[LordOpie]

It seems like Shimano is really pushing this. Perhaps Campy is too.

Why?

How many gears do you think is reasonable and sufficient? I have 8 and it seems fine by me.

 

[wooglin]

I have 12, and I'll never go back to 10.

 

[oldfart]

The human body has a narrow power band. We feel good within a very narrow rpm range. The closer together you can get the gears the better for riding. For racing, it's even more important. If you ever raced back in the day of 5 speeds you'd know the pain of missing that certain gear. It's certainly less of a pronounced affect going from say 9 speed to 10 than 5 to 6 was. 7 was amazing as one could get a decent range and not give up top end or bottom end and sacrifice a couple large jumps between cogs.

Of course no one needs 10 speeds. Hell no one needs a fancy bike. We could all do fine with single speed coaster bikes. We just like to do better.

 

[Serial Midget]

I am a firm believer in the 10 speed cassette. I have an 11/21 for racing and an 11/23 for everyday riding. I still have a 6 speed from 1984 (Suntour Superbe Pro - yea baby!) and, while I am really not any slower on that bike (because of the 56 ring) it just tears my legs up if I race on it. The ratio transisition shreds your quads.

 

[Tenchiro]

What's the big deal, I had a 10 speed in the 80's....

 

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
What's the big deal, I had a 10 speed in the 80's....

Why are you trolling the road forums? Thinking about spandex aren't you? :devil: :devil: :devil:

I assume you know we're speaking of cassettes...

 

[Silver]

That would give Opie....3x10, carry the one, divide by the square of pi....

30 gears! :devil:

 

[LordOpie]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
The ratio transisition shreds your quads.

Seriously? The change is still too drastic on a 9-speed for you? If they came out with a 12-speed, you'd want that? Seriously, just asking.

Originally posted by Silver
That would give Opie....3x10, carry the one, divide by the square of pi....

30 gears! :devil:

I'm working on a quad-front in my workshop. Y'all be green with envy when I'm sporting my new set up

EDIT: 30 gears would be a misnomer... I don't cross-chain. And how do I educate my friends without sounding like an obnoxious know-it-all. One buddy regularly goes small ring to small ring

 

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by LordOpie
Seriously? The change is still too drastic on a 9-speed for you? If they came out with a 12-speed, you'd want that? Seriously, just asking.

Um... I was referring to my old 6 speed freewheel VS my current 10 speed cassette. Prior to the 10 speed I had a an 8 speed cassette and yes - there is a difference. Maybe not for everyday riding but when it time to keep the hammer down you'd notice the difference.

 

[The Jinx]

To me, as long as I have my sweet spot gears, it should work fine for me.

To some extend, if you have 1 wheelset, I strongly suggest for 10 speed as U will use your bike for all rounder.

I'm like Serial Midget, love the 10speed.

To Shimano and Campy ::: MORE GEARS PLEASE!!!

Regards
sbw

 

[Nitromike]

I'd be very happy with 9 speed if they would make a 11x21 and a 11x23 almost straight block like the 12x21 Dura Ace, as it is though I'll be swapping to 10 speed after this season.

 

[TheMontashu]

10 speeds are great but shimano isnt and its 10 gears in the back not 10 total

 

[-B-]

As a racer who started with 5 it is just a great thing to have 10 now. I can keep my cadence at a constant tempo. The riding of steep climbs with long stretches in the flats. Gone are the days of compromising on gearing for different terrain. One set of 10 now replaces 3-4 different combos for training and racing, it brings the KISS to gearing now.