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TECH NEWS

CeramicSpeed debuts aero rear derailleur cage

For those who take their aero efficiency really, really seriously; Astana Qazaqstan riders used new component in the Giro d'Italia over the weekend

CeramicSpeed is introducing an aero rear derailleur cage, the new component having been first used on the new Wilier TT Turbine New Innovation Lab bikes that Astana Qazaqstan rode in the Giro d'Italia over the weekend.

We'll come back to the bike itself in a mo and deal with the CeramicSpeed rear derailleur cage first. This isn't the first aero rear derailleur cage ever but they're hardly a common sight. CeramicSpeed's cage was fitted to a Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 Di2 derailleur (not all pro bikes are fitted with the latest Dura-Ace 9250 components yet).

2022 Wilier Turbine SLR - 1 (1).jpeg

Although we have pictures of the Aero OSPW (Oversized Pulley wheel) cage, we're relying on Triathlete magazine for our info here because CeramicSpeed says – firmly but politely – that it's not commenting further until the Tour de France.

It was a big weekend for aero bikes and components with an individual time trial at the Giro d'Italia and the Ironman World Championships taking place in the USA. We saw new bikes from Colnago and Cadex, and new wheels from Black Inc.

Check out Colnago's TT1 with prototype Campagnolo components

Triathlete reported that the pre-production Aero OSPW cage is a collaboration between CeramicSpeed and UK-based Drag2Zero – a company whose work we've covered many times on road.cc in the past, although not recently. Drag2Zero, established by aerodynamicist Simon Smart, "provides technical and aerodynamic consultancy services to the cycle industry, pro tour teams and professional triathletes". 

The Aero OSPW cage operates in the usual way, it's just that the two jockey wheels and the chain that moves over them are hidden away from the moving air.

Although CeramicSpeed has yet to release any specific claims, it's fair to say that an aero rear derailleur cage is specialist kit that's going to be used only by those chasing the most marginal of marginal gains – hence its use by pro triathletes and WorldTeam cyclists.  

It'll be available for $800 from 21 June 2022. $800 converts to about £645, although there's no guarantee that European pricing will be the same. We asked, of course, but we got that 'no comment' response from CeramicSpeed.

2022 Wilier Turbine SLR - 1.jpeg

As mentioned up top, the CeramicSpeed Aero OSPW shown here is on the Wilier TT Turbine bike used by Astana Qazaqstan riders in the Giro d'Italia over the weekend. 

"Starting from the previous frame, Wilier Triestina's Innovation Lab department has made some important changes to improve the performance, developing the Turbine SLR, a new version of Turbine that is much faster on roads with slopes and continuous changes of direction," says Wilier. "This was possible thanks to a strong reduction of the overall frame weight by 300g.
  
"In terms of design and technical solutions, the new frame has been optimised for the latest generation of groupsets, such as the new Shimano Dura-Ace. The down tube, for example, no longer has any holes for cables. 

2022 Wilier Turbine SLR extensions - 1.jpeg

"Other very important elements are the custom-made extension bars made by Wilier Triestina for the top athletes of the Kazakh team, optimised with tests in the wind tunnel and indoors inside the velodrome."
 
Although described as a prototype, the Wilier Triestina Turbine SLR has been on the UCI's List of Approved Models of Frameset for a few weeks. 

www.ceramicspeed.com
wilier.com/en

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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6 comments

Avatar
henryb | 2 years ago
2 likes

They must have been so happy when they discovered a part of the bike no one had previously done an 'aero' version of

Avatar
sparrowlegs | 2 years ago
3 likes

Yet again another totally unneeded, useless, overpriced answer to absolutely nothing!

I want one!!!

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

Question.  Would a fully or partially enclosed chain be UCI legal?

Avatar
Mat Brett replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

I don't think it would be legal. 

According to the UCI: "The addition of a fairing to cover chainwheels, chains or any other moving part of the bicycle is prohibited."

See page 47 here

Avatar
Seventyone replied to Mat Brett | 2 years ago
0 likes

Good to know that no part of the rear derailleur moves as this must presumably have been cleared for use by the UCI.

Avatar
andystow replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

It's possible it's allowed because it is the derailleur cage, replacing the stock item, not just a cover over it.

Just like aero forks and bars are allowed.

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