At as additional cost of $15 over 5000 miles I'll file that $0.003 per mile cost under "who cares".

Of you ride a generous average of 20 mph that's $0.06 per hour.

One hour of work at minimum wage can fuel 120 hours of riding with a 10 speed chain over an 8 speed chain.

Depends on where you are born and working.

And it still doesn't change the fact that most manufacturers are convincing people, and most are more than happy and willing to pay more for questionable gains.

Well, this is the reality for most of the posters here. I would be willing to bet the majority here actually make comfortable livings. The difference between 8 and 10 speed drivetrains and consumables is negligible. The gearset's little more than the cost of going out on the town and the chain is no more than the night's tip to the waitress.

How is it a questionable gain? When you're riding at the edge of your capabilities and one gear is a little too short and the next a little too tall, having the extra gears for tighter spacing is a godsend.

1) Because it is achievable with a cheaper, 3x8 drivetrain. Same range, with same spacing (if not even tighter).
2) Because most differences are at the slower part of the cassette, where 2, or even 3 teeth jumps are often even better and more convenient. 13-14-15 is where the 2 teeth jumps are most important. For the rest - not so much.

An, even more obvious example would be an "upgrade" from 10 to 11 speeds. More expensive parts, even more rear wheel dish. For what improvement exactly? I mean, c'mon! Unless you're paid to cycle, you really don't need that one extra gear.

That is not relevant for the point I was making. Pay more for questionable gains. Nothing more, nothing less.

Just in case... ****

Can someone tell me what exactly I need? Hard to keep track. Are 8 gears enough or do I need 11? What about six? It is impossible for me to make a decision on my own, someone please tell me what to do.

They're not questionable and 10 speed is cheap tiagra level. Come on, it's not 2004!

You're buying in to the marketing that more chainrings is better. Questionable gains, I say.

Not questionable? I'll use a more obvious and illustrative example. Going from 10 to 11 speeds. In terms of objectively measured things - like gearing range and tightness - gains are very questionable. Price however, is clearly higher for 11 speed gearing. That's good for the manufacturer, while it's worse for the buyer. Gain nothing - pay more. But one believes they are "upgrading", or "future proofing" (my personal favourite), etc.

That's what I meant when I confirmed that many new things in cycling are more marketing, than real improvements. That's the way it is, whether you like it, or are even aware of it, or not.

Bit of demagogy?

Yes, you are "right", I am "wrong".

What about padded chainrings?

maybe like clutch springs....

& an oiler like a chainsaw bar!

I'm in too!

I can buy an 11 speed ultegra groupset for roughly the same as NOS 10 speed ultegra. I wouldn't say its really any higher. If anything shimano's 11 speed offerings are cheaper than 10 speed when it came out.

& ****

Guys, could you please restrain yourselves? Im planning to revisit this thread later. No need to get it locked.

I dunno about that, but apparently what we do need is padded disc brake rotors.

Oh ok. Sorry about that. And hello to the future when this thread gets updated/bumped.

11 speed is more expensive than 10 speed is today.

Just like 10 speed, once it "came out" was more expensive than 9 speed had been at the time.

Not many people would pay more for 10 speeds, so 11 speeds came out. Wouldn't be surprised if 12 speed road groupsets arrive soon. Along with 1x setups. Always something "new", "better". For a few $ more.

10 speed Shimano Ultegra 6700 10 Speed Groupset Builder | Chain Reaction Cycles

Shimano Ultegra 6800 11 Speed Groupset | Chain Reaction Cycles

Original MSRP is nearly identical. It is only more expensive if you feel the need to upgrade. Starting from scratch it is essentially a wash.

Starp it, starp it, you'll go blind...

The point is marketing in bike industry. Made a comment on my agreeing with it being (too much) marketing. Didn't know so many users would get upset. Probably, this is a wild guess and thinking out loud, most of them got into the hype and hence trying so hard to somehow convince themselves that it is not a just clever marketing, but some real, measurable improvement.

Apart from being off topic, this discussion is becoming pointless, since we seem to be talking about different things.