Mountain Bike Crank & Derailleur

Written by: kprincipe

Mountain Biking is undoubtedly a fun sport. You can be a competitive mountain biker or the recreational kind, just enjoying the good exercise experienced in the great outdoors. The Mountain Bike you use is specifically designed to maneuver your way over rough terrains and off-road areas. So you have your bike, and know how to use it, but you can never be a real champion of Mountain Biking without knowing the parts you are working on.

The first thing to know about Mountain Bikes is that it has a main frame or body. The frame is the center piece which becomes the basis of all other parts used to make the bike work. All other pats are connected to the frame, which comes in various shapes and sizes. Mountain Bike Frames are made from different materials, all according to a biker’s choice. Finding the right size of the bike is essential so the biker can maneuver it effectively and comfortably.

A handlebar is used to control the bike along with the Mountain Bike Crank and Derailleur. The appropriate size should be as wide as your shoulder, but several bikes can be made to fit the biker’s preference. The crank is the part of the bike which is attached to the chain rings and the chains which make the bike move. Pedals are attached to the cranks for the biker’s feet and shoes. The derailleur, on the other hand, is used to shift the chain from one to the other. This is to change the speed of pedaling when biking. The derailleur uses different shifters which change gear to the other and the chain from one chain ring to the other. In most cases, the finer the quality of the derailleur, the more exact the shifting will be.

The shifters and gears allow the other parts of the Mountain Bike to work properly. Shifters control the derailleur and allow the shifting of gear from low to high speed.

Brakes, wheels, and tires are also essential bike parts. Brakes enable stopping or slowing the pace, while the wheels and tires are designed to withstand the rough surface of the terrain. Several known types are the “V” brakes and the disk brakes used in high-end Mountain Bikes. Most bikes also use suspension or shock absorbers to, as the name suggests, absorb the impact while biking.


Knowledge on the main equipment you use in Mountain Biking will make the experience more exciting. It always helps to get acquainted with the parts and features of your Mountain Bike to know how each functions to make you enjoy the sport even more.

See related products in our Mountain Biking Shop:

Mountain Bikes Hot Picks

BMX Bikes Hot Picks

Cycling Helmets Hot Picks