Bicycle Mechanics - The case for a standard group.

After looking over my stable I found out I have 7,8,9 and 10 speed groups from Suntour, Shimano and Campy. I really need to sell, upgrade or standardize my bikes. As far as parts availability goes how long do you think 10 speed will be with us? Is it worth it to have all your groups the same ie: Ultegra 10 speed or maybe Veloce 10 speed? It would make parts easier as you could buy all the same replacement parts or even stock a few at home. What do you think?

Tim

So what's the point,unless you have extra clams to throw away. My 6 thru 10 speed stuff all serves a prupose and will stay as is. No issues getting anything but some of the older STI shifers and I have lots of downtube and barend backups.STI/ergo is overrated anyway,and many would say indexing is also orerrated.

Sydney, you really should post pics of your bikes.

Sydney, you really should post pics of your bikes.

That will never happen. He should post a pic of himself also. That will never happen either. It's more fun to be the anonymous smartass


Tim

He should post a pic of himself also

Hey Sydney, what are you wearing? :D

If you want a standard, you should think about why you're standardizing. You sound (not to judge or anything) like a spendy roady. What's forcing the upgrade across bikes? Isn't variety the spice of life? What fun is tinkering if it's all the same?

I have bikes spanning component sets, mostly of a frankenbike nature. When on a tour recently in Spain, I had my freewheel break - cracked right off after the thread on area when going up uphill with load. With a 6speed freewheel, it was 15 euro to get a replacement - easily found in a smallish town. I'd not take a newfangled 10sp on such an adventure. Friction shifters, 6sp, etc, all have their use. E.g. your rockhopper.

If you want a standard, you should think about why you're standardizing. You sound (not to judge or anything) like a spendy roady.
On the contrary, I'm actually pretty tight fisted.Check it out: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=112588

What's forcing the upgrade across bikes?
It's just easier to have all your groups from the same mfg to facilitate replacement parts.

Isn't variety the spice of life?
Only for women! Don't let my wife find out.

What fun is tinkering if it's all the same?
As I get older and wiser I would rather be riding than tinkering.

Tim

I'm in the same position. I have bikes with 7, 8 and 9-speed components and with downtube, barcon and STI shifters. However, I see no need to "standardize" unless you want to spend a huge amount of money up front for minor convenience in the future. If the cost isn't an issue go for it.

BTW, I believe 10-speed will be around for a long time as 10 cogs appear to be the maximum that will fit within the current 130 mm dropout spacing using current technology and materials. Evidence for this is that Shimano went to 10-speed years after Campy did. If more than 10-speeds were practical, they certainly would have leap-frogged Campy and gone to 11 or 12 speeds.

Further evidence is that MTB groups are still only 9-speed which implies that 10-speed is a bit too fragile for this application so more than 10 may be too fragile for even road use. Yes, I know Shimano doesn't have Campy to contend with in this market but SRAM is pretty aggressive and would have introduced 10-speed MTB stuff if it was deemed practical.

In the 90's Shimano patented a 14 cog cassette design and an accompanying new chain type. Neither have gone into production or even been tested in prototype form as far as I know so there appears to be a practical limit and 10 seems to be it.

If you're tight-fisted, not interested in variety or tinkering, and want standardization, you should simplify to just 1 bike...

^^^^.... and make it a fixie!

If you're tight-fisted, not interested in variety or tinkering, and want standardization, you should simplify to just 1 bike...
That thought had entered my mind, it left just as fast as it entered though. Sydney's idea on the fixie has it's merits though.

Tim

Fixies are most fun for an everyday bike, simply because they're so simple. Less to clean. Less to think about when riding. Less to go wrong.

I agree with everybody else. I see no reason to upgrade just to get parts compatibility. I use both campy and shimano all the time. Each group has it's strong and weak points and each performs just fine. I sometimes think I should buy two freehubs with every rear wheel I buy because I sometimes wish I could change it to another bike and the other bike will invariably have the wrong group.

Sydney, you really should post pics of your bikes.

Agreed. I've posted pics of mine, and even one of myself at the races. Nothing to hide here.