Switching device for bicycle gear mechanisms

A switch for actuating at least one gear mechanism on a bicycle, comprising:

• a housing;
• a movement element movable relative to said housing and having a transmission means for controlling the at least one gear mechanism in a tensioning direction and in a release direction;
• a first pawl arranged for interacting with a first latching toothing arrangement, wherein said first pawl and said first latching toothing arrangement are operatively arranged for producing a form fit for individual gear stages of the at least one gear mechanism;
• and
• trigger switch means for effecting a switching operation trough plural gear stages in said tensioning direction and said release direction by a single switching movement, the trigger switch means including an operating mechanism for changing the gear stages, said operating mechanism returning to a rest position upon completion of the switching operation,
• the trigger switch means including a transmission element for transmitting control movements arranged between said operating mechanism and said movement element,
• a second pawl engageable with a second latching toothing arrangement such that a movement of the operating mechanism in the tensioning direction is transferred to the movement element;
• a third pawl arranged on said operating mechanism, the third pawl engageable with a third latching tooting arrangement arranged on the transmission element such that a movement of the operating mechanism in the release direction is transferred to the transmission element.