Choosing the Best Bicycle Gears: A Comprehensive Guide for Riders on a Budget

If you are planning to buy a good bicycle under ₹25,000 budget, & confused which gears are most suitable for you, then this brief post is for you. 

What is Bicycle Gears ?

Bicycle gears refer to the system that allows a cyclist to adjust the resistance and speed of pedaling by changing the gear ratio between the front chainring(s) / Crank and the rear cassette or freewheel(sprokets). Gears are essential for adapting to different terrains, slopes, and riding conditions

When it comes to gears, there are many options in this price range, the most popular ones being,

• Shimano Tourney
• Shimano Altus
• Shimano Acera
• Shimano Alivio

For someone starting their bicycle journey or a beginner, this can be confusing. 

So here are top tips to lower this confusion and Help you choose the Best gear combination for you. 

If you live & plan to ride plains area, cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and so on, and getting a bike for health & fitness purpose, then 1x drivetrains (7,8,9 gears) are perfect for you. These gears are specifically made for hybrid bicycles & city use with flyovers & some hills. They are also very easy to operate. 

If you live & plan to ride in steep hills & mountains, like western ghats, himalayan region, then you should go for 21 / 24 / 27 gears. These group sets are built to make riding steep slopes easily. This is why these are also called MTB (mountain bike groupsets). 

Now, if your budget is 10-15k, then Shimano Tourney is a great component. Despite being entry level, its performance is very reliable. 

If your budget is 15-20k, then skip Shimano Altus and go for Acera. The price difference between these 2 is very small, but the performance upgrade with Acera is very high. 

If your budget is 20k+, then go straight for Alivio (M3000) instead of Altus (M2000). The rear derailleur is full alloy, very lightweight, & super quick. 

Keep Riding!