PhotoJoe 

Well, you know it had to happen! If 10 was good, and 11 was better....

https://www.bikerumor.com/2018/04/09/...ord-groupsets/

I like the idea of tighter gearing while not losing range, but the narrower chain makes me nervous.

TrojanHorse

The chain doesn't bother me as much as the hub geometry (especially as a clyde!), but apparently they're squeezing it into the same hub configuration.

Narrower chain should not be any weaker unless they make the chain plates thinner. I read that they weren't. Who knows, I finally got an 11 speed bike in January, it figures somebody rolled out 12 now.

tunavic

No first hand experience but by occasionally reading the Classic and Vintage forum I've learned those guys are convinced that chain durability has gone way down from the days of 5 cogs

jsigone

@TrojanHorse our pinarellos are dated, we must sell for the latest 12speed and mandatory Black and red paint jobs

himespau 

I'll keep my Racing T and 10 speed Centaur, thanks. So much prettier.

TrojanHorse

I know for a fact 9 speed chains were about indestructible! Oh well, it's nice to have 11 gears, I can stick a new chain on 50% more often.

TrojanHorse

Yes, now they're "classics"...

Although if you want to copy something of Shimano's, I would have recommended staying away from the damn cranks. Way to copy the worst looking component, campy.

daviddavieboy

On my 10 speed dale' I went with a compact crank with a 11-28. With a 12 speed cassette they can keep a full size crank and still climb serious hills AND get the speed on the flats. NOT that I could but those who race often. I know some on here DO race, did you guys (or gals) find much change going from 9 to 10 or even 11 speed cassettes?

TrojanHorse

I'm no racer but... my old 10 speed bike had a compact 50/34 and an 11-28. I occasionally put a 12-28 in there because of the 16 cog, which is perfect for cruising along at about 20 mph but I'd pay for it on the downhill.

my new bike has 11 speeds... a mid compact crank and 11-28. The hills are a little bit harder (and some are out of reach now) but I'm not missing that middle of the range and the top end is a little higher too.

I really don't think it's that big of a deal though. 12 speed would just add one more cog in the middle and wouldn't really improve things on either end, so a slight improvement is likely.

dr_lha

Campy Cranks have looked **** since they went four arm, and that was a while back. The new 12 speed Record one is at least more attractive than the previous generation.

cyclist2000

If they do like Shimano did with the M8000 group, the redesigned derailleur has a rear cog capacity of 32 tooth. I think the previous version had a capacity of 28 tooth. I like a little lower gearing for touring.

I had to laugh at the "cruising at 20 mph", for me that only happens when there is a stiff tailwind.

TrojanHorse

I guess that was the point - the number of speeds doesn't affect your top end or your bottom end - you can get a mid cage RD to accomodate a 32 tooth cog, that's what I did with my new 105 groupset (5800). BUT that will create a larger gap somewhere else. The gap is partially helped by an extra cog.

The "cruising at" part.... whatever speed your cruising at, if the cassette in the back has one tooth too high and one too low, you'll be fighting with it a little bit to get comfy, depending on conditions, speed, etc.