Video: SRAM’s eulogy to the front mech
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Video: SRAM’s eulogy to the front mech

March 17, 2016

As far as we’re aware, SRAM is still making front mechs – but as our reporter Rob is out in Italy right now finding out all sorts of exciting things, you never know – but SRAM has posted this video up on YouTube, eulogising the front mech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiALL1fnolk

Can’t see the video? Click here.

In suitably sombre tones, Voiceover Man tells us all that it was fondly remembered, but that, really, the new way (led by SRAM, natch) is better…

…what say you? Cobblers, or chapeau?

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Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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30 thoughts on “Video: SRAM’s eulogy to the front mech”

  1. Mark, I like the magazine, in fact I think it has long been the best one out there. If you are worried about being insulted then can I direct you to our last exchange where you changed my forum name when you replied to the more derisive and belittling billybob! Sow – reap etc! This is a serious issue and I feel, very strongly, that limiting the range of gears, both high and low, will seriously damage the mountain bike industry. Ordinary punters will be put off buying bikes if they can’t get up a hill on them and the can’t get up a good head of speed on a descent. There is also the dark area that dogs product review journalism. Essentially you are there to enlighten us, and that’s what we pay you money for, because most of us are not able to adequately test stuff before we buy it. When the industry come out with a product which they label as a ‘wide ratio’ gear system, that actually has narrower ratios than the systems that preceded it, then I worry if you, as our paid representative, swallow what is essentially a misrepresentation of reality without challenging it on our behalf. Kind regards, billyboy

  2. Don’t forget, this is only one company saying goodbye to the front mech.
    There are others that are still embracing it and (I would think) always will…
    If you can get away with a narrower selection of gears, go 1by.
    If you need a larger range, stick with 2by or even a triple….
    All options are still covered.

  3. Calm down guys, if you want an argument, head over to Pinkbike!
    I’m personally very happy with my one by ten by Oneup, and was very upset by the irritation of deciding which shifter to use on my new road bike commuter thing, to the extent that I just ignore the front shifter now…
    But… I don’t mind what anyone else wants to use, I just don’t want them to tell me that their way is the only way. That’s kind of how wars get started!

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