Meet Fairdale Bikes' Front Derailleur Repurposing Division - Video

Apr 19, 2016 at 2:51
by Pinkbike Staff  

bigquotesThe bicycle industry has deemed shifting the front chainrings on your bicycle to be unnecessary. The front derailleur has been declared dead. The Fairdale R&D team has the vision to see that the front derailleur still has plenty of life left in it. The incredibly dynamic mechanical range of the front derailleur has many potential uses. The newly formed Fairdale Bikes Front Derailleur Repurposing Division (FBFDRD) is focused on honoring the front derailleur by finding new and practical uses for this beloved bicycle mechanism. Here's a sampling of our latest projects.


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62 Comments
  • 131 3
 I need to make one of those bottle openers.
  • 9 1
 ASAP
  • 29 1
 DI2 bottle opener. For those with even more dispensable income
  • 10 1
 Totally. As I was watching I was all "Ha Ha Ha, LOL, Silly, Goofy, wait a minute now... I think I want that bottle opener."
  • 25 1
 HAHA this is brilliant! Just the other day I considered putting a front derailleur on to make use of XT Di2. Now I want to buy two sets and build a pinball table instead!
  • 11 2
 +1 on the pinball machine
  • 7 1
 Wireless pinball? Now we're talking.
  • 11 3
 Cool story bro time: I have had a man-crush on Taj since witnessing his video part in UGP's Face Value back in 97. I still do. His downside tailwhips are a gift from the gods! Anyways, I was working at Interbike a few years ago and took the opportunity to try to talk to him at the Fairdale booth. I waited until it was clear and as I started walking over, we both made eye contact and both immediately looked down at the carpet. There was still a good 20 feet of carpet to walk. The awkwardness was too much for me to bear in that instant, and I pivoted mid-stride and walked/ran out of the booth like a 12 year old. I'm a grown ass man. In hindsight I don't know what I would have said. It would probably have gone down like the "Chris Farley Show" on SNL when he interviews McCartney. I hope to actually talk to him one day. Stay rad, Taj!
  • 4 0
 I'm in that club as well and I'll share my meeting Taj story for you. I was visiting Woodward camp, this was maybe 1999? 2000 ? In any case, Taj was there riding that week and I had already watched him shred the (then brand new) Cloud 9 mini ramp/spine and I was completely overwhelmed with the speed and style the man possessed in person. At that time my exposure to him was mostly through bmx magazines, still shots, that only told part of the story. I digress- point is - I finally caught up with him outside Lot 8 and myself and couple other dudes approached and started conversation. I pretty much froze up and couldn't think of anything to say- so we just start asking him about his bike... We were asking him about his new compact gearing, he was running a profile hub and a 36t if I remember correct and that was pretty new at the time. We asked him how he liked it- he didn't. So there we were standing with Taj, talking about his bike, like any of us did on a daily basis with our friends. He was a regular guy, with a fairly regular bike. Spray painted blue, all beat up from his daily radness in the park. Humble and friendly. I'll never forget it. @Broth-Ratchurch
  • 4 0
 @Broth-Ratchurch I had a giant poster from Ride on my wall with Taj doing the downside tailwhip you speak of. Rad AF.
  • 3 0
 Taj fan since Primo VHS. Also had a Hoffman video with him wearing overalls. Childhood hero. I wanted a barcode so bad. He's still my all time favorite. Sorry akrigg, you're number 2.
  • 14 3
 Oliver You're famous bro!????
  • 2 0
 dude you cant change your flag to new zealand just cause your riding in new zealand right now
  • 3 0
 @wiscobiker: why not?? Haha I changed it so I can get all the posts aimed for NZ. It's helpful for places to ride, events, etc Razz
  • 1 0
 @mtbracer4098: because you are from 'MURICA
  • 9 1
 waste not want not taj is awesome
  • 10 1
 cute cat
  • 8 2
 Give it 3 years. Front derailleurs will be back as the new, game-changing component. Great video.
  • 5 1
 This is what happens when you live somewhere that you can't ride all year. Winter forces you to fiend other ways to play with your bike stuff.
  • 7 1
 11/10, would enjoy again.
  • 6 1
 Might be one of the best videos without any riding ever made.
  • 4 1
 MacGyver would be proud of you! Cleo the Cat is Awesome! I need that Pinball
  • 5 1
 100% awesome
  • 3 0
 Never has "too much time on their hands" been more truthful.
  • 1 0
 Liked the pinball thing and the bottle opener best. Thats real repurposing
  • 2 1
 where can i buy this bottleopener?pinkbike store?....i really need it sooo bad????????
  • 2 0
 Now Shimano can increase sales...
  • 2 1
 Totally making that bottle opener! I still have my deraillier and shifter from my 1x10 conversion so I'm set!
  • 4 2
 front derailleur are not dead, 3Xlives on!
  • 2 1
 best 5 minutes of my day,i would share, but dont think anyone would get it.
  • 2 0
 Actually 3 speed rear der. is awesome idea, down, flat and up gear;
  • 1 0
 Kinda fox style
  • 2 3
 Ironic that they post about trolls, when this entire video is trolling front derailleur's. Either way though, the light switch idea was not bad. Front derailleur's aren't going anywhere though.
  • 3 0
 Disagree. While I haven't read the trolling article yet (that's next), trolling is typically defined as making a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.

