Dilberto

After enjoying a full decade + (longest shifter group production run in cycling history) of drivetrain domination, why did component makers do away with the reliability, strength and low weight of nine-speed?

SteelCan

Have to create something else to sell.

Caad 8

9,10,11... are they really gonna go to 12?

Pizza Man

I didn't see the need in going to 10, but I've switched to SRAM (1st Force, then Red) and am fine with 10. I hope SRAM & Shimano stay with 10 for a while.

SteelCan

If technology will allow for thinner chains, I think they will. I read the long term concept is to go with a single front and as many as 14 in the rear. (with the adjusting front derailleur technology you see on the Di2)

fogrider

9 speed is still the gold standard for cross bikes. 10 speed chains wear out faster and there is a bigger chance they will break. and don't forget, 10 speed chains wear out faster...you're lucky to get 1,000 miles out of it. but a 10 speed cassette is lighter. I've got 4 bikes on 9 speed.

Longfemur

For the same reason they "upgraded" from 5, 6, 7 and 8 I suppose. I always thought 6 or 7 in back was all I needed, but I do ride 9 now, only because that's what was currently available at the time. Frankly, in my life as a whole, I probably did more miles with a 2 x 5 drivetrain than anything else, and I'm none the worse for wear.

patentcad

I have D.A. 10 speed on 4 road bikes. It's quite reliable and light weight.

We need 11 speed now. No.

12 speed.

la rosa 

Agree

Metzinger

12 speed is coming, but shouldn't be rushed.
The manufacturers need for our collective memories of the exceptional durability of 7/8 chains and cogs to sufficiently fade.

Then we won't mind swapping out cassettes after each wet ride. Or buying chain by the lineal km.

patentcad

What's the problem? Let's get this show on the friggin road.

Metzinger

Reminds me of this news item. (coarse language)

rollin

I thought the move to 6 speed was over kill.

I love my 10.

RacerOne

If you've only got one ring on the front why would you need a derailleur, adjustable or not?

StanSeven

If you read posts here, most people get 2,000 from chains. A few say 1,000 bout as many say 3,000 or more too.

AngryScientist 

if you're not getting 1000 miles out of a 10sp chain, you're doing something wrong.

AngryScientist 

9 speed, hah! i commute on a single speed! thats where reliability is at!

10 Wheels

10 speeds suck....

DinoShepherd

As one who runs a 1 x 9 in cross, I can tell you that a single ring in front is not a panacea of simplicity. You will need both an inner an outter chain keeper of some sort. That can be dealt with.

Aside from durability, my beef with 10 speed is that the gaps are actually too small and I find myself double shifting quite a bit. Ironic, no?

I would really appreciate Shimano at least continuing the OPTION of a nice 9 speed shifter.

-Z

RT

Heck, Wally, don't you hardcore roadsters only use the big ring, little cog? At least that's what your garage door pics look like.

kensuf

Boy am I glad I didn't read this post after riding 1300 miles last month and already 200 miles this month... I guess I should throw that 10 speed chain in the garbage even though it's only got about ~2000 miles on it since I put it on in October and still has a bit of life left based on the chain wear gauge.

You know, if you take care of your stuff better, it might last a little longer..

availpunk9

Pretty much converting all my 9 speed bikes to shimergo once shifters go south. Ran a whole season of cross with Record shifter, DA 12/27 9sp cassette, and Ultegra RD.

https://cxmagazine.com/shimano-campag...-compatibility

DaveSSS 

Campy only made 9 speed as their top product from '97-'99. I sold all of my 9 speed parts in 2000 and moved on to 10 speed. I sold all of my 10 speed parts in 2009 and moved on to 11 speed.

I always expected at least 5,000 miles from a Campy 10 chain and still expect at least 4,000 from an 11 speed chain.

f.cabot

They do. They make a 9spd ultegra level shifter still ST-R600. I was looking into getting these when my right 9sp ultegra shifter started acting up.

That shimergo article is awesome. When my shifters finish going south, I'm going to get some cheap campy levers.

grolby

10-speed groups are lighter than 9-speed groups. Reliability of shifting appears identical. There's just not a lot of difference between 9 and 10-speed. I'll give you strength/wearability, but that's still not significantly different from 9 to 10. There's a much bigger difference from 8 to 9.

That's absurd. 9-speed is not a "gold standard" for 'cross bikes. Pretty much everyone, with some exceptions, is racing on 10-speed. Rival has the reputation of being an awesome 'cross group, and it doesn't come in a 9-speed version. 9-speed stuff breaks, too.

As for 1,000 miles, that's ridiculous, too. That's about half of what you can reasonably expect to get out of a 10-speed chain. I've got 3k or so on mine, and it isn't stretched out enough to merit replacing yet. I am pretty light and so I put less wear on things, but still. That's an acceptable rate of wear in my book.