Touring Bike 24 or 27 gears?

[Blue Hills]

Apologies if this sounds like a daft question/luddite/has been covered before.

Am currently speccing a touring bike.

The very professional bod doing it has insisted that 3x9 gears is best for continued availability of a "choice" of components.

I'm wondering though. Is there a strong case for 3x8?

I have a 3x9 bike which whizzes along on the flat but can have problems getting it up really steep hills, whereas two 3x7 bikes I have can get up no problem even with pretty heavy loads.

And I rather have the feeling that on the 21 gear bikes I can not only use a greater proportion of those 21 gears than on the 27 but that adjustment is far less finickety/the bits are far tougher due to the broader chain.

As for "choice" of components in future, will this realistically be a problem? I should stress that I am not interested in "choice" if it's just a matter of flashier bits/weight savings (seems irrelevant on a tourer and I've never been a racer), only in the likely continued availability of bits (chain rings and cassettes etc) with the ratios needed for touring.

So - 24 or 27?

 

[tyred]

The actual number of gears isn't all that important. The important bit is that the lowest one is low enough to allow you to climb the hills in the area that you will be riding.

 

[Blue Hills]

That's rather what I thought tyred.

So you are arguing for 24?

Any views on the "continued availability of suitable bits in suitable ratios" argument?

 

[TheDoctor]

A reasonable range of 7 speed cassettes is still easily available. I can't see 8 speed going away any time soon.
The only issue would be STI levers, but evev so, I'd expect 8 speed ones to be around for a fair few years.

 

[hubbike]

when you go to a 9 speed cassette you have to use a narrower chain to fit the extra gear in. so the two systems are not compatible like 7 and 8 speed are.

 

[Moodyman]

Many in the cyle trade are encouraging 9 speeds and above as 8 speeds are on their way out (supposedly).

But out there, there's many 8 speed bikes on sale and I think that bits n bobs will be available for many years yet.

 

[tyred]

I would expect 7 and 8 speed parts to be around for as long as people want to buy them.

 

[mcshroom]

I think the simple answer is it doesn't make much difference. I would advise getting a nice low gear on the back though (a 32 or 34t) whichever you go for.

I ride a 3x8 tourer and a 3x7 hybrid,and there's no problems getting hold of equipment for either. Also one of the most popular bikes the Specialized Allez is an 8sp, so I can't see 8sp parts dissappearing any time soon

 

[Blue Hills]

The only issue would be STI levers, but evev so, I'd expect 8 speed ones to be around for a fair few years.

Sorry, should maybe have said - the bike will be flat-bar so no STI.

Thanks for the advice so far people - other views welcome.

 

[albion]

Its a cost and weight equation.9 speed is high end with lower weights and infinite cost.It's 8 speed and below which now caters to the mass market 'general cycling' with very low costs.

 

[willem]

Decent 7 speed hubs are no longer available, so that is not an option even if 7 speed cassettes can still be had. There are good reasons for argueing that 7 speed is the perfect number, but that is pointless if you cannot buy the bits. 8, 9 and 10 speed hubs are essentially the same, so that i snot an issue. 8 speed is a lot cheaper in cassettes and chains, and lasts longer. A modern 9 or 10 speed rear mech will happily shift 8 speeds (the indexing is in the shifter). So if you opt for 8 speed with a modern hub and mech, you win on the cost of running cheaper and longer wearing parts, and you loose because your shifters may become obsolete. But if you go this route, you won't waste much money because all expensive indexing shifters are 9/10 speed. You can only get cheap 8 speed shifters. Not that that matters.

Willem

 

[oldleggs]

Well not being an expert by any means...but whatever gearing is on the Dawes super Galaxy was enough to get me and 4 loaded panniers (21k) total weight up the hills in Swiss Normandy this July...and that's hilly in my book. And the high gears were great when riding along the Loire.
First tour at 61 years the best thing l've done... 6 weeks in France wonderful.
Planning the next tour already....got the bug l think.

oldleggs

 

[Davidc]

The issue really is parts. I'm finding getting a replacement STI 8 speed expensive, though not difficult. The equivalent 9 speed part is 1/3 the price.

I'll get the STI lever sometime when I find a 2nd hand replacement (the original is still going with a small bodge) and having 2 bikes with 8 speed and similar transmissions I'm going to stockpile chains, cassettes, chainrings and other spare bits.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

The issue really is parts. I'm finding getting a replacement STI 8 speed expensive, though not difficult. The equivalent 9 speed part is 1/3 the price.

I'll get the STI lever sometime when I find a 2nd hand replacement (the original is still going with a small bodge) and having 2 bikes with 8 speed and similar transmissions I'm going to stockpile chains, cassettes, chainrings and other spare bits.

Although this is not really relevant for the OP / flat bars, Davidc your comment about Shimano 8 speed drop bars sti getting rare and expensive is certainly true. Have you considered using Campag 10 speed sti? They can be cheap as chips, and pull the same amount of cable as a Shimano 8 for indexing the rear. If one goes down this route, for front shifting there are options, but for most cases it is probably best to just use a Campag front mech.

Regarding 8 or 9 at the back, unless it is Campag*, I would pick 8 speed any day if system robustness is important.

* Campag 8 speed freehubs went obsolete ages ago, and aren't compatible with their 9/10/11 speed freehubs so will be a bit of a pain to live with

 

[tbtb]

The issue really is parts. I'm finding getting a replacement STI 8 speed expensive, though not difficult. The equivalent 9 speed part is 1/3 the price.

Shimano (8 speed) 2300 sti shifters are £84ish a pair, much the same as 9 speed stuff. But the OP is using flat bars, not sti, so moving to 9 speed later isn't so pricey really.

I think 8 or 9 speed will be fine. I suppose 8 is the better, as it's cheaper and stronger maybe. I'd avoid shimano chains though as they require those special replacement pins to split and rejoin the chain, supposedly. £2 a pop. Other brands have a special link that can be separated and rejoined for free - you can even use the chain as an emergency bike lock when you're in a jam in Azerbaijan on your round the world tour.