Smooth shifting, lightweight & a stylish design all make the Sram X9 one of the most desirable rear derailleurs available. Carbon alloy cage makes the Sram X9 even lighter while still staying tough. Direct Route Heres the dirt on middlemen: they suck. Thats why Direct Route Technology doesnt have one. Instead, the cable routes directly to the actuation mechanism. Result? Less friction. Less effort. More oomph. Plus its impervious to cable housing damage. Nice. Exact Actuation When we launched our road technology from scratch we reapplied our MTB proven SRAM 1:1 actuation ratio (shifter cable travel: derailleur movement) for 10 speed rear shifting. EA helps to simplify/stabilize the uneasy act of balancing rear derailleur hanger design, tight cog spacing & exact cable tension. The result: the easie