Bikepacking routes and multi-day gravel adventures tend to find the steepest climbs imaginable, which is exactly why the Shimano GRX RD-RX822 SGS exists. This long-cage version of the GRX 12-speed derailleur handles the 10-51T cassette that Shimano borrows from their mountain bike lineup, giving you bailout gears for loaded bikes and tired legs. Paired with a 40T chainring, that 51T cog delivers approximately 22 gear inches, which puts you in spinning territory on grades that would otherwise force you off the bike. The SGS designation indicates the longer cage required to wrap the additional chain slack created by that massive gear range.

Shadow RD+ technology positions the derailleur body closer to the frame than traditional designs, which serves two purposes on gravel bikes. Ground clearance improves when you're navigating rocky sections or rutted jeep roads, and the mechanism gains some protection from impacts if you drop the bike on its drive side. The integrated chain stabilizer uses a friction clutch to maintain consistent tension through rough terrain, eliminating the chain slap that plagues non-clutched derailleurs on washboard surfaces and chattery descents. You'll notice the difference immediately if you've been running a road derailleur on gravel.

An ON/OFF switch on the stabilizer lets you disengage the clutch when you need to remove the rear wheel. Without this switch, the added resistance from the clutch mechanism makes wheel changes more difficult than they need to be, which matters when you're fixing a flat on the side of a remote fire road. Flip the switch, pull the wheel, make your repair, and re-engage the stabilizer before rolling.... Read More