Cube drive

The drivetrain is a central component of every bicycle, as the interaction of pedals, cranks, chainrings, chain (or belt) and sprockets connects all types of bicycles together - albeit in different designs.

Since the drive systems differ depending on the type of bike, we will give you an overview of the most common variants and their components, as well as pedals, cranks and bottom brackets. This will help you quickly see which components are suitable for your bike.

Derailleur gears use a cassette with up to 13 pinions, the appropriate chain and one to three chainrings on the crank. Nowadays, the 1x12 drive has become the standard for MTBs. This type of drive is particularly common on sporty bikes.

With hub gears or gear systems (around the bottom bracket) there is only one pinion on the rear wheel, a chain and a chainring at the front. A special variant is the belt drive, which uses a toothed belt instead of a chain, which is combined with the corresponding pulleys on the crank and rear wheel.

A single-speed drive uses only one gear without a shifter, just one chainring and one pinion. This minimalist design means there are only a few wearing parts, which reduces susceptibility. However, you should carefully consider whether a single gear is sufficient for the elevation profile in your area. Single-speed drives are often found on BMX, dirt and park bikes.

Fixed gear bikes, also called fixies, look similar to single speed bikes at first glance, but are even more minimalist. They have a rigidly mounted pinion with no freewheel, which means you can't stop pedaling while riding. Fixed drives are common on track bikes and are also used by some in city traffic. "He who brakes loses!"