A switch for actuating a gear on a bicycle includes a housing with an inner toothing formation, a grip part and a rotary part with a cable drum for a fraction cable. The grip part having an integrally formed section for actuating an elastic element on the rotary part so that when the grip part is rotated in a switching direction which releases the traction cable the elastic element is pretensioned until a disengagement member on the grip part disengages a pawl on the rotary part which interacts with the inner tooting formation in the housing. Both the pawl and the elastic element are connected integrally to the rotary part resulting in advantage in terms of the production and assembly of the switch.