How to choose your road bike shifters?

How to choose your road bike shifters?

Shifters are relatively straightforward to choose; there are few pitfalls to avoid. Here is how to make the right choice.

Standards

  • SHIMANO, SRAM or CAMPAGNOLO type;
  • The number of speeds at the rear, currently: 9, 10, 11 or 12;
  • The number of chainrings at the front, currently: 1, 2 or 3.

Types of shifters

For the rear derailleur, SHIMANO, SRAM and CAMPAGNOLO do not operate under the same cable pull standard, so you will not be able to mix these three brands. This also holds true for the front derailleur as technology has advanced to the point where some components from the same brand are designed to work only with the same series, such as the 4700 range from SHIMANO or YAW from SRAM.

Furthermore, as all drivetrain components are designed to work under a speed standard, it is not possible to pair a 10-speed derailleur with an 11-speed drivetrain for example. The same applies to the front with 1, 2 or 3 chainring(s).

Which shifters should you choose?

The choice will depend mainly on the derailleurs fitted to your bike: simply make sure to choose controls compatible with your equipment.

For a build starting from scratch, you will have the choice between the three main competitors. Riders generally report a smoother, softer feel with SHIMANO, or a more positive, snappier action with SRAM or CAMPAGNOLO.

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