9speed market share
 

How much of the bicycle market use 9speed components?

Does anyone see Shimano pushing 10speed for most groupsets anytime soon?

With bicycling growing in popularity every year, and more so for the years to come, and considering there'll be more regular daily riders grinding out their drive train more frequently... Does anyone see it possible going back to 7speed and 8speed components for possible advantages with stronger and more durable parts (if they get designed that way)?

Does anyone find that shooting up to 11 speed components simply just makes things lighter, thinner and more complex... but hinders overall durability?

Doing some market research?

I have 1 bike with 8sp Campy, another with 9sp Campy. I'm going to upgrade them both to 11sp Campy as soon as I can afford it. Better granularity in the rear cassette will be very nice.

Durability in the drivetrain is very much related to how well you care for it. Keep the chain clean and it can last a long time. I have 4000 miles on my 9sp group and no noticeable stretch. I expect that the 11 won't be too much different from the reports I'm getting.

Once I switch over, I won't be going back to 8 or 9sp. It's not a durability issue. It's a gearing issue. I like the small changes in the gearing.

Trek's new Allant commuter has a 7-speed triple.