Jeff Wills

You're missing something there.

In any case, the World's Fastest Bicycle® only has 4 gears: https://www.ohpv.org/events/albums/bm...s/varnas16.htm .

justadude

...but just imagine how fast you'll go with that tiny 17th sprocket!

RI_Swamp_Yankee

I really wish IRD would re-introduce their wide-range 5sp freewheel. 12-32 with a triple crank up front, and you have nice chainlines and billygoat range. I dunno what I'm gonna do once mine wears out on the Skinny Bike.

Crazydad

Do we need an 11sp? Of course not, but stuff like that is what drives the business. How long do you think bike companies would be around if they didn't create demand for new products? If everyone was content with what they have and made it last as long as possible how quickly would the manufacturers and component makers fold up shop?

I see it as being like the megapixel wars in cameras. When the first 10mp camera came out, a ton of people said no one needs more than 6mp. But demand for the 10mp made the 6mp cheaper and then when 12 and 14mp cameras came out, the 10mp dropped in price. Playing on our innate desire to have the newest, shiniest toy is what keeps things moving forward and forces the manufacturers to spend money on R&D to constantly improve their products and offerings.

IrvJamison

Currently I’m sticking with 8 speed gear trains (no IGH) on the bikes that I build because of cost. I just purchased a front and read derailleur, chain, cassette and crank set for less than $100.00, all mid range items brand new. Am I behind the times? YES! If I need more gears I will add an IGH to the mix. I feel that the future of bike gearing with be a wider range NuVinci, quite possibly both at the cranks and on the wheel, a dual CV type setup.

Flying Merkel

Yesterday I easily pulled past a kid riding a single speed on a small hill. He prolly was in better shape than 50 year old me, but thanks to multiple sprockets, he ended up looking a chump. If there was anybody to see us. I love having just the right gear combination. A 33 speed drivetrain on my MTB/all purpose bike would be great. 12-28 in the rear, 46-34-22 up front.

I'm sticking with 8 speed and a triple. The law of diminishing returns kicks in.

Sixty Fiver

I have an nos Shimano 5 speed with a 14-34 if you are interested... cogs lower than 14 tend to wear out too fast and there is some considerable loss in efficiency.

BlueRaleigh

I replaced the 5 speed OEM uniglide on my Peugot mixte with a 6 speed IRD (34T max), no problems. It was a completely smooth swap, with just a little adjustment of the derailleur screws.

BlueRaleigh

I was just looking, and it seems IRD still makes a 13-32 5 speed. Not sure if you were aware, or if you just really wanted that 12T high gear.

TurbineBlade

I don't think these are sincere posts, but rather meant to be inflammatory.

I ride 7 speed with downtube shifters on my surly LHT because I prefer the option to friction shift easily if I choose, but don't give a **** what other people choose to use. Why do you care what other cyclists are doing?

frantik

i am content with the 6 and 7 gearsets on my mtb and road bikes

why don't manufactuers add a 4th chainring instead of making skinnier rear cogs?

BlueRaleigh

Oh, man...please don't give them that idea. 3 chainrings are bad enough. Front deraileur shifting is so much better with just 2 chainrings, which is why I prefer compacts or doubles on road or hybrid bikes. I put up with a triple on my mountain bike because it does come in handy from time to time, but mainly because it's not worth the trouble of changing it out.

It's true that it's all personal preference, and if someone wants an 11 speed rear cluster and truly enjoys the variety it offers, then nothing against that person. I just hate to see newbie cyclists sold crap they don't need because it happens to be the current marketing fad.

frantik

i'm not saying i want 4 rings up front.. just seems like 4x10 gives you more gears than 3x11

BlueRaleigh

Probably a lot more overlap, which wouldn't effectively be more gears per se. And the more cogs you have up front, the crazier the chainline can get. Of course that can be true in the rear, too, but when you've got a bunch in the front and the back, you can get some wild angles on your chainline.

Retro Grouch 

The "great granny gear". It's been done. There's a reason why it never became popular.

There's always "bragging rights" but in general having more gears that you never use isn't an advantage. The great granny gear bikes tended to have some seriously low hill climb gears. So how slow can you go uphill and still keep your bike vertical? Is this even something that you want to do?

RI_Swamp_Yankee

I meant 13-32, sorry... and I missed it in the cog breakdown! Good to see it's still available. The one I have is smooth rolling, smooth shifting and built to last - the teeth are still sharp enough to hurt if you hold it wrong. Looking seriously at their retro-triple crank for a project bike, too.

BlueRaleigh

IRD's are great. I don't know why everyone doesn't replace their old non-ramped freewheels with 'em. As for that 5 speed freewheel, that's quite a jump from 24 to 32. If you ever replace it, you might just go with the 6 speed. It'll probably swap out without a hitch.

Bikedued

It will get to a point where you can only run a floating front crank system, so the chainline is actually usuable. I am certain of it!,,,,BD

Drew Eckhardt 

It's been done.

The Mountain Tamer Quad Plus mounts a pair of Suntour freewheel cogs (16-34T) to the 74mm inner position of a triple crank.

The daVinci Drive is a tandem setup which connects captain and stoker cranks to an intermediate shaft (with separate freewheels for each) on which four hyperglide cogs are mounted with shifting via a front derailleur. It's generally setup with a 2:1 ratio on the cranks so 12/18/24/30 cogs act like 24/36/48/60 rings. I'd get one if my wife and I ever get a tandem.

Drew Eckhardt 

My compact double (50-34x13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23) doesn't shift as well as the triple with the same gear range it replaced (50-40-30x13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21).

MichaelW

I think it is bad news when these systems trickle down. Soon Tiagra will go 10spd then there will be no option for tourists who want STI but dont want ultra-thin chains and cogs. Tourists really need quality components but NOT cuttting edge technology. I ride 9 spd but cant see the gain over 8spd.

I think that thin cogs work best in the high-end systems when carved from solid billet. The stamped steel low-end systems using larger cog sizes get too flexy to work with precision.

frantik

i think this is true of the general public as well.. i mean i have a range of bikes that span 20 years and the oldest bike still functions basically like the newest one.. the only significant difference is in shifter technology, and the newest sti 'brifters' are the most problematic of all of my shifters. All of the friction shifters work fine because the technology is simple

only racers and others at the top of the sport really need to concern themselves with the cutting edge tech.. they can afford the time and money to tear down their bike and replace everything after every race if they have to.. but the average bike rider wants something durable that doesn't require inspections and maintenance after every single ride

Max C.

The best thing about this is it will make 7-10 speed systems cheaper... . For my uses road bike and mountain bike wise, 7 or 8 speeds in the rear is all I care for. Heck, I'm plenty happy with my old 70s 10 -2x5- speed bike. It's got more than enough gear for what I can do haha.

Reynolds 

I have 52/42 - 13/21 7sp and that's more than I need for flatland rides.

Sixty Fiver

My tandem has a 32 speed drive with a 4 by 8...