Patent ID: 7674198

Claim:
A bicycle rear derailleur comprising: a main derailleur body having a first end and a second end with the first end being configured to be mounted to a bicycle; a chain cage pivotally coupled to the second end of the main derailleur body between at least a first orientation and a second orientation; a first pulley rotatably mounted relative to the main derailleur body; a second pulley rotatably mounted to the chain cage to move therewith relative to the main derailleur body; and a third pulley rotatably mounted to the main derailleur body about a rotational axis that is fixed relative to the main derailleur body in a location between the first and second pulleys as determined along a chain travel path extending between the first and second pulleys such that the first, second and third pulleys engage a chain extending between the first and second pulleys when the chain cage is in the first orientation and such that the first and second pulleys remain engaged with the chain while the third pulley disengages the chain upon movement of the chain cage from the first orientation to the second orientation.