is 8 gears enough for a road bike
11-12-07, 11:08 AM
#1
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is 8 gears enough for a road bike
im used to a mountin bike with 21 gears,how does 8 gears work do you lose the easyer gears or the harder gears,i imagin you would lose the easyer gears because the bike is ment for speed but just thought i would check,
thanks in advance
thanks in advance
11-12-07, 11:10 AM
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the actual el guapo
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yes. i don't like my 10 sp cassette. i have an easier time keeping my 8 sp r/d adjusted and i rarely use all 10 cogs on my 10sp.
11-12-07, 11:13 AM
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Cries on hills
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Most bikes I've seen, at least new, have at least two chainrings meaning the bike is overall a 16 speed bike (assuming 8 speed cassette). But there seems to be a number of people who love riding single speed or fixed gear/single speed, so I'd think that 8 gears might be enough; or maybe not, depending upon what you want (or need).
11-12-07, 11:16 AM
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well im just going to be using it to get to and from work,im not going to be racing it professionally,just going to be a comuter bike.
11-12-07, 11:25 AM
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I thin they are perfect for commuting because it's just the chain getting exposed to the elements. If you can use an old style chain with their thick chainrings, it shoud last for years with nothing more than the occasional cleaning.
11-12-07, 12:27 PM
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Plenty.
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11-12-07, 12:35 PM
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a road racer could get away with a 4 speed cog in back, and one in the front, if they wanted to.
gears are slightly over rated. so...yes to OP
gears are slightly over rated. so...yes to OP
11-12-07, 12:36 PM
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Yes, depending on which 8 gears you're talking about. 
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11-12-07, 12:36 PM
#14
that bike nut
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Even 7 speed is more than enough. Unfortunately they don't make brifters and it is tough finding other parts, 126 rear hubs, for them. I prefer the robust chains and cassettes on 7/8 speeds to the dental floss overpriced chains on 10 speed. 9 speed is a decent compromise between the two.
11-12-07, 12:51 PM
#15
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
You know that, when we usually talk about 8 gears here, we're still assuming that the only part with just 8 is the rear cassette, and that the front sprockets multiply those speeds into 16 or 24 gears (depending on whether it's a double or triple), right?
Like my mountain bike, your 21-speed mountain bike has 7 gears in the back and 3 chainrings in front. My 20-speed road bike has ten gears in back and two in front; my 27-speed hybrid/city bike has 9 in back and 3 in front.
If I had a bike with a single sprocket in front and 8 in back, then yes, it's got just 8 speeds; that's also like having an 8-speed internally-shifted rear hub.
Anyway, I just wanted to be sure that we're talking about the same number of gears here...
11-12-07, 01:31 PM
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8 speed rear cassette is good enough- Providing you get the range correct for your legs. But that is easier to do with 10 speed- I ride 8 speed(24) and 10speed (20) and have to admit that the 10 speed is easier to find the right cog.
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11-12-07, 01:56 PM
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Even 7 speed is more than enough. Unfortunately they don't make brifters and it is tough finding other parts, 126 rear hubs, for them. I prefer the robust chains and cassettes on 7/8 speeds to the dental floss overpriced chains on 10 speed. 9 speed is a decent compromise between the two.
2. There are many 130mm 7sp cassette setups - you can use a 7sp cassette on a 7-8sp cassette hub.
11-12-07, 02:06 PM
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not sure im new to all this,heres the bike i was looking at if that helps
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...dID=5360032317
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...dID=5360032317
11-12-07, 02:10 PM
#19
Making a kilometer blurry
11-12-07, 02:18 PM
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I've got to be sure about the question...
You know that, when we usually talk about 8 gears here, we're still assuming that the only part with just 8 is the rear cassette, and that the front sprockets multiply those speeds into 16 or 24 gears (depending on whether it's a double or triple), right?
Like my mountain bike, your 21-speed mountain bike has 7 gears in the back and 3 chainrings in front. My 20-speed road bike has ten gears in back and two in front; my 27-speed hybrid/city bike has 9 in back and 3 in front.
If I had a bike with a single sprocket in front and 8 in back, then yes, it's got just 8 speeds; that's also like having an 8-speed internally-shifted rear hub.
Anyway, I just wanted to be sure that we're talking about the same number of gears here...
You know that, when we usually talk about 8 gears here, we're still assuming that the only part with just 8 is the rear cassette, and that the front sprockets multiply those speeds into 16 or 24 gears (depending on whether it's a double or triple), right?
Like my mountain bike, your 21-speed mountain bike has 7 gears in the back and 3 chainrings in front. My 20-speed road bike has ten gears in back and two in front; my 27-speed hybrid/city bike has 9 in back and 3 in front.
If I had a bike with a single sprocket in front and 8 in back, then yes, it's got just 8 speeds; that's also like having an 8-speed internally-shifted rear hub.
Anyway, I just wanted to be sure that we're talking about the same number of gears here...
not sure im new to all this,heres the bike i was looking at if that helps
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...dID=5360032317
11-12-07, 02:21 PM
#22
Making a kilometer blurry
link no workey
11-12-07, 02:22 PM
#23
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I ride a fixed gear for commuting and sometimes spring training. There are times when I think to myself, "Hmm, I'd like to be able to shift down a gear now, and maybe a bigger gear would do well now..." That makes a total of 3. 8 is certainly enough.
11-12-07, 02:43 PM
#24
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It's Sora
The bike you are looking at has Sora 8 speed in the back and a compact crank in the front, two sprockets or wheels, so you'll have 2 * 8 = 16 gears. I didn't see the numbers on the compact crank so not sure how low the gears will go, but more than low enough for commuting unless you live in a really hilly area.
11-12-07, 02:52 PM
#25
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