A bicycle has many gears that allows it to make very precise movements. In order to have control over these mechanisms, the triathlon bars.
Friction Shifting
* This is the original gear shifting system which operated by pushing on a lever that changed the gears in order for the derailleur to move from one sprocket to the next.
* This system has 6 to 7 sprockets which confuses some cyclists when changing gears.
* Gear changing can also leave chains in between two sprockets, which causes a rattling sound.
* Friction gears are still the preferred type of shifters for experienced bikers because of the simplicity of the design and the compatibility of parts from different manufacturers.
Index Shifting
* The index shifting system doesn't have the need to adjust gears after changing them each time like friction shifting does.
* The gears are indexed so each stop corresponds with a specific position of the derailleur and the hub gears.
* The problem cyclists face is the lack of compatibility in shifters with other bicycle components. Campagnolo is the exception, for the company does not index their front shifters and the rear shifters can be upgraded easily.
