djb

cs hasnt said what his pref is for speeds, but given his interest in possibly tiagra, thats 10.
I dont keep track of changes always, so is 105 11 speed now?

Cyclist03516

Not sure but parts are readily available for my 10 year old triple with a 10 speed cassette in Shimano 105. All over Amazon.

Kimmo

Nah, there's another crap one - Escape, with the convex mouse ears that can only release the cable one cog at a time.

The escapement ratchet on those is plastic, and wears out. You can sort of get them going again by reprofiling the pawl that's attached to the mouse ear (also plastic), but it's touch and go, you can only really do it once, and it won't shift like new.

Kimmo

Has been for two generations; 5800 and 7000.

djb

geez, as a non roadie, I have gotten behind haven't I?

I know not everyone is a gearing nerd like me, but as a tourer, knowing gear inches as a defining black and white number is important, and to relate a given g.i. low to a given bike weight/terrain/rider.
This was why I brought up the Gevenalle + 48/36/26 + wide range cassettes option--but I do come back to how its a unique setup, and riding my Gevenalle setup bike lately after being on my trigger shifter bikes and then sti bike for the spring and summer, Gevenalle does have a slightly slower more "deliberate" shifting/ride feeling thing going on.
It's fine for touring where we have to slow down our expectations of all riding speed and generally has a more laid back approach to a days ride---and then also for muddy, crappy cyclocross conditions with lots of potential crashes and therefore a really inexpensive shifting method (they rebuild crashed and busted units for something like 30 bucks or something) compared to trashing expensive sti units , that I can see would appeal from a money aspect of someone racing cross a lot.

but I know I'm like a broken record here , so will shut up.

Andrew R Stewart 

Why mechanics around the world dislike plastic in some applications. Andy