Subcategories

• 

  Shimano OSPW

  Shimano · 2026 selection guide

  Which CyclingCeramic derailleur cage should you choose for your Shimano derailleur?

  If your derailleur is Shimano road or GRX, you are already in the right section. The next choice depends mainly on how you ride: Race for all-round road use, Pro for a fast or aero road bike, Aero for time trial and triathlon, and GRX Pro for gravel.

  An oversized derailleur cage can improve your drivetrain without replacing the entire groupset: larger pulley wheels reduce chain articulation, ceramic bearings reduce rotational resistance, and the carbon cage can also give a bike you already enjoy a more modern, premium appearance.

  Start with your bike and the way you ride

  All-round road

  Race

  The straightforward choice if you want better drivetrain efficiency, a light cage and the option to personalize your bike with anodized pulley-wheel colours.

  Ultegra / Dura-Ace Shimano 105 Fast road / aero bike

  Pro

  Solid pulley wheels, carbon cage and 14/19 architecture. Our preferred choice for an aero road bike that still needs to remain versatile, including in the mountains.

  Ultegra / Dura-Ace Shimano 105 TT / Triathlon

  Aero

  The most specialized option: a highly faired shape designed primarily for fast courses, time trial and triathlon.

  Shimano 12-speed Shimano 11-speed Gravel

  GRX Pro

  The gravel-specific option: solid 14/19 pulley wheels and a more closed profile, better suited to dusty, sandy or muddy environments.

  View GRX Pro

  Race: the most versatile road option

  The Race uses open 14-tooth upper and 19-tooth lower pulley wheels running on ceramic bearings. It suits riders who want to improve drivetrain efficiency while keeping the system light, simple and visually customizable.

  • 98 g measured on the 2026 versions
  • 4 spring-tension positions on current models
  • Available for Shimano 105 and Ultegra / Dura-Ace
  • Several anodized pulley-wheel colours

  The Shimano 105 Race uses the same technical base and the same measured 98 g weight; the main difference from the Ultegra / Dura-Ace version is the mounting interface designed for the 105 derailleur.

  

  Pro: particularly well suited to aero road bikes

  The Pro keeps the 14/19 principle and ceramic bearings but replaces the open pulley wheels with solid pulley wheels. It is aimed at riders who frequently ride fast and want a more closed profile without moving to a fully faired cage.

  Velo-Perso.com opinion: on an aero road bike such as a Canyon Aeroad, the Pro is probably the most natural compromise. It makes sense at high speed without turning the bike into a machine designed only for flat roads: it remains perfectly suitable for slower sections, rolling terrain and occasional mountain riding. It also works very well on a time-trial or triathlon bike; the Aero version is simply the more specialized option. Aero roadPro preferred Occasional mountainsPerfectly suitable TT / TriPro or Aero depending on specialization

  Still riding Shimano 11-speed? You do not have to replace the groupset

  An Ultegra R8000/R8050 or Dura-Ace R9100/R9150 remains an excellent drivetrain. The current range lets you modernize this type of bike without replacing a complete groupset simply because it is no longer the latest generation.

  Ultegra R8000 / R8050 and Dura-Ace R9100 / R9150

  The current Race and Pro versions retain broad backward compatibility with these 11-speed derailleurs, including the relevant SS/GS variants.

  Race 11/12s Pro 11/12s Aero 11s

  Ultegra 6700/6800 and Dura-Ace 7900/9000

  With these older groups, the goal is often different: keep and refresh an excellent derailleur rather than chase the latest generation.

  View the 16/16 cage

  Why an oversized cage can improve a Shimano drivetrain

  Less chain articulation

  A larger pulley-wheel diameter reduces the angle imposed on each chain link. The principle therefore aims to reduce part of the mechanical loss created by this repeated articulation.

  Ceramic bearings

  Both pulley wheels rotate continuously whenever you pedal. Low-resistance bearings therefore make particular sense at this point in the drivetrain.

  Carbon cage

  The carbon structure provides a stiff, precise component with a more premium appearance than many stock derailleur cages.

  Modernize without replacing everything

  For many riders, there is also an economic and emotional benefit: keep a reliable groupset, improve how it works and give the bike a new lease of life rather than replacing an entire drivetrain.

