sprocket

A gear ring is a ring-shaped component with teeth used in various mechanical systems. The term can have different meanings depending on the context.

1. Bicycle technology (cassette & sprocket set)

• On a bicycle, the sprocket refers to the rear pinions mounted on the cassette or a freewheel. These gears are responsible for transmitting the pedaling motion to the rear wheel.
• A cassette consists of several sprockets of different sizes that provide different gears.

2. Mechanical Engineering & Gear Technology

• In mechanics, a gear ring is a toothed ring that serves as part of a gear mechanism . It can be found, for example, in planetary gears or as a drive gear in machines.

3. Automotive technology

• In cars, there are ring gears, for example, on the engine's flywheel. They are used by the starter motor to start the engine.

Bicycle sprocket and drive system

On a bicycle, the sprocket refers to the rear pinions mounted on the cassette or a freewheel. They are part of the drivetrain and influence the gear ratio, i.e., how hard or easy it is to pedal in a particular gear.

• The sprocket sits on the rear wheel hub and transfers the power from the chain to the rear wheel.
• It consists of several pinions with different numbers of teeth.
• The larger the pinion, the easier it is to pedal (low gear).
• The smaller the pinion, the harder it is to pedal (high gear).

Types of sprockets

1. Cassette

   • Is pushed onto a freewheel body and fixed with a lock nut.
   • Modern shifting systems (e.g. Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo) use cassettes.

2. Screw ring

   • Older system in which the entire sprocket is screwed onto the hub.
   • Less common, usually found on older or cheaper bikes.

A well-maintained sprocket will last a long time, but should be replaced along with the chain if it becomes worn or shows excessive wear. In cycling, the term "pinion" is often used synonymously with "front sprocket," specifically referring to the rear gear set.