mtb-gears-work-and-how-to-use-them","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/mountain-bike-gears-explained-how-mtb-gears-work-and-how-to-use-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain bike gears explained | How MTB gears work and how to use them"},"content":{"rendered":"

And why they might not be working as well as they should <\/p>

By Finlay Anderson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 17:00 PM<\/p>

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Responsible for transferring your pedal power to the trail, <\/span>mountain bike gears<\/span> literally make your wheels go round.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the tech, gear ratios and theory involved will help you pedal smoother, faster and further.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, for those new to the sport, the gears on your mountain bike may be different from other types of bike gears<\/a> you\u2019ve used in the past. In this guide, we explore what mountain bike gears are, how best to use them and how to pick the best gear on the trail.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are gears on a mountain bike?<\/h2>\n
\"SRAM\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Once assembled, the drivetrain becomes a key component of your mountain bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

When you push down on the pedals of your mountain bike, the power you create is transferred to the rear wheel by the drivetrain, propelling the bike forward.<\/p>\n

How easy it is to turn the pedals is determined by the gear ratio between your front chainring and rear cog. This gear ratio also determines your cadence<\/a> (how fast you turn the pedals) and how much forward distance is achieved per pedal stroke.<\/p>\n

Mountain bike gears enable you to choose your gear ratio to match the steepness of the trail, how much effort you want to give and how much distance you want to cover per pedal stroke.<\/p>\n

By matching your gear to the steepness of the trail, you can stay in the most efficient cadence for you and minimise excess power expenditure.<\/p>\n

How do mountain bike gears work?<\/h2>\n
\"Haibike\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
1x drivetrains are the standard choice for modern mountain bikes and eMTBs, favoured for their range, reliability and performance.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

By far the most common gear system found on modern mountain bikes<\/a> is the external 1x drivetrain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This drivetrain is made up of a singular front chainring (hence the \u20181x\u2019 name) and a wide-range rear cassette<\/a>. The gear is changed by a rear derailleur<\/a>, which is actuated by a handlebar-mounted shifter.<\/p>\n

When the shifter is pressed, the derailleur moves the chain up or down the cassette, into a bigger or smaller gear. In most cases, the derailleur is driven by a cable that connects it to the shifter.<\/p>\n

However, in the case of electronic MTB groupsets<\/a> such as SRAM\u2019s Eagle Transmission<\/a>, the derailleur is activated by a wireless signal and moved by an integrated servo motor.<\/p>\n

Also sometimes seen on the trail are older 2x and 3x drivetrains. Rather than having a single chainring and an ultra wide-range cassette, these drivetrains rely on a front derailleur to shift between chainrings and have a smaller rear cassette.<\/p>\n

The downsides of a 2x or 3x drivetrain for mountain biking are increased complexity, reduced chain retention and gear range, and extra weight.<\/p>\n

How to use gears on a mountain bike<\/h2>\n
\"Santa\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Learning to shift intuitively is crucial \u2013 you don\u2019t want to be worrying about how and when to change gears on the trail.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Now that we have an overview of how mountain bike gears work, let\u2019s take a look at how to use them on the trail.<\/p>\n

How to shift gears on a mountain bike<\/h3>\n
\"Cannondale\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
You change gears via a handlebar-mounted shifter.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As we\u2019ve learned, you can change gears on a mountain bike<\/a> by using the handlebar-mounted shifter. This shifter will have two triggers (sometimes also called \u2018paddles\u2019), which enable you to shift into a lower or higher gear using your thumb or forefinger.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to take a moment to familiarise yourself with the location and action of the shifter so that when it comes to using your gears out on the trail, you can confidently make your gear shift without having to look down at your shifter.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to minimise unnecessary load on the gears when shifting. This will prolong their lifespan, and reduce the necessary frequency of service and the likelihood of a mechanical such as a snapped chain.<\/p>\n

In general, it\u2019s good practice not to shift into a lower (easier) gear while putting lots of power through the pedals. At a minimum, it sounds and feels horrible, but if pushed to extremes, it could damage the chain.<\/p>\n

To avoid this, try shifting into the correct gear before starting a steep climb, rather than part-way up it. Shifting into a higher (harder) gear under power is less problematic, but a little bit of care when it comes to timing your shift will go a long way.<\/p>\n

Which gear should I use and when?<\/h3>\n
\"SRAM\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
With most common 1x drivetrains boasting 12 gears, it\u2019s important to know which one to use and when.<\/span><\/figcaption> Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Good gear choice is all about efficiency. Ideally, you want to be in a gear that enables you to spin your legs at a comfortable cadence while using just enough power to generate the necessary speed for the trail ahead.<\/p>\n

This is especially important when riding undulating singletrack. Too high a gear and you\u2019ll be straining to turn the pedals, too low a gear and you\u2019ll be spinning your legs without making much progress.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no one-gear-fits-all here, and your gear choice will depend on your fitness, preferred cadence and the steepness of the trail you\u2019re riding.<\/p>\n

Mountain bike gear ratios<\/h2>\n
\"SRAM\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Gear range tells you the difference between the highest and lowest gear of your cassette.<\/span><\/figcaption> Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The number of gears on your cassette doesn\u2019t mean much if it doesn\u2019t have a wide gear range.<\/p>\n

The range of a cassette is determined by dividing the number of teeth on the biggest cog by the number of teeth on the smallest one.<\/p>\n

Take the 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle T-Type cassette, for example. This has a gear range of 10t to 52t, so we can figure out its gear ratio using the formula below:<\/p>\n