Gearing question

Tim said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it. The other bikes in the shed are all eight speed at the back
& I'm tempted to build this one up the same for ease of swapping wheels
around.

Would there be any good reasons for buring the cash on new
chains, cassettes & shifters to move all the bikes to nine speed?

Not that I can think of... most of my own bikes are still 8 speed. As
I wear components out I'll probably convert to 9 or 10 (depending on
the bike), but certainly wouldn't think of retiring otherwise good
components just to get the extra gears that I don't really need
anyway.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

"Tim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it. The other bikes in the shed are all eight speed at the back
& I'm tempted to build this one up the same for ease of swapping wheels
around.

Would there be any good reasons for buring the cash on new
chains, cassettes & shifters to move all the bikes to nine speed?

--
Tim.

The 8 speed cassettes are usually 11 - 28 or 11 - 30 teeth. Comparing an 8
speed 11 - 30 to a 9 speed 11 - 34, the ratios are identical except for the
extra 34 cog. So it depends how often you will use a 34 cog. In my case,
the answer is never, which is why I changed from a 11 - 34 to a roadie 12 -
27 cassette.

I would save the cash and stick with 8 speed.

Joe

Tim said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it.

One.

JD

9 speed parts are ezay to come by these days then 8
speed.

Single beats more then muti you say.

JD said:

Tim said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it.

One.

That's a different project🙂
--
Tim.

Joe Roach said:

"Tim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Would there be any good reasons for buring the cash on new
chains, cassettes & shifters to move all the bikes to nine speed?

The 8 speed cassettes are usually 11 - 28 or 11 - 30 teeth. Comparing an 8
speed 11 - 30 to a 9 speed 11 - 34, the ratios are identical except for the
extra 34 cog. So it depends how often you will use a 34 cog. In my case,
the answer is never, which is why I changed from a 11 - 34 to a roadie 12 -
27 cassette.

I would save the cash and stick with 8 speed.

I tend to run 11-28 and use most of them between different
routes. In the past I've run a "megarange" style cassette with the
largest ring being a 34 and an effective jump of two ratios. It was fine
as a panic gear but better gear changing and handling was a beter
solution to that problem🙂
--
Tim.

Tim said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it.

Personally im not into millions of gears - i see no need - increase
your fitness and leg strength and you dont need them. If you have all
8speed bikes why change - save the cash.

J

Per Tim:

Quoted message said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it.

I use an internal hub with 14, which I find 100% adequate for mountain biking.

For road, dunno - I could see that that some people might want, if not more
gears, different spacings.
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) said:

Per Tim:

Quoted message said:

Having just collected a new frame I'm wondering how many gears
to give it.

I use an internal hub with 14, which I find 100% adequate for mountain biking.

For road, dunno - I could see that that some people might want, if not more
gears, different spacings.

A Rohloff would certainly be nice. I've not ridden with one but
I'd imagine it's 14 evenly spaced ratios would feel more useful than the
larger numbers of unevenly spaced gears commonly available with
derailers.
--
Tim.

Per Tim:

Quoted message said:

A Rohloff would certainly be nice. I've not ridden with one but
I'd imagine it's 14 evenly spaced ratios would feel more useful than the
larger numbers of unevenly spaced gears commonly available with
derailers.

For MTB use, yes - especially since when riding MTB one does a lot of wide
changes.

For road use, I wouldn't be too sure. 13% is a pretty big jump. It works on
the bike I'm using to dabble in commuting - but if I were a stronger/faster
rider I think I'd be looking for some narrower steps up at the high end.
--
PeteCresswell