Indexing: the delicate science of slipping from one gear to the next

In days gone by people used to be content just using the shifter to feel and listen for the right place under a particular sprocket when changing gear. Now indexed gears are universal. The shifter has notches instead of moving smoothly across its range and, if all the components are compatible and correctly adjusted, shifting one notch on the shifter pulls through enough cable to move the chain across exactly one sprocket on your cassette.

A few derailleurs are designed to work in reverse – the cable pulls the chain from the largest to the smallest sprockets and, when the cable tension is released, the spring in the rear derailleur can pull the cable back from the smallest to the largest sprocket. The Shimano Rapid rise (or low normal) derailleur is like this. Some people prefer it, others find it irritating. The idea behind rapid-rise derailleurs is that the shift into a higher gear is controlled by cable action rather than spring action, so it’s supposed to be better for split-second changes in races. If your transmission is working perfectly, there is a slight advantage – but this is offset by the design’s inability to tolerate dirt or wear as well as the standard set-up.…

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