MTB front and rear shimano derailleur: which shifters for drop bars?

Asked by: Stephanie Velasquez

Do shifters and derailleurs have to match?

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best not to mix and match drivetrain components from different brands. While things such as cranks, chains and cassettes are mostly inter-compatible between brands, generally speaking, shifters and derailleurs aren’t.

Can I use drop bar on MTB?

Yes, drops can be slapped on any mountain bike, but they shouldn’t. For instance, most MTBs have a geometry with a much longer reach, and generally don’t fit as well with drop bars.

Do front and rear derailleur have to match?

The shifters and derailleurs need to match. Front: Sram and Shimano work with eachother on the front derailleur. Rear: Sram and Shimano do NOT work with eachother on the rear. They have different pull ratios and you need to match brands here.

How do you use drop bar shifters?

Quote from video: By pushing the whole left hand lever inward. The derailleur will push the chain up to a harder gear harder gear takes more effort to pedal.

Can you mix shifter and derailleur?

In many instances, it is possible to mix different levels of shifters and derailleurs from the same brand (e.g. Dura-Ace/Ultegra/105; Red/Force/Rival; Super Record/Record/Chorus), however it’s not safe to assume that this will always be the case.

Can you mix front and rear derailleur?

The only two ways the front derailer and rear derailer must be compatible are 1) they must be assuming the same chain width (or at least reasonably close), and 2) they must combine to produce a reasonable chainline (more a function of the crankset than the front derailer).

Can you do drops on a hardtail?

The take off and the ‘jumping’ part are actually easier on a hardtail, it’s just the landing that can be slightly harder to handle. The trick on larger drops is to make sure the saddle is out of the way and use your legs as suspension. Technique is way more important than the bike you ride.

Do drop handlebars hurt your back?

If you already have a bad back, cycling has the potential for making it worse. The road bike style, with drop-down handlebars, naturally puts you into a more hunched, streamlined position, so while road bikes don’t cause back pain, they can aggravate someone who already has a back problem.

How much faster are drop handlebars?

This is possible due to the aerodynamic advantage that you gain. Over long distances, the energy-savings adds up. For example, maybe you can ride an extra 1 mile per hour on average with drops. Over the course of a one month bicycle tour you may be able to travel 200 miles further than you would with flat bars.

What happens if front derailleur is too high?

Derailleur Alignment & Positioning



Most front derailleurs can be adjusted for height and rotation. If the cage is set too high over the largest ring, it may not perform well. Too high a cage can cause a slow shift, and can allow the chain to shift over the largest ring.

Should you set up front or rear derailleur first?

In a nutshell, adjust the front derailleur first, then the rear. Show activity on this post. If the derailers just need minor tweaking (they are basically in adjustment but are “not quite right”) then you adjust the one that is obviously wrong, check the overall adjustment again, then again adjust what needs adjusting.

What is H and L in front derailleur?

Limit screws are marked “L” and “H.” The L-screw will stop the motion of the derailleur toward the smallest chainring. The H-screw will stop the motion of the derailleur toward the largest chainring.

Can I use MTB shifter on road bike front derailleur?

The pull ratio for a road front derailleur is different than the pull ratio for a mountain front derailleur. So using an index front shifter (like triggers) for a mountain bike does not work well with a road bike front derailleur.

What is the best bike gear combination?

A high gear, sometimes referred to by cyclists as a ‘big gear’, is optimal when descending or riding at high speeds. The highest, or biggest gear on a bicycle is achieved by combining the largest front chainring size with the smallest rear cog or sprocket — expressed as ’53×11′, for example.

What gear combination is best for going uphill?

Low Gear = Easy = Good for Climbing: The “low” gear on your bike is the smallest chain ring in the front and the largest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the easiest and you’ll be able to pedal uphill with the smallest amount of resistance.

Can you add a drop post to a mountain bike?

Dropper seatposts, or popularly referred to just as dropper posts, are one of the best upgrades you can make to any mountain bike.

Can you put drop bars on any bike?

Yes, you can technically put drop bars on a hybrid bike, but it’s better and often cheaper just to buy a different bike. Converting a hybrid to drop bars requires several new components (usually the brakes, brake levers, shifters, and even derailleurs) and may cause the bike to fit poorly and handle strangely.

Can I put drop handlebars on my bike?

Yes, it’s possible to install drop bars on a hybrid or even a mountain bike, but the conversion is expensive and requires many new components. Also, the fit of the bicycle may change negatively. Therefore, it’s debatable whether it’s worth it to begin such a procedure.

Can I use a road bike handlebar on an MTB?

Yes you certainly can, as long as the bars fit into the stem clamp and your current brake and shifter mounts fit onto the bars.

Can a MTB be as fast as a road bike?

How much faster is a road bike than a mountain bike? A road bicycle is 10 to 30% faster than a mountain bike and is 15% faster on average at the same power output on smooth, paved surfaces.

Should MTB seat be higher than handlebars?

The old rule of thumb that your handlebars should be level with your seat (at full climbing height) to 3 inches below your seat (at full climbing height) is a great place to start.