Another grammer/spelling topic that you are free to ignore but...

I long ago decided to spell it "derailer" because it derails a chain from one gear to another. But I stop short of taking the more positive approach and calling it a re-railer. Guess I'm not one for traditional spellings.

Sheldon Brown spells it as Derailer, with one "l". https://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Derailleur is of French origin, I would guess. Websters offers Derailleur and not Derailer or Derailler.

I'm all for simplification. I figure if you're going to call it a "derailleur," you should pronounce it "duh rye uhr," as it would be in French. But I see nothing wrong with calling it a "dee rai lee yer" and spelling it "derailer" as this is just the way languages (and spellings) evolve.

What really kills me is the "frenchification" applied to the faux-French word "pannier." A lot of people mispronounce it as "pan yay," thinking it must be a French word. In fact, the actual French word for those bags you clip to the rear rack happens to be "les sacoches." In France, a "pannier" is that basket in which you hold the bread. Or it could be the thing that makes the woman's skirt billow outward. "Pannier" (pronounced "pan yer") is actually an American Wild West word, and it refers to those bags carried on the backs of mules that prospectors used in the Gold Rush days. Its meaning has evolved to mean those big rear bicycle (or motorcycle) bags that serve pretty much the same function. So feel free to pronounce it exactly as it's spelled: pannier!

Luis

So, my panyer sits over my derailer. Have I got that right?

I've always spelled it derailleur and pronounced it [ dih-rey-ler ].

How about we just call it a 'shifter' and be done with it! Yeah I know the shifter is something else, but...

And your derier over top that.

That's "derriere," as in "Londonderry Air."

Luis

It is of French origin and roughly translates to "to go off the rails". Pronounce and spell as you wish. It can't be any worse than "foyer".

And thanks to all them horderves my derier really needs to use them derailers. Zut alors...

Edited as the daft server don't understand Le Francois...

Pardon me, I thought this was about "smelling" derailleurs. Please continue.

From Wikepedia: "Various derailleur systems were designed and built in the late 1800s. The French bicycle tourist, writer and cycling promoter Paul de Vivie (1853–1930), who wrote under the name Velocio, invented a two speed rear derailleur in 1905 which he used on forays into the Alps."

So, it's French....I guess you get a choice to spell it the French way or Anglicize (Americanize?) it if you like. My own preference is to use the language of origin. That's just 'cause I like language.

In Spain, it's a descarrilador. In Arabic, it's أ. ميكانيكية الغيار في الدراجة الهوائية

Sacre bleu mes amis!

How about chain-a-ma-jig?

My solution is to just rid my bikes of all them there dee ray ler thingies and replace em with real transmissions. That way, I don't have to fret over spelling.
Only, is it gearhub, or gear hub? Spell check doesn't like when you try to make it one word.

The one at the back is the RD and the one in front of me (I'm on 'bents) is the FD. Easy to spell and pronounce.

How about the mavericks among us call it whatever the F they feel like, and the purists among us call it "derailleur".

Sample exchange:

Mav: "I had to pull a stick outta my chain-a-ma-jig today."
Pur: "You mean the derailleur?"
Mav: "You can call it that too, if you want."

And we move on.

Here's hoping you're not a surgeon.

I say anglicize it as the French don't know how to spell anyway.
What other language has nine different ways to spell "O"?

Never mind how to spell it. I can see that! How do you pronounce it?
I have friends in Holland. We have an agreement. I don't laugh at the way they pronounce
English, they don't laugh at how I pronounce Dutch. We have remained friends.

Chain freedom thing.

Dérailleur

30% of all English words have French origins. Just be thankful your pannier and your derailleur are both masculine.