I'm not sure where this video is doing that. I would suggest the video was made as fun to poke fun at the industry and one of the trends currently crashing over everyone. I don't see anyone on this thread being provoked or responding angrily to the any of the items presented in the video. Especially...especially...the bottle opener.

In fact, this is actually an instructional for repurposing currently inactive parts. Oh wait. They said that.
  • 1 0
 @iammarkstewart: I had the volume off on my iPad.....

Either way my comment was in jest and you didn't need to dignify it... Haha
  • 3 0
 @ 1:07 "COCK SHOX"
  • 2 0
 haha at 1:06 there's a CockShox sticker on the vise! where do I get one??
  • 2 0
 Good eye, find 2 RockShox stickers and carefully cut the C out of one then place it over the R on the other sticker. CockShox
  • 1 0
 @ojcooper: that is too funny I'm going to make one for sure thanks
  • 2 1
 seriously, that bottle opener.
  • 2 0
 Those botte openers !!!
  • 1 0
 Love this! Thanks Rhythm Bike Shop and Fairdale!!
  • 6 5
 I bet this is SRAM mocking Shimano
  • 3 3
 Yeah... Plus all front deralieus appeared are Shimano.... I bet they are really happy and collaboratve with this... Good strategy from Sram... But we shouldn t be that naive and recognize whats behind... This dudes must be have paid from some marketing budget for this extensive work.... Anyway gret job... Keep entertainning us...
  • 2 1
 That was awesome. I kind of want to build a pinball machine now.
  • 2 1
 bottle opener was the best!
  • 1 0
 Those remote light switches would be cool with Di2 because no cables.
  • 1 0
 Di2 has cables... Incase you didn't know
  • 1 0
 @piersgritten: Sorry, didn't know that. I thought that it was wireless but I probably misreaded something when there was post about Di2.
  • 1 0
 @EmilsV: The recent post (XT going Di2) was kinda poorly worded ... the wireless connectivity is to your phone or tablet, in which you can adjust settings and change things on the fly.

You still need an electrical connection from the control unit/screen to the rear derailleur and shifter though.
  • 2 1
 This pinball machine actually looked really fun haha
  • 1 0
 How much for this kind of commercial add?
  • 1 0
 Awesome.
  • 1 0
 Lmao nice tup
  • 2 2
 What did I just watched!!!lol
  • 1 0
 Yeah Fairdale!
  • 1 1
 I say give em to a roadie
  • 1 0
 lol@ cock shox
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