Cranksets really have micrometer like differences .. 2 or 3 rings some distance apart, each with a number of teeth.
still chains are 1/2" pitch, an 8 speed chain is wider and, a bit more robust than a thinner chain,
to fit in the tightly packed neighborhood on the back wheel of 10 cogs fitting in the same place as 8 .


Yea, the top priced bikes will no longer be running 9 speed , which they are not , even now.

The manufacturing tooling has made enough pieces to have paid for its acquisition .

so 9 speed stuff can move down market..

Different companies have less keeping up with the joneses marketing drives...


but the road racing derailleur companies are locked into a competition amongst themselves .

to have some New!, Improved! Latest ! thing going for the next set of trade shows and press releases..

Rohloff introduced anodized red instead of powder coated red hub shells , a 9 bolt casing for 36 spokes ,
in addition to the 8 bolt casing with 32 spoke holes , a different grip shifter that worked on carbon bars .

small changes , on something solidly reliable in the 1st place, by design ..