US Patent Office, Dave Rome, Twila Federica Muzzi

At first glance, SRAM seems strongly committed to 1x. It almost single-handedly convinced mountain bikers to ditch the front derailleur, and more than a decade on, the MTB world hasn’t looked back. More recently, it has started to influence the road world in the same way, with multiple WorldTour teams racing on single-chainring setups at different races throughout the year. 

But just when it looked like SRAM was preparing the front derailleur’s eulogy, a new patent suggests there’s still life in the double chainring yet.

As first spotted by a contributor to Escape Collective, a US patent application from SRAM shows a radically different chain design. It's a departure from the tried and tested profile that has remained fairly consistent since the advent of shifting. Of course, ‘radically different’ is a stretch when it comes to chains, where most innovations are subtle and hard to spot.

A new link in the chain 

When it comes to chain design, evolution has been slow. Sure, widths have narrowed, finishes have improved, materials have strengthened, and cut-outs have shaved a little weight. Inside the chain, you'll find some more notable differences in how the plates and rollers interface with the central pin (rivet). Still, the latest chains of today continue to have plenty in common with those from decades ago.

A conventional chain is made of a pin, roller and a set of alternating inner and outer plates. SRAM's patent removes the need for inner and outer plates with the stepped design acting as both.

There are also subtle curves and dimensions that most of us are never aware of, but are important enough to be patented. These small but purposeful contours define how the chain interacts with the cassette and chainring through the motion of shifting. Shimano has its Linkglide and Hyperglide+ technologies, and KMC has its double X-Bridge, all of which claim to influence shifting. Still, swap a Shimano chain for Wipperman or KMC, and it typically still shifts fine (at least to the senses of most regular riders).

When SRAM departed from conventional chain design with its AXS 12-speed Flat Top, it marked the first time a mainstream chain couldn’t be substituted by an aftermarket alternative due to its proprietary shape and increased roller diameter. We’ll leave Dura Ace 10, and ancient oddball chains for another time. 

The drawings included in the patent from SRAM illustrate exactly what this 'stepped' design would look like.

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