12 Speed, Constant Changing?

[Chislenko]

I have a bike with 8, one with 9 and one with 11.

My latest bike has 12 and I know it is only one up from 11 but I seem to spend my entire ride changing gear, never appear to be in the correct gear, either too easy or too hard.

Even on the 11 I would change gear infrequently. Don't think I will be progressing to 13 any time soon!

 

[Sharky]

Sounds like the sweet spot doesn't exist on the 12.

Study the gear tables and determine which sprocket was the most used on the old cassette and if the same ratio exists on the new cassette.

And if the sprocket either side or the most used has the same teeth difference.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I have a bike with 8, one with 9 and one with 11.

My latest bike has 12 and I know it is only one up from 11 but I seem to spend my entire ride changing gear, never appear to be in the correct gear, either too easy or too hard.

Even on the 11 I would change gear infrequently. Don't think I will be progressing to 13 any time soon!

Have you changed your chainring combo or cassette ratio? If not, they should be exactly the same gears from 11 to 12 speed, you will just get an extra gear which should actually increase usable gears. For example if you had a 50-34 with an 11-30 cassette, the only difference would be a 16t sprocket on the 12 speed.

If you have switched from Shimano to Sram or vice versa it will be different though due to Sram's different front end combos.

 

[Chislenko]

Have you changed your chainring combo or cassette ratio? If not, they should be exactly the same gears from 11 to 12 speed, you will just get an extra gear which should actually increase usable gears. For example if you had a 50-34 with an 11-30 cassette, the only difference would be a 16t sprocket on the 12 speed.

If you have switched from Shimano to Sram or vice versa it will be different though due to Sram's different front end combos.

No, same as it was, 50-34 front, 11-28 back but that equates to a gear less than two apart each ring depending on how they configure the cassette.

 

[88robb]

I have a bike with 8, one with 9 and one with 11.

My latest bike has 12 and I know it is only one up from 11 but I seem to spend my entire ride changing gear, never appear to be in the correct gear, either too easy or too hard.

Even on the 11 I would change gear infrequently. Don't think I will be progressing to 13 any time soon!

Sounds like your derailleur might be out of alignment or the cable tension is off. A 12-speed should feel just as stable as your 11-speed. Get it tuned up at a shop, it shouldn't feel that finicky.

 

[raleighnut]

Sounds like your derailleur might be out of alignment or the cable tension is off. A 12-speed should feel just as stable as your 11-speed. Get it tuned up at a shop, it shouldn't feel that finicky.

I thought he meant he is constantly searching for a ratio not that the bike is shifting on it's own, I'd put this down to being more 'aware' with a new set-up something I've found myself doing with a lot of things when they're new. I've always found myself concentrating more when something is new rather than using a familiar item intuitively not only bikes but also HiFi, Cameras, TVs etc.

 

[Chislenko]

I thought he meant he is constantly searching for a ratio not that the bike is shifting on it's own, I'd put this down to being more 'aware' with a new set-up something I've found myself doing with a lot of things when they're new. I've always found myself concentrating more when something is new rather than using a familiar item intuitively not only bikes but also HiFi, Cameras, TVs etc.

You are quite correct, constantly searching for a ratio especially when accelerating through the gears, you do a few revolutions in one gear and you have quickly exhausted it and have to change up.

Nothing wrong with the shifting, it works fine thankfully as I am using it a lot!

 

[T4tomo]

You are quite correct, constantly searching for a ratio especially when accelerating through the gears, you do a few revolutions in one gear and you have quickly exhausted it and have to change up.

Nothing wrong with the shifting, it works fine thankfully as I am using it a lot!

given there is only one extra sprocket, its a zombie problem, i.e. its In your head.

 

[PaulSB]

I've been riding 12 speed GRX for at least two years. I can't say I've ever encountered the problem on gravel or road.

I'm buying a new bike soon and it hasn't occurred to me 12 speed could be a problem.

 

[Webbo2]

I bought a bike with 12 speed last year and given the extra sprocket is a 34 I haven’t noticed any difference other than when it gets steep it’s easier.

 

[PaulSB]

"Tooth counts being 11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-27-28. This setup is considered close ratio"

Just taken this from a website and the extremely small difference between cogs (mostly one tooth) is I think what I am not liking. If you are speeding up you are constantly"running out" of gear and having to change again. I suppose the answer is to double click and miss a cog.

I take it from this you set off and move up through the gears as you accelerate? If that's the case I can imagine the frustration.

My style is different. On a flat or rolling ride I'm generally in the middle of the block and might drop down one or two gears at a junction or roundabout before moving up again. Once settled I ride for miles without the need for many changes, perhaps dropping down or up one as needed.

 

[88robb]

I thought he meant he is constantly searching for a ratio not that the bike is shifting on it's own, I'd put this down to being more 'aware' with a new set-up something I've found myself doing with a lot of things when they're new. I've always found myself concentrating more when something is new rather than using a familiar item intuitively not only bikes but also HiFi, Cameras, TVs etc.

That's a very good point. You're right, it's easy to overthink and constantly fiddle with a new setup. It's natural to be more conscious of it until it becomes second nature.