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Ochain – known for its game-changing chainring spider that delivers a chainless-feeling ride – has been acquired by SRAM.
Initially conceived as a product for downhill racing, Ochain has rapidly grown from a prototype to a World Cup staple. Mounted between a bike’s cranks and chainring, Ochain allows the chainring to freely rotate by a certain amount without the cranks moving, creating a ‘chainless’ feeling.
Italian DH racer Loris Revelli was the first rider using Ochain in World Cup racing in 2019. “It’s hard to explain until you ride it—the bike feels like it floats more, like butter over rocks. Now, I run Ochain on every bike I own, even my e-bike—it’s that good.”
Beyond elite racing, it quickly became clear that almost any rider could use it, on everything from downhill race rigs to long-travel e-bikes and even lightweight trail bikes.
With a bike’s suspension freer to do its thing and its transmission able to float smoothly, the result is a calmer, quieter bike. Countless downhill and enduro World Cup racers use Ochain on many bike models and brands.
“The idea was to have a component that simulates the chainless feeling with the possibility to pedal”, said Fabrizio Dragoni, founder of Ochain.
After founding the company in 2019, Dragoni and his team have taken Ochain through multiple product iterations. Dragoni will continue to lead the brand from a new dedicated facility in Italy.
“We started thinking about how to make descending better through drivetrain development,” said Flynn George, Product Manager at SRAM. “We found that Ochain delivered unmatched improvements in traction, stability, and ride feel. It quiets down the chassis, reducing auditory feedback and pedal feedback. On the trail, that means improved traction and control.”
