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Podcast #066 – What’s up with… the SRAM UDH?

podcast cover image of SRAM universal derailleur hanger
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It may surprise you to learn that the SRAM UDH, or Universal Derailleur Hanger, is half plastic.

When we learned that it used mixed materials, I wondered what else we didn’t know about this now nearly ubiquitous mountain bike component. So I called up SRAM MTB marketing manager Chris Mandell to learn more, and it’s surprising just how much there is to know about this tiny part.

This is my first “What’s up with…” episode, a new format where I’ll be exploring parts and technologies that most of us ride every day but have secrets to tell.

Take a closer look at the UDH and you’ll see the alloy body with plastic overmolded around it. That plastic material acts like a washer between the frame and hanger, letting it “slip” and rotate up and back to protect the derailleur in an impact.

In most cases, you can simply rotate it back into position and resume your ride. But, should it actually break, a replacement is easy to find at most shops and guaranteed to fit any UDH-equipped bike.

The plastic is also ramped to guide your chain back onto the smallest cog if it happens to jump off. That ramp also protects the frame a little, too.

SRAM may have trademarked “UDH”, but the design is an open standard anyone can use. Others, like Wheels Manufacturing in an anodized rainbow of colors or The Robert Axle Project in simple black, are making their own versions that are all metal for improved stiffness and shift precision.

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David
David
2 years ago

Great podcast thanks

CRaig
CRaig
2 years ago

Great concept. I already own 1 bike with the UDH. Hopefully more bike manufacturers continue to adopt this. The number of different hangers on various bikes is absolute madness.

Vince Dixon
Vince Dixon
2 years ago

I can’t wait until Specialized unveils UDH+. Just like UDH, but “it works better with our bikes!”

MDP
MDP
2 years ago
Reply to  Vince Dixon

They will also claim that their UDH+ also works as little suspension that absorves 0.687% more vibrations and bumps than other brands ones!

Daniel Goss
Daniel Goss
1 year ago

Unfortunately, contrary to popular marketing, the UDH is still frame specific, they aren’t all the same…

Dave
Dave
1 year ago

I sheared 2 derailleurs off at the plastic part in one day when installing them, using specified torque rating that is printed on the side of the bolt (25nm) and that fitting seems totally overkill, they can’t handle being much more than nipped up. I guess this is probably the design of it to protect what could be a $1000 derailleur if axs, but certainly pissed me of spending $35 on something which lasted less than 30 seconds having followed fitting guidelines exactly

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