[pinky]

Retrogrouch moment, I just want a new cross bike with an 8 speed group none of this blingy finicky expensive 10 speed bull, what is the point? Every cross manufacturer should be clinging to 9 speed groups like they're gold.

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[lunacycle]

Better yet, go singlespeed -- less to clean.

[DRLski]

I'm sticking to 9 speed for a while, at least till prices on the 10 speed comes down, by then they'll probably have an 11 speed, lol. Not racing pro, and I"m not rich, so 9's good enough for me.

Singlespeed may be an option in the near future though :rolleyes:

[cyclintom]

BINGO!

For racing you can make the case that every gear counts.

But for recreational cross riding 7 speeds was WAY RELIABLE and cheap. 8 speeds took a couple of years to be reliable on off-road stuff and 9-speed stuff is overkill on a major basis and wears out WAY FAST!

I have friends that are still using their 7-speed offroad stuff and never have a minutes trouble with it. They replace chains once a year. The last time they changed a cog was during the Truman administration.

I'm replacing my 9-speed stuff three or four times a year and having to replace cogs because I'm not fast enough.

I would go back to 7 or 8 speed stuff if I could get it.

[xccx]

I'm replacing my 9-speed stuff three or four times a year and having to replace cogs because I'm not fast enough.


what?? seriously? why? what are you doing to it?

[cyclintom]

9-speed chains wear quite rapidly for reasons that are beyond me. If you don't replace them it then screws up your rings and cogs. Because the 9-speed cogs are thinner than the 8-speed and 7-speed they wear a great deal faster anyway.

I haven't used 10-speed stuff and will definitely avoid it if possible but I understand that for some reason they don't seem to wear out as rapidly as 9-speed stuff. I don't know how that could be.