Why oh why did I bother with 11 speed?

[MichaelW2]

PS - did you ever service your Alivio hubs?

Yes, about once or twice a year and I kept them packed with grease to prevent ingress of winter gunge.
The economically priced hubs were handbuilt onto OK rims and were as bombproof as any touring wheel you could find. Sold axles were part of the security system I used in a high crime area.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Not seeking an argument with you smokin joe for I like your posts, but is this true? For "cyclists in general" surely it just matters that you have a low enough gear. Am not arguing against big sprockets on the back. My 26 inch wheel expedition bike for instance has a 36T. But the bike is still only 9 speed.

That's what suits you, so stick with it as you are spot on for your needs. But as I've said previously, we all have different engines so what suits one would be no good for someone else.

 

[fatjel]

In recent years I’ve had (and still have)
Sturmey archer 3 speed
Campagnolo 1x5
Tourney 2x7
Sora 2x9
Sora 3x9
Tiagra 3x9
Tiagra 2x10
Zee 1x10
105 2x11
Ultegra 2x11

You can’t spend sense

 

[smutchin]

And in the pro scene some of the climbs now used on the Giro, for example, would have been impossible for most riders with a limited number of gears.

Being able to get up hills doesn't depend on the total number of gears, it's the range of gears that matters - just look at downhill racing MTBs, eg: https://www.evanscycles.com/santa-cruz-v10-cc-x01-enve-2018-mountain-bike-EV317685 - just under £10k for a 1x7 set-up!

 

[raleighnut]

105 10 speed rear mech and 10 speed 105 standard double crank with 6 speed freewheel and friction shifters.

 

[smutchin]

Five speeds with relatively high gears were all that was required most of the time and it was common to see some riders on a fixed wheel

I know a few riders who still use fixed for TTs. I've been thinking of sticking a set of clip-on TT bars on my fixed for next time I do the club 10. I can see a lot of sense in it.

Also a lot of hill climb racers use fixed gear, mainly for lower weight. Again, it doesn't matter if you only have one gear, as long as it's the right gear for that climb.

 

[smutchin]

I recall a thread some time ago discussing the advisability of going up Ditchling Beacon on a single speed. I pointed out that I always go up it on a single speed. The single speed in question being my bottom gear, as I've never changed up while ascending it.

Brilliant!

 

[DCBassman]

I recall a thread some time ago discussing the advisability of going up Ditchling Beacon on a single speed. I pointed out that I always go up it on a single speed. The single speed in question being my bottom gear, as I've never changed up while ascending it.

Never got up it in the saddle or even on the bike. The whole one time I tried! But the new setup is designed to let me have another go.

 

[bpsmith]

I know a few riders who still use fixed for TTs. I've been thinking of sticking a set of clip-on TT bars on my fixed for next time I do the club 10. I can see a lot of sense in it.

Also a lot of hill climb racers use fixed gear, mainly for lower weight. Again, it doesn't matter if you only have one gear, as long as it's the right gear for that climb.

If it’s a constant climb, then fair enough. If it varies then there is no right gear for every aspect of the climb.

 

[GuyBoden]

Legend, Beryl Burton. Greatest British female cyclist of all time.

A big chain ring and some serious determination.

 

[gds58]

I always thought more gears are better but an 11 speed with a 54/34 on the front is a step down from a triple 8 speed especially for the heavier rider.

Nonsense on so many levels! I’ve never seen or heard of a double chainset with 54/34 combination as there isn’t a road front mech (Double) that could cope with a 20t differential on chainrings. Secondly an 8 Speed triple (3x8) will have so many gear overlaps or almost identical gears that whilst you may have 24 gears to choose from, in reality many are so close to each other as to not make any discernible difference thereby making them redundant. This is why there has been a big move towards 1 x 11 and 1 x 12 systems. I have seen gear charts which show that these systems have 94% of the same total range as a 2 x 10 set-up and they are all usable gears.

 

[gds58]

It works perfectly well on my touring setup.

View attachment 405002

The gearing is not too high (you would will never reach road bike speeds anyway when loaded up) and has a granny gear and 32 rear cogs. MTB drivetrains are well suited for climbs, which are perfect for a loaded touring bike.

Disclaimer, I use the older 9 speed model which can be had cheap, not the 1x11 (which might limit you on the top or bottom end depending on the cassette/chainring combination.)

Wow that is one beautiful bike. I love it and I bet you can spend all day in extreme comfort even when fully loaded up!

 

[User6179]

Nonsense on so many levels! I’ve never seen or heard of a double chainset with 54/34 combination as there isn’t a road front mech (Double) that could cope with a 20t differential on chainrings. Secondly an 8 Speed triple (3x8) will have so many gear overlaps or almost identical gears that whilst you may have 24 gears to choose from, in reality many are so close to each other as to not make any discernible difference thereby making them redundant. This is why there has been a big move towards 1 x 11 and 1 x 12 systems. I have seen gear charts which show that these systems have 94% of the same total range as a 2 x 10 set-up and they are all usable gears.

I meant to type 50 not 54 obviously

Look at my other post for the reasons I find a triple better for my needs, I do own an 11 speed bike btw.

 

[swansonj]

Nonsense on so many levels! I’ve never seen or heard of a double chainset with 54/34 combination as there isn’t a road front mech (Double) that could cope with a 20t differential on chainrings. Secondly an 8 Speed triple (3x8) will have so many gear overlaps or almost identical gears that whilst you may have 24 gears to choose from, in reality many are so close to each other as to not make any discernible difference thereby making them redundant. This is why there has been a big move towards 1 x 11 and 1 x 12 systems. I have seen gear charts which show that these systems have 94% of the same total range as a 2 x 10 set-up and they are all usable gears.

My progressive adaptations of my previous touring bike ended up with a perfectly satisfactory 46/24 front double (12-32 7 speed at rear).

 

[Smokin Joe]

Legend, Beryl Burton. Greatest British female cyclist of all time.

A big chain ring and some serious determination.
View attachment 405168

I saw her ride once and I could not believe how low her cadence was. It didn't slow her down, though.