Gearing question

[vickster]

I have 10 and 11 speed rival on different bikes, can't say I've seen any difference as the gearing range is the same, 50-34 on the front and 11-32 on the rear. With 11 speed you just get something extra in the middle, nothing at either end of the scale. You need to work out how these compare to your triple

What's the set up front and rear on the cube? And on your current bike

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Simple, but quick question guys.

How much better than a Tiagra setup is 105?

I thank you.

Latest Tiagra (4700) has internal cable routing (ie under the bar tape and not waving around in the air) and 'compact' shifter shape - both same as 105.

Apart from already mentioned 10sp vs 11sp difference ('only' 10sp will make no difference to your life) you'd be pushed to spot/feel much/any difference with the labels taken off the groupset.

Strangely, once you get your bike and ride it a few times you will forget all about these spec' questions and wonder why you got in a fret.

Marketing - clever! Can even make owners of brand new bikes spend money and change the one part of the groupset that didn't 'match' the rest when they bought their bike.

 

[Venod]

I find the under the bar tape routing of the cables & the levers a much neater solution on the 105 compared to the Tiagra I have,(the new Tiagra may be better) shifting seems to be the same, the absolute worst thing about my Tiagra is the unnecessary gear indicators, why do they persist with these, does anybody find them useful ? if so how do you use them ?

 

[Cyclist33]

I find the under the bar tape routing of the cables & the levers a much neater solution on the 105 compared to the Tiagra I have,(the new Tiagra may be better) shifting seems to be the same, the absolute worst thing about my Tiagra is the unnecessary gear indicators, why do they persist with these, does anybody find them useful ? if so how do you use them ?

Erm, I think you use them to indicate where you are in the gear range? Bit of an odd question to be frank.

I have Sora on one of the bikes, ie with the cables routed not under the bar tape. They have never "waved about in the wind".

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Erm, I think you use them to indicate where you are in the gear range? Bit of an odd question to be frank.

I have Sora on one of the bikes, ie with the cables routed not under the bar tape. They have never "waved about in the wind".

SOH / poetic licence /TIC etc.

 

[Cyclist33]

SOH / poetic licence /TIC etc.

Not.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Now that's a worry. I've been looking at possibly getting a Cube Peleton Race with 105 set up. The 2015 models are equipped with 11 speed 105. I looked at this as an improvement on earlier 10 speed models and which would benefit me as it's quite hilly round here.

Currently riding a triple. As much as I tend to avoid the granny ring I do use it on particularly taxing climbs. A bit worried now in case I may be buying some trouble with and 11 speed 105 setup.

I wouldn't worry too much, I converted my Tiagra 9sp triple Peleton to 105 11sp compact and the shifting is buttery smooth, with hardly any effort needed on the shift levers. Granted it the front mech is a bit different to set up from new, but if the bike is factory fresh then there shouldn't be a problem

 

[bpsmith]

I have 10 speed 105 and 11 speed Ultegra and the latter is worlds apart in shifting quality. The front mech is especially efficient with the longer throw of the arm.

I am not a mechanic, but have mine set up with perfect shifting, so can't see why others have had multiple mechanics supposedly struggle with it. I just changed my cables recently and set up from scratch with no issues.

The extra gear can be a bonus in not stepping up 2 teeth in the mid range of an equivalent cassette, but this alone is not necessarily life changing as already stated. If you like to ride fast on the flat then this can be a bonus where you find yourself needing that in between gear though.

 

[Venod]

Erm, I think you use them to indicate where you are in the gear range? Bit of an odd question to be frank.

I have Sora on one of the bikes, ie with the cables routed not under the bar tape. They have never "waved about in the wind".

Yes but there is no markings on the levers its just a guess, you may as well look at the cassette and chain ring or if the gear feels right I don't need confirmation from an indicator, and whose Frank.

 

[EasyPeez]

I second what @Cyclist33 says - forget the marketing, it's all about the set-up.
I ride Tiagra 4600 and it goes like a sewing machine; smooth, quiet and reliable. I've done about 3,000 miles on it and have never had a chain come off or even a missed shift in all that time, except for when my chain wore out recently and it started skipping gears - but that was my fault for letting the chain get too worn, and now with new chain on it's back to being flawless.
By contrast I've sampled 105 on my friend's Cannondale and it clanked and creaked all over the place, despite being well-oiled and (allegedly) recently indexed. I'm sure a good look at his mech could have had it tuned up and running as smoothly as mine, but I don't see how it could be made to run any more smoothly or reliably than mine.
The Tiagra (unless it's the very latest, which I haven't seen) is uglier of cable and hood, so you might decide it's worth the extra £100+ for the aesthetics and/or 11 speed option.
When I'm in a position to get another new bike I'll be looking to plough the funds into the best possible frame and wheelset; groupset will be a comparatively minor consideration.

 

[EasyPeez]

Yes but there is no markings on the levers its just a guess, you may as well look at the cassette and chain ring or if the gear feels right I don't need confirmation from an indicator, and whose Frank.

TBH I assumed there was supposed to be a sticker on there with numbers 1-10 so that the little red lever showed you which number gear you were in. I thought mine must just have come without the stickers. Sounds like they all come with guess-work as standard?!
I don't see the need to know what number gear you're in anyway really, whether by hood-top indicator or by looking at the cassette - you're either in the right gear or the wrong gear, and the legs are the only indicator needed for that one.

 

[Cyclist33]

TBH I assumed there was supposed to be a sticker on there with numbers 1-10 so that the little red lever showed you which number gear you were in. I thought mine must just have come without the stickers. Sounds like they all come with guess-work as standard?!
I don't see the need to know what number gear you're in anyway really, whether by hood-top indicator or by looking at the cassette - you're either in the right gear or the wrong gear, and the legs are the only indicator needed for that one.

Still and all, plenty of people find themselves subconsciously looking down at their cogs to see what gear they're in. My colleague smashed his head in mounting a kerb doing that. It's great if you can train yourself never to do that and just let your legs guide you, but it's not always the way it happens.

By the same token bike computers don't give you any meaningful information during a ride if you take the view that your body tells you what you need to know, but it doesn't stop people using them.

I think if you want to know this sort of "ride metadata" then having a needle on the shifter gives you a rough idea, I mean even the dumbest of adult human beings will "learn" what gear the needle's position relates to after a few hundred miles of usage.

 

[russ.will]

As you're looking at a complete bike, rather than just a groupset, you'd do well to at least have a look at the Planet-X RT-58 SRAM Rival 22 at £649.

Triple butted Ali frame (v double on the Cube) with the same Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels (Badged Campag on the P-X) if we ignore differences in geometry, the principle differences are external cable runs and full SRAM Rival 22 groupset, for £150 less.

Mine did not miss a single shift in the filthy conditions of the London to Cambridge ride yesterday, despite it having to cope with my 16.5st butt out of the seat in the lowest gear on the steepest climbs. It also didn't rattle or creak like some of the internal cable bikes I was riding alongside on some of the rougher sections. TBH, I'm a bit anal about that sort of thing, so YMMV!

Russell

PS. Never really used the gear indicator on any bike; Your legs tell you all you need to know.

 

[Citius]

PS. Never really used the gear indicator on any bike; Your legs tell you all you need to know.

Definitely this..