Bike freaks can argue long and hard about the best gears - but there is no such thing! After all, a bike's gears have to suit what its owner intends to do with it. Are casual local transport journeys in urban areas with a flat topography the rule, or is a heroic crossing of the Alps over steep mountain passes with full luggage planned for the subsequent 3-week tour of Italy? Does the route to work also lead over rough field and forest paths or only over smooth tarmac? As contrasting as the requirements are, the fact is reassuring: there is a suitable bike with the right gears for every profile within the extensive range. It just depends. Basically, there is a difference between riding a classic bike with pure muscle power and getting up to speed with motor assistance. In the first case, the focus is on maximising the efficiency of the gears, which means low weight, a large number of gears and even gear ratios. This is because the human muscular system does not like large speed gaps, otherwise it gets out of breath or reaches the red zone too quickly. But the effort required for maintenance and care also needs to be considered. If you do it yourself because you enjoy it, you will get on better with a high-maintenance derailleur system than someone who already hates cleaning bikes. Things are a little different with e-bikes: the motor is not necessarily dependent on a fine gear ratio. This is why hub gears with large, irregular gear steps or derailleur gears with a lower number of gears do not have a negative effect on the riding dynamics. Maintenance requirements are also significantly lower for manual gearboxes. What's more, many e-bikers prefer to take their highly complex vehicle to a professional workshop for service, maintenance and any repairs anyway. This is all the more appropriate with electronic gears such as the Enviolo continuously variable automatic transmission or the electrified Rohloff E14.
STANDARD CIRCUITS
DERAILLEUR
PLUS - huge range, tight gear steps, light; precise performance
MINUS - Care and maintenance-intensive; high susceptibility to wear
In varied terrain, when there are hills or even mountains to climb as well as flat stretches, it is ideal. Derailleur gears are the least restrictive in terms of riding technique, are lightweight and inexpensive. Even those travelling with luggage will appreciate the fine gear gradation and wide gear range. Variants with one, two or three chainrings and 10, 11 or 12 sprockets at the rear offer subtle differences that can be assessed depending on the intensity of use, landscape profile and personal fitness.
HUB SWITCHING
PLUS - Lowest maintenance requirements and susceptibility to faults; long service life
MINUS - Fewer, wider and irregularly stepped gears; relatively high weight
Packing the sensitive mechanics into a closed housing is a good idea for a bicycle gear system. The level of faults and maintenance is reduced and the service life is increased. Mid-range hubs such as Shimano's Nexus and Alfine with 8 and 11 gears respectively offer significantly fewer and sometimes coarser gears than derailleur gears. This makes them ideal for predominantly flat terrain with only a few gentle inclines. They really come into their own on short and medium distances and in everyday traffic.
PREMIUM CIRCUITS
ROHLOFF-NABE
PLUS - Extremely reliable, durable and efficient; smooth gear steps
MINUS - slightly heavier than derailleur gears
With 14 evenly spaced gears and legendary reliability and durability, the Rohloff gear system from North Hesse is a technical classic. Since 1998, the premium gear hub has been offering the full range of derailleur gears in the highest mechanical quality. Moisture and dirt have no effect on it, and the Rohloff easily copes with the toughest operating conditions and high mileages. Ideal for year-round bikers and touring cyclists around the globe who simply want to ride without defects.
PINION GEARBOX
PLUS - Extremely wide bandwidth and robustness; low maintenance requirements
MINUS - Relatively heavy; high price
Pinion places its gearbox with 18, 12, 9 or 6 gears at the lowest possible point on the bottom bracket. The gear block requires a special frame connection, the crank and bottom bracket are integrated. All gearboxes offer close, even and serially stepped gears as well as high operational reliability and durability. As with Rohloff, shifting is by twist grip, but there are also trigger switches. The P1.18 is ideal for the highest demands of travellers and frequent riders, while the 12 and 9 gears are more suitable for touring and everyday cyclists.
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
Pedelecs and their on-board power supply make electrically controlled shifting possible. Actuators on Shimano's Nexus E5 and the 14-speed Rohloff hub engage the gears, while a shift button on the handlebars provides the command. The Enviolo continuously variable automatic gear system goes one step further: a sensor on the bottom bracket monitors the cadence. The rider selects their comfortable cadence and the automatic system constantly adjusts the appropriate gear ratio.