  Installation: what to check

  • Allow for roughly 2 to 4 additional chain links depending on the original setup
  • Ideally use a new chain or one in excellent condition
  • Adjust B-tension after installation
  • Check indexing across the full cassette
  • Select the spring-tension position that suits your use on current models

  Tip: a high-performance cage cannot compensate for a dry, badly worn or poorly adjusted chain. Correct setup and lubrication remain essential.

  Frequently asked questions

  Which cage should I choose for Shimano Ultegra R8150 or Dura-Ace R9250?

  Choose Race for light, all-round road use; Pro if your bike is aero-oriented or you frequently ride fast; and Aero if the bike is used mainly for time trial or triathlon.

  Which cage should I choose for Shimano 105 Di2 R7150?

  Race and Pro are both available with a mounting interface specific to Shimano 105. Race prioritizes versatility and customization; Pro uses solid pulley wheels and is particularly well suited to aero road bikes.

  Is the Shimano 105 Race different from the R8150/R9250 Race?

  The technical base is the same: 14/19 pulley wheels, ceramic bearings, 2026 four-position design and a measured weight of 98 g. The main difference is the mounting interface designed for the 105 derailleur.

  Can I fit a current cage to a Shimano 11-speed R8000 or R9100 derailleur?

  Yes. Race and Pro retain broad compatibility with Ultegra R8000/R8050 and Dura-Ace R9100/R9150 series, including the relevant variants.

  Is the Pro suitable if I also ride in the mountains?

  Yes. Pro is aimed at fast and aero road bikes but remains a versatile road cage. It is perfectly suitable for rolling routes and occasional mountain riding.

  Which cage should I choose for Shimano GRX?

  GRX Pro is the preferred option for gravel. Its solid 14/19 pulley wheels and more closed profile are better suited to an environment exposed to dust, sand and mud.

  Do I have to replace my Shimano groupset to improve drivetrain efficiency?

  Not necessarily. An oversized cage can improve specific parts of the drivetrain — chain articulation, pulley bearings and cage stiffness — while allowing you to keep a Shimano groupset that already works very well.

  Not riding Shimano after all? See our SRAM derailleur cages or Campagnolo derailleur cages.

• 

  Sram

  SRAM Derailleur Cages: Optimization and Performance

  CyclingCeramic derailleur cages for SRAM are designed to enhance smoothness and reduce friction. Thanks to their oversized pulleys and ceramic bearings, they optimize drivetrain efficiency for SRAM 10, 11, and 12-speed groupsets, including AXS and XPLR.

  Whether you ride road, gravel, or triathlon, an optimized cage can extend the lifespan of your drivetrain and increase efficiency by reducing energy losses.

  What are the advantages of CyclingCeramic cages for SRAM?

  • Reduced friction → smoother drivetrain.
  • High-quality ceramic bearings → increased durability.
  • Oversized pulleys (14/19 or 16/16) → improved chain movement.
  • Compatible with all SRAM 10, 11, and 12-speed groupsets.

  Which cage should you choose for your SRAM drivetrain?

  Model	Compatibility	Bearings	Pulley Size	Max Cassette Compatibility	Weight	Key Features	Release Date
  SRAM 10-11V Mechanical Cage	SRAM 10/11S Red, Force, Rival	Ceramic	16/16	11/32	65g	Improved chain movement	2018
  SRAM eTap 11V Cage	SRAM 11S eTap	Ceramic	14/19	11/32	65g	Optimized for electronic shifting	2020
  SRAM Gravel Cage	SRAM Apex1, Rival 1, Force 1	Ceramic	14/19	11/42	65g	Optimized gravel drivetrain	2020
  SRAM AXS Cage	SRAM Red, Force, Rival AXS	Ceramic	14/19	10/36	70g	Optimized AXS drivetrain	2020
  SRAM AXS Aero Cage	SRAM Red, Force, Rival AXS	Ceramic	14/19	10/36	140g	Aerodynamic optimization	2024
  SRAM AXS Race Cage	SRAM AXS, XPLR	Ceramic	14/19	10/44	100g	Lightweight open-design pulleys for performance	2025
  SRAM AXS Pro Cage	SRAM AXS, XPLR	Ceramic	14/19 Aero	10/44	115g	Solid pulleys, aerodynamic and versatile	2025

• 

  Campagnolo

  Cyclingceramic has released in 2023 the Campagnolo OSPW series for 11 and 12s derailleurs.

  Select your derailleur type: 11,12s, mechanical or EPS

  Select the color that you want: black, red, gold, blue