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.
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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
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.
TT / Triathlon
Aero
The most specialized option: a highly faired shape designed primarily for fast courses, time trial and triathlon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Which derailleur cage for your Shimano?
Start with how you ride, then choose your derailleur. Four families cover most current Shimano setups.
All-round road
Race
14/19, ceramic bearings, light and customizable. The most versatile choice.
Fast road / aero
Pro
Solid pulley wheels: ideal for an aero bike while remaining fully suitable for mountain riding.
Gravel
GRX Pro
Solid 14/19 pulley wheels and a more closed profile for gravel conditions.
Still unsure? Race = all-round road · Pro = fast/aero road · Aero = TT / triathlon · GRX Pro = gravel. Shimano 11-speed R8000/R8050 and R9100/R9150 groups are also very well covered by the current range.