SRAM Red 22 Front Derailleur

Borrowing from the principles of an aircraft's rotational movements across a single axis, yaw dictates fore and aft lateral movement, pitch is the opposing vertical movement, and roll is the definitive vertical lean, from one side of the axis to the other. Rather than simply moving back and forth across the singular plane like that of a conventional derailleur, the new Red Derailleur is designed to rotate like an airplane along its axis in conjunction with your shifts, preserving an optimal angular alignment with the chain at all times, no matter your gear combination. Because of this, the new SRAM Red 22 Derailleur has done away with the concept of front derailleur trim. This is a revolutionary design that actively maintains perfect chain alignment while still providing the crisp and punchy actuation that SRAM riders have grown accustomed to.

In the past SRAM saw some of its sponsored riders using the heavier Force Front Derailleur with its stiffer and slightly heavier steel cage that inspired better front shifting confidence under load. So for the new Red 22, SRAM has maintained that hybrid aluminum cage to preserve the gruppo's weight savings, but has added steel to the alloy blend to provide stiffer, more confident shifts. And as an added precaution, the included Chain Spotter can be elegantly mounted to the derailleur body without any detriment to weight or shifting precision, but the derailleur will function normally without it. Today, a chain keeper is the quintessential illustration of the old adage, 'better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it.' It adjusts independently of the derailleur, so you'll only know it's there when summoned by a rough patch of road, a possible errant shift, or a completely unfortunate stroke of misfortune at the hands of cycling's powers-that-be.