Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The new Ratio Technology Mech is designed, manufactured, and assembled in the UK. It’s compatible with modern 12 and 13-speed 1x drivetrains and can be stripped down and rebuilt with nothing more than a multi-tool. Find everything you need to know about Ratio’s first derailleur here…
Founded in 2018 by Cambridge engineers Tom Simpson and Felix Barker, Ratio Technology in Ambleside, UK, has made it its mission to improve drivetrains. They debuted with upgrade kits for various drivetrains, which modify existing big-name shifters and derailleurs, allowing them to mix, match, and fit larger cassettes. They sell replacement derailleur cages, jockey wheels, and shifter ratchets, and they’ve even got a dropper lever kit for SRAM mechanical 11 or 12-speed drop bar levers. We’ve seen prototype Ratio rear derailleurs pop up a few times this year, and at the MADE bike show in Portland, we caught a glimpse of one that looked production-worthy on the new Tumbleweed Stargazer (below).
We’re excited to announce that the Ratio Technology Mech is finally available, and according to Ratio, it’s the first time a derailleur has been produced entirely in the UK in 60 years. Ratio’s list of must-haves for their own derailleur included: performance that rivals electronic systems, geometry optimized for modern 1x cassettes, rotating components that run on stainless bearings to reduce friction and resist shifting degradation, and no tight cable bends or awkward routing on any bike. Most importantly, the design had to be modular, fully serviceable, and compatible with as many different setups as possible.
The Ratio Mech is available in hanger and direct-mount configurations, with 46T and 52T cage lengths, and an initial range of seven cable fins for common 12- and 13-speed drivetrains, with more 11-, 12-, and 13-speed options to follow. The direct-mount model is compatible with SRAM UDH-compatible dropouts and any cassette, and Ratio recommends using this setup if possible, as it is stiffer than a hanger-mounted setup. To simplify maintenance and repair, the entire Ratio Mech can be stripped down and rebuilt with a multi-tool, including removing the clutch, changing the cage or mounting configuration, and replacing the links. The clutch and spring assembly is fully self-contained; the cage can be replaced with a single T25 screw, with no complicated winding/unwinding of the cage spring.
The Ratio Mech can work with a wide range of setups by switching out the cable fin. What cable fin you’ll need depends on your intended combination of shifter, derailleur, and cage length. The Mech can be paired with Ratio’s ratchet upgrade kits to pair 10/11-speed shifters with 12/13-speed cassettes. Ratio has a compatibility chart that will be updated over the next few weeks and currently offers eight fin options and 15+ listed combinations.
For simple wheel removal, Ratio’s Cage Stop feature requires users to shift into the smallest sprocket and pull the cage forward to lock, then pull the cage forward and push the derailleur inboard to unlock. Instructional markings are on the Mech itself to make setup straightforward. The outer limit screw controls outboard movement, the inner screw controls inboard movement, and the cable adjuster includes a simple diagram showing the indexing directions. It sounds like there are a lot of little details that can only truly be appreciated in person.
Ratio Mech Details
- Links, cage plates, and mounting arms machined in the Lakes from 7075 aluminium
- Bolts and B adjuster plates machined in the Lakes from 6082 aluminium
- Jockey wheels and end caps machined in the Lakes from acetal thermoplastic
- Links and jockey wheels run on stainless Enduro bearings
- Brass, steel, and stainless wrap-spring serviceable clutch, machined in the Lakes
- Additive-manufactured nylon knuckles made in the UK
- Initial batch in black anodised finish with silver options to follow
- Spare and replacement parts available on the Ratio website
The Ratio Mech is priced at £345 (~$450 USD), with international shipping starting at £11. Visit RatioTechnology.com to learn more.
Further Reading
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