Carrying a Spare Derailleur Hanger

Carrying a spare derailleur hanger will help you when you’re at a loose end. You wouldn’t think a derailleur hanger would be such a crucial and essential part on a bike. Not many people know how important they actually are, but they help protect your bike frame from being damaged by snapping. Most bikes have a standard cast hanger fitted onto them, but these tend to break easily and quite quickly. Your premium derailleur hangers are usually made from 6082 T6 aluminium, which tend to have more endurance. These components are usually fitted near the front or rear on the bike frame, near the derailleur.

Derailleur hangers are also known as mech hangers, gear hangers, dropout hangers, bike hangers and rear mech hangers. Each gear hanger is specifically designed for different bike brands and models, except for emergency hangers where they are universal and do not need bolts, but these are purely used for an emergency and are only a quick fix to help you get back home.

Why Should I Carry a Spare Derailleur Hanger?

• Let’s say you’re 10 miles from home and your mech hanger snaps on a weekend planned full of riding, what do you do? If you haven’t got a replacement, it looks like you’re walking home with your bike. Although you can order one, you won’t have it in an instant and will obviously have to wait at least 24 hours after placing your order to receive a new one.
• You’re on a cycling holiday and your derailleur hanger breaks on the first day and you don’t have a spare mech hanger, what do you do? Not much you can do about it unless you rent a bike! You may be able to find a bike shop abroad, but the question is will you find the right mech hanger to fit your bike model? As helpful as online shopping is, you’ll still be waiting a couple of days to receive your new derailleur hanger, especially with being abroad. A total mood killer.
• Commuting to and from work. I know this seems trivial, but let’s say we’re in the peak of winter, it’s dark and cold, you’re cycling home from work and then BAM, your mech hanger breaks. The last thing you want to be doing is stopping trying to salvage your old derailleur hanger in the cold after work. What makes it worse is, if you don’t have a spare mech hanger, you’ll be walking it home in the dark.

Moral of the story, always carry a spare derailleur hanger! Whether it’s the right derailleur hanger for your bike or an emergency hanger to get you from A to B, having something is better than having nothing and it can save your behind.

You can shop all BETD derailleur hangers here.

You can shop our emergency derailleur hanger here.