PSA: Bike Snob’s “Outside” feature on Rivendell, Riv bikes, and the OM-1 rear derailleur

[Patrick Moore]

https://bikesnobnyc.com/2025/07/25/this-just-in-new-outside-thingy-about-new-chain-moving-thingy/

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Johnny Alien]

I wish this had a big pulley. I have grown to love that look especially on hilly bikes. I don't think I can give it up now

[thomasl...@comcast.net]

The article kind of suggests a connection between the OM-1 and friction shifting. I can imagine that labelling on any shifters could be rendered inaccurate and that such labels are more likely to appear on indexed shifters. But is there any other way in which the OM-1 compromises indexed shifting? Am I missing something?

I'm definitely getting at least one (one to use, a backup, and probably one to replace the one I somehow mysteriously mangle when I run over it or just ruin it when bolting it on; it's not paranoia when there's history) regardless. I have enough friction shifting equipment that could use a pretty derailer. My own experience with RapidRise (I've got a stash) is entirely positive.

Low-normal is my preference but not an addiction. So I've also got a stash of Altus "Big Pulley" M310 derailers in what they call "silver" color, which were hard to find when I was actually looking; when I finally saw a reasonble deal I got a few to be ready to give them a try right away when the mood strikes me or when my last RapidRise craps out, whichever comes first. I've since stopped looking for them of course, so it wouldn't surprise me if they've been in sufficient supply every week other than the week when I sought them. Oh well.

Indexed shifting is my general preference but also not an addiction. It's not even a constant preference. On occasion I do prefer the smooth action of a friction shifter. I'm not a performance cyclist and I'm not a terrible friction-shifter; my friction-shifting skills meet my needs. And I definitely like the cleanliness of having shifters inside the bars, which friction shifting challenges less.

But I do hope I will not be mysteriously (to me as of now, anyway) limited to friction shifting with the OM-1.

+1 for the big-pulley look. Ahh! Imagine a silver index-supporting low-normal derailer with big pulleys and a shorter cage! (I really do not need to soak up oodles of teeth; I live near the Illinois Prairie Path.)

Even when good stuff comes along we always want more better stuff. :-)

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

who would prefer to prefer a 1x8 setup but simply cannot shake off the 2x8, which probably is an addiction

[Steve]

Patrick - thanks for the tip on the BSNYC Outside article. I follow the Snob but hadn't gotten around to reading his last couple of posts yet. 

I am eagerly waiting for September to roll around. Although I've been pleased with the performance of the solid black Microshift RD on my 3x9 Platypus, it is, shall I say, less than complementary to the fine lines of the 'Pus. 

Thomas, I'm going to posit that if the length of cable pull actuated by your indexed shifter moves the OM-1 the same distance as it does the derailleur currently paired with your shifter, it should work just fine (the relationship between the two is generally expressed as a ratio). If they don't match, then not so much. That's the beauty of friction shifting;  you control the amount of cable pull at the shifter, not the preset detents on the indexed shifter. 

Steve in AVL

[Danny]

Thomas, Grant's latest blahg had photos of the OM-1 user guide which said this about indexed shifting:

The OM-1 works with 9sp indexed shifters, but it comes ALIVE with friction shifting.

https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/grant-petersens-blog/june-blahg-1

Danny
Madison, WI

[Jim Cole]

Love the graphics in the user guide! Pretty dang cool.

Jim Cole

Memphis, TN USA

[thomasl...@comcast.net]

Thanks for pointing out that comment. I take it to mean that, using an appropriate Shimano 9spd shifter, the OM-1 moves the same amount per click as a Shimano 9spd derailer.

This, plus some other webbernet "research", convinces me that I should be able to do what I want (roughly, 8spd rear indexing without consideration of mountain vs road) with an OM-1.

Yours,

Thomas Lynn Skean

On Friday, July 25, 2025 at 10:56:51 PM UTC-5 Danny wrote:

Thomas, Grant's latest blahg had photos of the OM-1 user guide which said this about indexed shifting:

The OM-1 works with 9sp indexed shifters, but it comes ALIVE with friction shifting.

https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/grant-petersens-blog/june-blahg-1

Danny
Madison, WI

On Friday, July 25, 2025 at 9:11:08 PM UTC-5 wrote:

Patrick - thanks for the tip on the BSNYC Outside article. I follow the Snob but hadn't gotten around to reading his last couple of posts yet. 

I am eagerly waiting for September to roll around. Although I've been pleased with the performance of the solid black Microshift RD on my 3x9 Platypus, it is, shall I say, less than complementary to the fine lines of the 'Pus. 

Thomas, I'm going to posit that if the length of cable pull actuated by your indexed shifter moves the OM-1 the same distance as it does the derailleur currently paired with your shifter, it should work just fine (the relationship between the two is generally expressed as a ratio). If they don't match, then not so much. That's the beauty of friction shifting;  you control the amount of cable pull at the shifter, not the preset detents on the indexed shifter. 

Steve in AVL

[Keith Paugh]

Has anyone seen a hard availability date on the OM-1?

k.

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[Hetchins52]

Not a hard date, but the Bike Snob article in Outside says this:

"Rivendell’s OM-1 rear derailleur will be available in mid-September, the company states."

David Lipsky

Berkeley, CA

[Roberta]

Russ from Path  less pedaled just posted.  It’s the first few minutes of video. He’s looking forward to it and references Bike Snob’s article. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWje7UmBd2w

Roberta

[Kesler Roberts]

Any reason this wouldn't work with 10 spd indexing?  Isn't the cable pull the same on 8/9/10?  I'm running a 9 speed XTR rear derailer with 10 speed DA downtube shifters now with no problems, but I'll be tempted to get the OM once it's out.

[Patrick Moore]

IMO, why bother with indexing when modern derailleurs, chains, and cogs shift so, so wonderfully, precisely, quickly in friction. Each to his or her own, but I may just replace the lovely Barcon-shifted DA 7402 rd now on the Matthews off-road road bike with an OM-1 and live with the LN design.

Patrick “but all my vintage Sturmey Archer IGH drivetrains are indexed” Moore

[Ted Durant]

On Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 2:52:54 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote:

IMO, why bother with indexing when modern derailleurs, chains, and cogs shift so, so wonderfully, precisely, quickly in friction.

My favorite 4 shifting systems are, in no particular order:

  Shimano 9-speed indexed bar-ends with any compatible rear derailer

  SRAM Force 22 (including brifters)

  SRAM Red 10-speed with Simplex retrofriction bar-end shifters

  Campagnolo Daytona 9-speed (including brifters)

So, I like indexed and friction and use both quite happily. For me, handlebar-mounted shifters always seem more easy to use than downtube. For any extended event where I'd be concerned about system resilience, I'd go with Shimano 9-speed bar-ends because they have a fabulous friction mode. Any ride where fatigue is a factor, snappy indexed shifting rises in utility for me.

Maybe the Campy group belongs at the bottom of the list, in terms of shifting performance, but I really like the shape of the brake levers. 

Ted Durant

Milwaukee WI USA