I liked the New Racer the best of the models in Zeus’ 1984 line up, released as a belated response to the ‘modernised’ Campagnolo Super Record of 1979. It did not matter that it was so out-of-date because, with its plastic knuckles, it was relatively cheap, very light and quite nicely made. I don’t know if the plastic stood up to the rough and tumble of real-life use.

• Derailleur brands: Zeus
• Categories: Zeus - the bad and the ugly
• Country: Spain
• Date of introduction: 1984
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: 22300
• Weight: 174g excluding an aluminium plate that fits between upper knuckle and hanger that is missing from this example.
• Maximum cog: 30 teeth (stamped on the inner pulley cage)
• Total capacity: 28 teeth?
• Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely aluminium, but with plastic knuckles

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