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Drivetrain - Shift Levers and Brake/Shift Levers

Shift levers and Brake/Shift levers are a contact point that cyclists rarely forget about. A missed shift in the middle of a climb on a mountain bike can result in a loss of momentum that is painful to recover from. A missed shift during a sprint on a road bike can be the difference between first and fourth, or worse - a nasty crash.

 Derailleur Compatibility
Shift levers and derailleurs work together to shift the gears. Avoid mixing brands of shifter and derailleur unless the manufacturer specifically states it is compatible.

 Double vs Triple, Road vs Mountain

Front shifters are picky about the front derailleur they are matched to. Here are some basic rules about Shimano shift levers that cut down on the confusion:

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    Road Front Shifters (except Dura-Ace)
    • Both Double and Triple Ring Compatible
    • Not compatible with Mountain Front Derailleurs.
    • Dura Ace Shifters come in two models: one for double, the other for triple.
    Mountain Front Shifters
    • Triple Ring Compatible
    • Not Compatible with Road Front Derailleurs
    Rear Shifters
    • The Shifter must match the number of Cogs on the rear wheel.
    • Road and Mountain shifters work with either road or mountain derailleurs

 Shift/Brake Levers

 Combined shift and brake levers are installed on almost every road bike and about half of all mountain bikes.

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    Road Brake/Shift levers
    • Are for cable operated brakes.
    • Compatible with Caliper and Cantilever Brakes only
    Mountain Brake/Shift Levers
    • Cable models for V-brakes or Mechanical Disk Brakes (cross manufacturers OK)
    • Hydraulic Models for Hydraulic Disk Brakes (cross manufacturers NOT OK)

 
 
 
 
 
 

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