Brakes and shifters both play a major role in your bike's overall performance. Shifters allow you to get into a more appropriate gear so you can either climb more efficiently or ride faster on flat terrain and descents. Brakes help you slow down and stop with nicer brakes offering more stopping power and better modulation. With equal importance, you'll want to get the right brakes and shifters for your bike and riding style.
How do I choose a bike shifter?
If you already have derailleurs on your bike, then you'll want to get a shifter that matches your derailleurs in both the number of speeds and brand. You can't mix SRAM and Shimano, so make sure you match your SRAM shifters with your SRAM derailleurs. When you're building up a fresh bike or replacing your entire drivetrain, then you can choose just about any shifter for your bike. Many riders are switching to 12-speed drivetrains for their mountain and road bikes.
Can you put any shifter on any bike?
You can put any shifter on any bike with some modifications. It mostly comes down to handlebar compatibility and derailleur compatibility. Drop bar shifters can work on a mountain bike as long as you have drop bar handlebars and a rear derailleur that is compatible with that shifter. Also, you can add mountain bike-style shifters on a road bike as long as you have flat bars installed.
How do I choose a brake lever?
It all comes down to compatibility. If you're replacing a worn-out or broken brake lever, then you'll want to get one that matches the brake caliper you already have. If you're looking to lighten up your bike, there are brake levers made out of carbon fiber that will help you cut the grams out.
Do you shift gears while pedaling?
Absolutely, you need to be pedaling in order for your rear derailleur to shift into another gear. Most of the time you need to ease off your pedaling power for your bike to shift, but with higher-end electronic drivetrains, you can pedal as hard as you want and your bike will still shift.
What is a drop bar shifter?
Drop bar shifters are designed to work on the drop bars that are commonly found on road bikes and gravel bikes. These shifters often come with integrated brake levers so you can shift and brake all in one unit. Drop bar shifters are not compatible with flat bars found on mountain bikes and only work on road-style handlebars.
