Why 11 speed

The average mountain biker uses a fairly wide range of gears, but mostly on the low end of the spectrum. I got to thinking about the simplest logical step beyond current speed systems. With just one more gear, a 49 tooth cog, the single ring system will no longer be at a gearing range disadvantage. Is speed the answer? The end of the gear wars? The percentage jump from a 42 to a 49 is the same as that from 36 to Obviously innovation will continue but it seems as though the front derailleur could truly be pronounced dead with just one more cog out back.

Top level racing pushes development in bicycle technology. Elite racers are the measurable determinant of what companies need to provide. However, these racers are still carefully choosing a chainring depending on the course. It would certainly be simpler if we just had a bit more gear range….

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Bike Protection. Bike Care. Tools and Pumps. I'm in the market for a new road bike and have been thrown a bit of a curve ball. Is there really a huge performance difference between 10 and 11 speed chain drives. It just seems a bit crazy to have to change the hubs and cassettes on all my existing wheel sets if I go the 11 speed route plus I will also have to upgrade the group set on my TT bike.

It seems like a costly exercise if the difference is not that great. Pure Savage 5 posts. Mopkop 4 posts. Not worth the "upgrade" unless you were changing the gruppo or upgrading anyway. It just adds an extra ratio in the middle somewhere, and sheds maybe a little bit of weight.

And looks better or worse, depending on your view of aesthetics. Now if you were "upgrading" from 26 inch to 29 inch and 10 speed to 11 speed, that would make you waaay.. Hat, coat, door, ek is weg I was in the market for a new bike and got an 11 speed.

Did not have a set of race wheels so it was a no brainer. If I had race wheels I would stick to 10 speed. Try finding 11 speed comp race wheels in the classifieds. We may not have much choice as time goes by, Shimano is clearly on an 11 speed path for the future, and what Shimano does dictates the future of the industry IMO. Like it or not, it's the way of the future.

I also don't see the point, but having just built up a new bike, there really was no option but to go 11 speed. I do believe it's in the training and not the gears as much.

There's no performance difference BUT there is a Price difference! Although, 11spd is probably the way forward for long term.. Eventually 10spd items will become scarce and pricey! Was in the same boat when I went shopping for a tri bike, eventually decided to go to 11spd. The only benefit I found was the extra 18 tooth sprocket on the cassette , with 10 speed I always found the gap from 17 to 19 teeth irritating in that I sometimes could not find a comfortable cadence with 17 or 19, the 18 solves that nicely.

If you go for the 11 — 28 combo its back to the same 17 to 19 issue but then you get a 25 and 28 for those steep hills. I'll stick to 10 speed for the moment.