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review

Gearmechhanger D99 Universal Hanger

8
£14.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Useful emergency ride-saver if you snap your mech hanger out on the road
Weight: 
12g

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Snapping your gear hanger off isn't a vanishingly rare occurrence, and it's one of those things that can pretty much end a ride. The Gearmech D99 is a simple and functional way to get you back in the saddle.

The D99 replaces the nut end of your quick-release skewer, and acts as both the clamping point for the skewer and a place to hang a mech from. Your mech won't be in the same place as it was before you snapped the hanger off; generally you'll find that it's a bit further out, and lower than before. That'll mean some fiddling with the cable to index the shifting, and also means shifts aren't as crisp as there's more space between the jockey wheels and the cassette.

What you're left with is a bike that works, though, even if not quite as well as before. I lost one sprocket from an 11-speed Shimano cassette and I had to work a bit harder with the shifting. But that's infinitely preferable to calling your spouse/parent/friend to pick you up from the arse end of nowhere, or shortening your chain and limping home in whatever gear works as a singlespeed.

It's not as good as carrying a spare hanger that's specifically for your bike, and I know people (people who have a habit of breaking mech hangers) who do precisely that. But assuming all your massive fleet of bikes have quick release wheels it's a handy thing to have in your emergency toolkit, and at 12g you're not going to notice it on the climbs. And if you're riding in a group, it could save the ride for one of your friends. Gearmechhanger also do one that doubles as a beer bottle opener for an extra four quid.

Verdict

Useful emergency ride-saver if you snap your mech hanger out on the road

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Gearmech Hanger D99 Universal Hanger

Size tested: Blue

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Our D99 Emergency hanger , is a great little product to carry in your back pack / seat bag , for when you are out in a group of various makes of bikes , Ideal for any Cycle guides !

Fully CNC machined , this is a versatile little item , that is worth every penny , when you need it out on the trail ... Do not get stranded !

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Does a good job. Shifting and mech range isn't perfect but better than the alternative.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Easy to use, good for group rides.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Re-indexing gears, loss of range.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 102kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium 853

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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