Ochain, the game-changing chainring spider is acquired by SRAM
Today, SRAM has announced that the Italian developed, designed and built Ochain brand is now part of their family.
Ochain is a device that bolts onto mountain bike chainrings to improve the feel and control of the bike on downhills. Initially it was developed for Enduro and Downhill racing. More recently it is becoming very popular on long-travel eBikes and lightweight trail bikes too.
Ochain was founded by Fabrizio Dragoni in 2019 and since then his team have taken Ochain through multiple product iterations. “The idea was to have a component that simulates the chainless feeling with the possibility to pedal” said Fabrizio. He will continue to lead the brand from a new dedicated facility in Italy.
Essentially, how it works is on descents or when the rider is not pedaling, Ochain allows the chainring to freely rotate by a certain amount, without the cranks moving. This creates a ‘chainless’ feeling with little to no chain induced feedback coming into a rider’s feet. By effectively ‘disconnecting’ the chain, the bike’s suspension is not impeded in any way and the result is a calmer, quieter bike.
“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.” //
