3x9 or 2x11 for commuter/touring bike?
01-26-22, 01:22 PM
#26
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I'll try to make this short and easy. If you were building a road bike designed for commuting to work/running errands and *possibly* light touring (like 2 panniers' worth), would you run a 3x9 or 2x11 setup?
Caveats:
1) Mostly used parts
2) Shimano (or Microshift equivalent)
3) You are not allowed to answer 1x12. Sorry.
I'm inclined to go for the 3x9 as I think I can cram more teeth on the largest cog if need be (looks like the 2x11 maxes out at 34) but it's a bit harder to find used parts for triples where I live - especially cranksets and brifters. Apparently riding a triple is the equivalent of drinking decaf coffee with soy milk.
Caveats:
1) Mostly used parts
2) Shimano (or Microshift equivalent)
3) You are not allowed to answer 1x12. Sorry.
I'm inclined to go for the 3x9 as I think I can cram more teeth on the largest cog if need be (looks like the 2x11 maxes out at 34) but it's a bit harder to find used parts for triples where I live - especially cranksets and brifters. Apparently riding a triple is the equivalent of drinking decaf coffee with soy milk.
01-26-22, 08:55 PM
#27
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Wow, great answers! Appreciate all the input. @icemilkcoffee I'll be likely using rim brakes (cantilever or V), so good to know about 11 speed hubs. Wheels are not my wheelhouse (/bad pun).
Used GRX parts are even tougher to find than 3x9 here - otherwise that was my first thought.
Shimano isn't much help on their website (FFS, why have a compatiblity chart and not link to the specs PDF on each item?
), which is why I rely on the collective minds of BF to help me out. 
From what I remember, 10+ speed MTB RDs don't work with road shifters.
I think it's going to come down to brifter availability. 3x9 used brifters would be a miracle or I'll have pony up the cash for new microshifts. Bar ends are fine for touring, but as a commuter they can be somewhat cumbersome.
Used GRX parts are even tougher to find than 3x9 here - otherwise that was my first thought.
Shimano isn't much help on their website (FFS, why have a compatiblity chart and not link to the specs PDF on each item?
), which is why I rely on the collective minds of BF to help me out. From what I remember, 10+ speed MTB RDs don't work with road shifters.I think it's going to come down to brifter availability. 3x9 used brifters would be a miracle or I'll have pony up the cash for new microshifts. Bar ends are fine for touring, but as a commuter they can be somewhat cumbersome.
01-26-22, 10:26 PM
#28
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01-27-22, 11:29 PM
#29
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My similar-intentioned bike is 2x11 (with a subcompact crank) because I love Shimano road hydraulic brakes, but if we don't need hydraulic brakes either has its merits. It's also a bit of a matter of how low you need--getting 30t in the front and 34t is easy and in spec, 36t in the rear is out of spec and probably just works, and you can probably hack a 40t without a ton of drama, but if you're wanting a similar gear as a 22t and a 36t with a triple, the choices start getting really weird for 2x11 (Di2 with MTB FB and RD and road shifters, for instance).
I also have a straight touring bike with 3x9 with a 22t and 36t--it's probably what I would still choose if I were long distance touring in mixed terrain with moderately heavy loads.
I also have a straight touring bike with 3x9 with a 22t and 36t--it's probably what I would still choose if I were long distance touring in mixed terrain with moderately heavy loads.
01-28-22, 01:12 PM
#30
Senior Member
My similar-intentioned bike is 2x11 (with a subcompact crank) because I love Shimano road hydraulic brakes, but if we don't need hydraulic brakes either has its merits. It's also a bit of a matter of how low you need--getting 30t in the front and 34t is easy and in spec, 36t in the rear is out of spec and probably just works, and you can probably hack a 40t without a ton of drama, but if you're wanting a similar gear as a 22t and a 36t with a triple, the choices start getting really weird for 2x11 (Di2 with MTB FB and RD and road shifters, for instance).
I also have a straight touring bike with 3x9 with a 22t and 36t--it's probably what I would still choose if I were long distance touring in mixed terrain with moderately heavy loads.
I also have a straight touring bike with 3x9 with a 22t and 36t--it's probably what I would still choose if I were long distance touring in mixed terrain with moderately heavy loads.
I'm both somewhat old and slow and fine with that.
01-29-22, 12:35 PM
#31
top
RD-RX400 is officially compatible with 36T, so when it is paired with 11s shifter it can be used with these 11s cassettes:
11-12-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36 sunrace (compatible with 10s freehub)
11-12-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32-36 sram (not compatible with 10s freehub?)
Last edited by kek; 01-29-22 at 01:02 PM.
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