Since cyclists' legs are most efficient over a narrow range of pedaling speeds, or cadence, a variable gear ratio

helps a cyclist to maintain an optimum pedalli ng speed while covering varied terrain. Some, mainly utility, bicycles use hub g ears with between 3 and 14 ratios, but most use the generally more efficient drai lleur system, by which the chain is moved between different cogs called chainrin gs and sprockets in order to select a ratio. A drailleur system normally has two drailleurs, or mechs, one at the front to select the chainring and another at the back to select the sprocket. Most bikes have two or three chainrings, and betwe en 5 and 11 sprockets on the back, with the number of theoretical gears calculat ed by multiplying front by back. In reality, many gears overlap or require the c hain to run diagonally, so the number of usable gears is fewer. Differen