Originally Posted by
Jiggle
11 speed is not less durable than 10 speed. It isn't more expensive, either.
Well researched and documented response. Anyway, around here, 10-speed chains (Ultegra level) are going for about $15. Cassettes less than $50. Entire Ultegra cranksets for less than $200.
I don't see anything close to this pricing in 11-speed. The extortionist pricing of 11-speed chains is strange, in that Shimano 10 and 11 speed cog spacing is very close. Can you use 10-speed chains on 11-speed drivetrains? Not that you'd want 11-speed; it is just part of an absurd arms race planned obsolesence designed to make you pay for a whole bunch of expensive new stuff every few years.
Disk brakes - to reiterate, expensive and unnecessary. I noticed that in this weekends UCI 'cross race in Belgium there was young guy using disks. Everyone else was on 'cantis. Despite the significant performance disadvantage of disks (weight) he placed rather well, although he ran out of gas near the end.