Abstract: An awning roller with a two-position, bi-directional locking mechanism. In the first position, rotation of the roller is permitted in a clockwise direction, but prevented in a counterclockwise direction. The second position allows rotation in a counterclockwise direction, but not in a clockwise direction. The roller comprises an outwardly facing pinion gear at one end of the roller. A pawl is rotatably mounted adjacent the pinion gear to interact with the teeth so as to control the direction of rotation of the roller as described above. The pawl can be repositioned relative to the ratchet disc to change the locking mechanism from its first position to its second position and back again.