Otherwise they hold on to whatever touches them, and the chain will have enough lube on it to moisten up the cogs where it contacts each one. |
There's always sand in the cogs somewhere, even if these days its the ionosphere, or the troposphere, where things get gritty. |
As for adjusting for cable stretch, as the cable stretches, the derailleur will move to larger cogs faster and slower to smaller cogs. |
John Blenkinsop invented a steam engine which had cogs on one of its wheels. |
If the chain is too long, the derailleur will rotate inward too far and bounce the upper jockey wheel through the chain on the largest cogs. |
It's a great trait if you're an employer looking to fill your ranks with obedient cogs, not so great if you want to end crass credentialism. |