I doubt that the derailleur afficionados of the future will look back on the Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 as a stand-out classic. Sure it was 9-speed, but apart from that it broke little technical or aesthetic new ground.

But therein lies its charm. With its plain polished finish and simple surfaces, it had an understated, but quietly elegant, style. As a machine for changing gears, it was also a, well honed and fully realised design. 9-speeds may come to be regarded as something of a sweet spot for mechanical derailleurs - giving plenty of ratios without the tetchy-ness of 10, 11, 12 and 13 speeds with their thinner chains and closer sprockets.

I think that there were 4 variants of the Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 derailleur:

• The first variant, in 1996, was a short cage (SS) model. This had a cable adjuster with a 'click' every 90 degrees and an outer pulley cage plate with a rounded shape at the tension pulley.
• 1998 saw the second variant. This had a cable adjuster with with a click every 45 degrees and an outer pulley cage plate with a distinct protrusion at the tension pulley.
• 1998 also saw the 25th anniversary model. This was essentially the same as the second variant, above, but glammed-up with a smattering of titanium bolts and special branding.
• In 2001 a long cage (GS) model made its appearance.

I believe that this is a pleasantly clean example of the first style described above. It has:

• A cable adjuster with 4 'clicks' per rotation.
• An outer pulley cage plate with a smoothly curved shape around the tension pulley.

• Derailleur brands: Shimano
• Categories: Shimano - the Dura-Ace story
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1996
• Date of this example: 1997 (two letter date code is 'VA')
• Model no.: 7700 SS
• Weight: 194g
• Maximum cog: 27 teeth
• Total capacity: 29 teeth
• Pulley centre to centre: 50mm
• Index compatibility: 9 speed
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: aluminium