Few mechanical inventions inspire the same devotion as the bicycle derailleur — a small but ingenious device that has shaped cycling performance for more than a century. In The Dérailleur Project Expanded Edition, photographer Robert Jones celebrates this evolution through stunning studio images of 57 vintage and modern derailleurs from Campagnolo, Shimano, SRAM, and boutique makers around the world. Building on his original 2023 release, this expanded edition transforms a technical component into a work of art, blending cycling history, design, and craftsmanship in exquisite photographic detail. Whether you’re a bike technology enthusiast, collector, or lover of fine photography, this book offers a rare visual journey through the artistry of shifting.
There is an undeniable fascination with bicycle technology. Considering the advances in precision machining in the 19th Century, the emergence of the “modern” safety bicycle was strangely slow but its improvement has been very gradual. Unlike a locomotive, say, this reflects the human scale of the machine which could be tinkered with by individuals with mechanical ability. Simplicity has been the hallmark of the bicycle, with everything visible and workings that anyone can understand. In 2023 we reviewed a beautiful photo book narrowed down to a a specific component, the rear derailleur, here. Now photographer Robert Jones has returned with an expanded edition of “The D>érailleur Project.” Where previously the selection featured 24 examples, this new book gives us no fewer than 57 models to wonder at, with all highlighted by the same superb detailed photography.
A 1952 Campagnolo product, the Sport, made until 1957 opens “The Dérailleur Project Expanded Edition”. The earlier edition began with a 1963 derailleur. Again, each photograph is accompanied by a short paragraph giving the history of the unit, spread over two pages.
The old favourites featured in the first book are augmented by somewhat forgotten units produced by big brands. Do we recall the Olympus, or the 980 from Campagnolo? And perhaps best forgotten was Campy’s initial attempt at the MTB market with Euclid. However, some of us still use and enjoy Campagnolo’s Racing Triple, which dates back to 1998 and apparently incorporated technology from both the high-end Record line as well as the mid-priced Athena groupset. Not really geared for touring but rather quickly overtaken by modern gearing for racing, it remains a novelty.
European brands are significant but beyond Campagnolo one is struck by the extinction of so many component manufacturers there: Mavic, Huret, Ofmega, Rino, Zeus. That is not to suggest their derailleurs were not any good. While the book shows the so-so Simplex 5X630 there is no entry for the excellent Simplex Super LJ series. On the positive side, the book also passes over the truly dreadful Simplex derailleurs post-1962 made from Delrin plastic! Even Asian brands that seemed destined for greatness did not always survive. The earlier book had the Suntour Superb Pro and Cyclone, and the new edition adds the Suntour GT of 1970, meant for the entry-level market, and the improved Cyclone GT.
Shimano remains, obviously, the Big Kahuna of bicycle components, and its product line is very well-represented in the book. The earliest example is the Positron II from 1977, featuring the first index shifting. This marks the beginning of the company’s impressive history of innovation. But how many are aware that Shimano made derailleurs for Schwinn that were branded with the American company’s name? Two examples are here and must be quite rare.
Yes, the United States not just borrowed from Shimano but the era of CNC-machining saw the rise of domestic manufacturers able to produce visually-striking and highly-functional derailleurs. The more familiar of these would be the ones from Paul Component Engineering for mountain bikes but there are others in the business that will also be new to readers. Vivo, based in New York, assembles imported premium mountain bike components in small batches and has done so for three decades—no fewer than five of its derailleurs make an appearance here.
Oregon-based Madrone is another specialist in CNC-machined derailleurs, designed for 1x bikes whether mountain, gravel or electric. Parts are sourced overseas and assembled in the United States. The Madrone Jab looks beautiful!
The Big Three of Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM are all present but “The Dérailleur Project Expanded Edition” has plenty to intrigue and all of it in sharp, beautiful images. The reader may think that there can’t be that much difference between mechanical (or even electronic) devices that do pretty much the same thing but history shows that the path to the perfect shift has taken many paths.
Mr. Jones writes: “The Dérailleur Project” was inspired by love and
fascination for bicycles and their simple yet complicated design. My goal was to create a book to the absolute best of my abilities as a photographer and artist at this point in my journey. It truly represents my dedication and commitment to my craft with no compromises and illustrates my passion for studio photography, cycling and bicycles! I created it and put it out into the world with the hope that people will truly enjoy the book and recognize that it was a genuine labor of love.”
In our view this book is at least as much of an art project as it is of a history of 68 years of rear shifters since 1952. It is a very finely produced volume and priced accordingly. Mr. Jones has fine art prints available of all the examples. Clearly a labour of love, it deserves to be shared by the wider world of cycling and photography enthusiasts.
The Dérailleur Project Expanded Edition” by Robert Jones
120 pp., illustrated, printed in full colour
8.5” x 8.5”, printed on coated matte white, pH neutral and long-life archival paper, with a soft-touch laminated cover
R.D. Jones Photo, Boulder, Colorado, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-9893385-2-8
Price: US$80
To order and for further information re shipping, please go to the author’s website here: https://rdjonesphoto.com/the-derailleur-project-book
The book is also available via E-Bay here.
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