Where are the gears?
Internal gear hubs are an advanced gearing technology, whereby all the gears are fully enclosed within the rear axle of the bike. These hubs are called planetary gears – much the tranmission on a car – giving a wide range of gearing in a compact space. So unlike chain bikes that have fully exposed (external) sprockets and derailleurs, internal gear hubs compress all of this gearing into a compact, highly efficient cylindrical component (hub) inside the rear axle. This internal gear hub integrates seamlessly with our shaft drive to create incredibly efficient shifting and smooth speed changes. Shimano’s internal gear hubs are designed to require very little maintenance and are sealed to safely protect them from dirt, debris and damage.
