MicroShift have new super short derailleurs for 20 inch wheels.
https://www.microshift.com/news/intr...g-super-short/
Has anyone tried these with trikes? I have a Stein Mungo with a 20 inch rear wheel and always worry about tearing off my Deore rear derailleur. The MicroShift might be a good option. I have a Schlumf mountain drive in considering fitting to the trike, so could get truly epic gear ranges.
I don't know about 'epic', but it is likely with a Schlumpf drive and the 'Super Short' drivetrain you could have a decent (i.e. conventional) span of gears vs the very much limited one you will have if you use the 'Super Short' drivetrain as a 1X package like MicroShift expects. But, to the point other posters have made, I have had 'normal' rear derailleurs on 20" folding bikes over all manner of road surface and have never experienced the RD coming in contact with road debris.