a gear shift arrangement for a bicycle that is separate and distinct from a brake lever of the bicycle , in which the bicycle has a derailleur and a derailleur cable associated therewith , includes a single lever adapted to only perform a shifting operation of gears of the bicycle , a housing , a mounting arrangement in the housing for mounting the single lever for movement in a first pivoting direction and for movement in a second substantially linear direction , and a shift control mechanism in the housing for controlling shifting of the gears of the bicycle in a first shifting direction upon movement of the single lever in the first pivoting direction and for controlling shifting of gears of the bicycle in a second , opposite shifting direction upon movement of the single lever in the second substantially linear direction .