To me, the coolest part of a bicycle is the rear derailleur. It seems to be the most complicated piece, but has a relatively simple job. It can look fancy, it can look all "business" and any manner in between.

I've been fortunate enough to have been able to try out bunches of different derailleurs, and I swap them around often enough- especially on the friction bikes. Since I have a bunch, and they look so cool, why not display them when they're not being used?

I had a few coupling nuts that were just about right- I went and picked up a few more and some bolts and screwed them on to a shelf board that the bookshelf has been long gone.

What a cool idea! I bet you could do something similar with an entire groupset

DD

Thank you!

I s'pose an "L" or "U" shaped pipe that a FD would mount to, probably wire to either run through the hub axle or hang the QR on and coupling nuts for brake bolts...

Pretty cool.
Where's an Arabesque??!!......................

Right there:

I guess my middle age eyes aren't focusing well today, thanks.

Very cool. Very nice selection.

No, they're working quite well...

Very interesting! What threading couplers did you purchase? Standard derailleur mounting bolts are M10 x 1.0mm and I couldn't find couplers with that threading.

I just pounder a couple of nails to the wall studs in my shed and hung them on there. But your display is a little more classy if you like that type of thing. Lol. Should put a Cyclone in a display by itself and make a little plaque saying "the Datsun 240z of Derailleurs".

Is that "my" Cyclone? I like the titanium Huret.

Really cool, great job OP

Very nice display...great idea...going to add more?

I haven't even fully unwrapped the one you sent yet. That came right when I was effing with the XC 3-Pulley. Once I get around to it, I'll probably put that one up, as I dig the long cage units.


I actually think they're pretty cool looking derailleurs. When I had that on the 720 with the Helicomatic hub/freewheel- that was THE smoothest shifting combo I'd ever had. Like seriously thinking I missed a shift. It just slipped right into gear perfectly. No "ka-chunk" no "thud." Just the whirr of chain.

I'm thinking about scoring a nice Simplex or Huret FD and Frenchifying my Trek 400 Elance. Right now it's got Belleri bars, Maillard wheels and Stronglight cranks. Sachs/Huret ratcheting shifters (or the Hurets that [MENTION=226065]Metacortex[/MENTION] was talking about) or Simplex Retrofricton, Duopar RD and French FD. Right now it's rolling with Cyclone/Superbe stuff.

Very tasteful, not too over-the-top.

I like stems used to have a modest assortment of beauties but they were just grouped on wall pegboard. Long gone now (but usefully) - it was my personal backlash to the conversion to unthreaded.

I made this "Simplex Prestige Desktop Award for Excellence" as a joke and to use up some scraps (including the RD itself).
Not many of my co-workers got it so it's back home doing its best work yet: paperweight.

Seems to just float there in space, huh?

I like!

I used the other threading- the derailleur bolt just has to hold the unit up. (notice my original post says "just about right") The coupler gets snugged up to the board bolt, then start the derailleur thread. Don't force it, yet be firm so the derailleur stays at the angle you want. The Duopar was a difficult case- I ended up just pounding in a nail to hold the derailleur level.

Probably. My original thought was to mount them to a piece of wooden trim from her closet when she redid the shelves and hangers and stuff. I was going to mount that across the shelves above my tool chest. I still might do that, but I'd want to figure out a better way of mounting the derailleurs so the faceplates show well.

I do have a few more "nice" units, but, as you can tell- I have a very limited scope of interest.

I've got two really cool units, still in the packaging- I don't want to mount those until it's time to mount them on a bike.

OK thanks, this is a great idea and "just about right" looks good to me!

You could probably save money and just get a regular nut and a longer bolt. It's not like it threads in very far at all, so you can thread the nut most of the way with the bolt.

In my recent full employment past, when I had a actual office (vs a cube farm holding pen), I kept a small assortment of moto and bike parts on the corner of my desk to, as my father would say, "make little boys ask questions". The pile included a cheap Shimano Eagle RD, cleaned up and lubed. It was interesting how often folks would stop by to inspect it, turn it over and over and ask questions. Even some who had seen it several times before, would pick it up and play with it while we discussed project issues and I would pretend to impart jewels of wisdom - teachin up the young'ns in the way.

I think they liked them bike parts on my desk.