If you look at pro racer’s bikes or ads in magazines (ours included) the future of drivetrains look to be headed in a very battery-powered direction. But when I look at my local trailhead the reality is a little different. Sure, there are some wireless bikes. But there are still a lot more good old mechanical derailleurs heading out onto the trails.
That had me thinking: what if the future of drivetrains isn’t wireless? Or, more specifically, what if it isn’t just wireless? So I talked to three small, but growing brands pioneering a new space for mechanical drivetrains. All three look very different than your usual, mass-produced derailleur. All three are repairable and, to greater or lesser extents, broadly compatible. And all three boutique derailleurs are mechanical. Crucially, all three see space for a derailleur that is just wireless.
The players: A veteran, the tinkerers and a fresh face
The three derailleurs on the table today are Vivo’s Enduro II, Madrone’s new Jab and Ratio’s simply titled Mech.
Vivo Artisan is run by John Calendrille, bringing 30 years of experience designing derailleurs, mechanical and electric, for numerous major brands as well as under his own brand. Enduro II, and its companion F3 shifter, are assembled by hand in New York, numbered, and fully rebuildable.
On the other side of the pond, Ratio Technology launched the Mech off the back of more than five years of offering upgrade kits for derailleurs and shifters, mostly SRAM, as well as a some other small components. The Mech covers a broad range of uses and compatibility using a modular design and is manufactured entirely in the U.K., mostly by Ratio in the Lakes District.
Back in the U.S.A., Oregon-based Madrone quickly launched from offering SRAM repair kits in 2023 to launching the Jab, it’s broadly compatible derailleur. While the Jab is one derailleur, there are multiple configurations to cover a wide range of compatibility (and colours) from gravel to mountain bike and some weird spaces in between.
Why take on the drivetrain giants?
From the outside, taking on the giants of drivetrain manufacturing seems like signing up for some mix of a David and Goliath style battle, and a wildly complex technical challenge. But all three brands have found and opened up a similar space for their own creations. It should be noted that Italy’s Ingrid Components has also played a roll, if a slightly different one, in opening up this space for high-end boutique…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…