What role does the 6S/7S bicycle rear derailleur play in riding?

The main function of the 6S/7S bicycle rear derailleur is to precisely adjust the position of the chain on the flywheel according to the needs of the rider. The flywheel is usually composed of multiple gears of different sizes, and each gear and chain will form a different gear ratio, which affects the speed and torque output of the bicycle. When the rider needs to accelerate, climb or slow down to adapt to different road conditions, the rear derailleur will come into play by moving the chain to the appropriate flywheel gear to achieve the required gear ratio.
In the complex transmission system of a speed-changing bicycle, the rear derailleur serves as a bridge between the flywheel and the chainring, and its performance is directly related to the smoothness and safety of riding. During the speed change process, the rear derailleur not only needs to respond quickly to the rider's operating instructions and adjust the chain to the target flywheel gear, but also ensure that the chain moves smoothly and smoothly during this process without any jamming or accidents. To achieve this goal, the design of the rear derailleur incorporates a high degree of precision and innovation. Among them, the guide wheel is the guide of the chain path. Its shape, size and position are carefully calculated and optimized to ensure that the chain can accurately transition from one flywheel gear to another, and maintain a stable track even in high-speed riding or complex road conditions. The surface of the guide wheel is usually made of wear-resistant and low-friction materials to reduce the resistance of the chain during movement and improve the efficiency of speed change.
Through springs or other advanced tension adjustment mechanisms, the tension wheel can dynamically adjust the tension of the chain to ensure that the chain always maintains close contact with the flywheel and the chainring during the speed change process, neither too tight to increase wear, nor too loose to cause the risk of skipping teeth or falling off the chain. This adaptive tension adjustment capability enables the rear derailleur to perform well in various riding conditions and provide riders with a stable and reliable speed change experience. In addition, modern rear derailleurs are often equipped with advanced limit screw adjustment functions, allowing riders or technicians to accurately adjust the travel of the rear derailleur according to the specific configuration of the bicycle and personal riding habits. This design not only helps prevent the chain from going beyond the normal range in extreme gears, but also further improves the accuracy and smoothness of speed changes, ensuring that riders can feel safe and comfortable while enjoying the fun of speed changes.
By adjusting the chain position in a timely and accurate manner, the rear derailleur helps riders maintain optimal riding efficiency in different riding scenarios. For example, when climbing a hill, the rider can use the rear derailleur to move the chain to a smaller sprocket to reduce the gear ratio, making it easier to overcome gravity; while on flat roads or downhill, the rider can move the chain to a larger sprocket to increase the gear ratio and increase riding speed. This flexible speed change capability not only improves riding comfort and efficiency, but also helps riders maintain a safe and stable riding state under different road conditions.
In short, the rear derailleur plays a vital dual role in the riding process: it is both the core component of speed adjustment and the key mechanism of chain management. By accurately adjusting the position of the chain on the sprocket, the rear derailleur helps riders flexibly adjust the gear ratio according to different road conditions and riding needs to achieve optimal riding efficiency and comfort. At the same time, its built-in guide wheel and tension wheel system ensures the stable and smooth movement of the chain during the speed change process, effectively avoiding safety hazards such as chain skipping and chain falling. Therefore, the rear derailleur is not only an important part of the speed change bicycle transmission system, but also the key to ensuring the safety and riding experience of the rider.