Derailleurbased

Derailleurbased is a term used in cycling to describe a drivetrain philosophy or design approach that prioritizes derailleur-based gear shifting as the core mechanism of a bicycle's transmission. It emphasizes the external chain pathway, modular components, and a broad range of gears, in contrast to alternative systems such as internal gear hubs or belt drives.

The word combines derailleur, the device that moves the chain between sprockets, with based, indicating a foundation or orientation. The term appears in online cycling forums, repair guides, and some light industrial literature, usually in contexts where enthusiasts discuss legacy setups, retrofits, or performance optimization that keeps the traditional derailleur mechanism central.

Typical derailleurbased designs favor standard chain drive compatibility across multiple frame types, ease of maintenance, widespread availability of parts, and straightforward tunability. Critics note higher vulnerability to mud and weather, greater weight, and the need for regular adjustment and precise indexing. In practice, derailleurbased configurations are common on road and mountain bikes that use external derailleurs and cassette systems, and they are often a default choice for retrofits or upgrades that preserve traditional shifting behavior.

See also: Derailleur, Bicycle drivetrain, External gear hub, Belt drive, Gear indexing.