OneUp Components and their inexpensive 1×10 Wide Range Conversion system has been one of our favorite upgrades to trail bikes. Although we’ve been running one-by drive trains off and on for years, the products from OneUp allow us to embark on trail rides that we might not have in the past, thanks to the ability to gear our bikes lower. The downside has been a drop in shifting performance, a price we willingly paid for the expanded range of gearing. With the release of the RadR cage, the shifting issue is resolved and the system is complete.
The aftermarket derailleur cage addresses the issues with slow downshifting by modding the Shimano rear derailleur. By relocating the upper pulley wheel rearward of the cage pivot, they’ve optimized the derailleur for use with the larger wide range cogs. Most importantly, you’re now able to set the B-screw properly for the rest of the cassette.
Installation of the RADr cage went fairly smoothly; if you’re already capable of setting up a bike and derailleur it’s not a big stretch. If not, we’d recommend taking it to your favorite local bike mechanic. OneUp provides a comprehensive how-to video for the installation on the product page to walk the home mechanic through the process.
Laying out the tools required for the installation.
Prepping the rear derailleur: disassembly. I decided to go with a lightly used SLX derailleur pulled from another bike, since my previous XT derailleur had a season of riding on it, as well as a broken clutch lever.
CRAP. Part of the clutch mechanism popped off while I was fitting the spring.
Fortunately I had another derailleur handy, so I simply pulled the clutch cover off in order to see how it should be aligned.
Crisis averted, the rest of the reassembly went smoothly. Reinstalling the spring and getting it to wind up correctly was the most difficult part.
My SLX rear derailleur with the RADr Cage installed.
Before reinstalling the derailleur, I double checked the alignment of the rear derailleur hanger to ensure it was straight. Best to start off with a clean slate.
And now, the best part of the RADr Cage— letting the B-screw back out and optimizing the derailleur for responsive down shifting.
At this point, I’m rocking a completely refreshed cassette and new Shimano XT chain so I can get a solid take on the RADr Cage upgrade.
I never had issues tuning the derailleur with our initial configuration, but no matter how much I tweaked and played with the setup, downshifting responsiveness was never close to stock performance. Since the large rear cog required the B-screw to be threaded all the way in, it effectively shifted like a poorly tuned derailleur. It was a compromise I was willing to put up with; fortunately the RADr Cage is the missing piece of the puzzle. With the RADr cage, you’re able run the upper pulley closer in to the rest of the cassette, improving chain wrap and responsiveness while downshifting.
Compromise over.
It’s shifting rad in the stand. (heh.)
My first real ride on the system was the first day of our southwest road trip, and it’s a significant upgrade to the wide range system.
A few thoughts:
Previous to the arrival of the RADr cage, I had been running a SRAM 10 speed chain. I only ran it for a few rides though, and I don’t recommend it with the Shimano system. Although it worked, it didn’t work well, as shifting performance diminished. I’m sticking with Shimano chains, they work better.
I’ve been experimenting with KMC quicklinks, and purchased a chain link plier for installation and removal. That said, I’m only going to use them when needed. One lives in my pack and in my trail kit for emergencies, and stick to the Shimano pins, as it does actually work better as a system.
Fortunately, it’s a system OneUp has successfully hacked, since Shimano is pushing forward with 11 speed. It’s an upgrade I’m not really interested in; why do I want a narrower chain again? I really just wanted the increased gear range, a solution provided by the OneUp upgrade.
I’m still running the 40T sprocket. I might try the 42T again at some point, but logic dictates the 40T will shift faster, and since I’m fine climbing everything so far, I’m sticking with it.
Last one: I need a RADr cage for my other 1×10 setup, like, yesterday.
While it isn’t 100% as quick to shift as a stock setup, it comes remarkably close. I didn’t think at all about shift performance of my rear derailleur on my last ride, and that’s all I can ask. If you’ve modded a 10-speed Shimano drivetrain to a wide range setup using a OneUp or other brand cog, it’s the final piece to the puzzle— an upgrade to your wide range 1×10 setup you should add immediately.
The RADr Cage sells for $55.
Check it out: OneUp components RADr Cage
View previous posts on 1×10 wide range drive train components
Shimano 1×10 Wide Range Conversion featuring the OneUp Components 42t
Review: OneUp Components 40T Sprocket
