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Do 10sp cassettes offer enough ratios for you?

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Do 10sp cassettes offer enough ratios for you?

Old 12-04-21, 08:34 PM
  #1  
SquishyBiker
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Do 10sp cassettes offer enough ratios for you?

Looking at my bike shopping for 2022, and I've come to the realization that maybe sticking with Shimano 10sp is going to simplify most of my fleet:
  • eCommuter: currently 1x10
  • Drop bar rd: currently 3x10 (likely replace with a new bike in 2022 with GRX 2x10)
  • Flat bar rd: currently 3x10
  • Mtb hardtail: currently 2x9
  • Mtb trail: currently 1x11 (replacing with a Scott Spark 960 with Shimano XTd 1x12)
Apart from the mtb trail, which is being replaced with a 1x12 bike, it makes sense for the other bikes to all be 10sp drivelines, then I can keep spare chains and links readily available.

Has anyone else settled on 10sp drive-trains for their general road bikes?
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Old 12-04-21, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by SquishyBiker
Looking at my bike shopping for 2022, and I've come to the realization that maybe sticking with Shimano 10sp is going to simplify most of my fleet:
  • eCommuter: currently 1x10
  • Drop bar rd: currently 3x10 (likely replace with a new bike in 2022 with GRX 2x10)
  • Flat bar rd: currently 3x10
  • Mtb hardtail: currently 2x9
  • Mtb trail: currently 1x11 (replacing with a Scott Spark 960 with Shimano XTd 1x12)
Apart from the mtb trail, which is being replaced with a 1x12 bike, it makes sense for the other bikes to all be 10sp drivelines, then I can keep spare chains and links readily available.

Has anyone else settled on 10sp drive-trains for their general road bikes?
I haven't "settled" on anything, as I have 9, 10, 11, and SS drivetrains. I don't find it burdensome to keep a few different chains and cassettes around my garage. At any rate, though, people's answers will be highly individual. e.g., When I still lived on the flats, I was perfectly happy with my 9sp bike and a 12-23 cassette. Now I'm in a very hilly area, and I kind of like my 11sp bikes with wider-range cassettes (and smaller gaps, since they have more cogs).
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Old 12-04-21, 09:52 PM
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Although my bikes are all 11-speed, 10-speed double gourpsets offered more than enough gearing for my riding and the cassette jumps weren't too big.

I used to run a 12-30T cassette in 10-speed. I wish Shimano made the same in 11-speed.

Mostly though, I hardly notice the addition of one extra rear cog (although my perception is that the shifting quality increased from Shimano 10-speed to the newest 11-speed).
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Old 12-05-21, 06:11 AM
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I would not let chain cross-compatibility weigh much on my drivetrain choice.

But that’s me.
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Old 12-05-21, 07:14 AM
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I wouldn't go to any trouble to keep all bikes the same speed. It's not difficult to keep a couple of spare chains around. A disadvantage to 10 speed is that if you need shifters you will be limited to lower level components unless you can find NOS.
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Old 12-05-21, 08:11 AM
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The only issue I ran into was Shimano no longer makes a 12-27 10 speed road cassette for my Ultegra 6600.
I had to switch over to SRAM for a 12-27 10-speed cassette.
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Old 12-05-21, 08:27 AM
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10 speeds are definitely enough (assuming a double crankset). Even 9 cogs in the back is adequate for me, and that includes riding some substantial hills. The only thing having 10 speed on my road bike has done is give me two cogs, the 12 and 11, that are so rarely used that it’s a waste. I recall an old Jobst Brandt quote that it should have stopped with 8 cogs since having more made for weaker wheels and tolerances were such that longevity of the drivetrain was compromised. I’m kind of in that camp too.

Last edited by Point; 12-05-21 at 08:32 AM.
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Old 12-05-21, 09:16 AM
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I prefer 3x8 or 3x9.
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Old 12-05-21, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by SquishyBiker
Looking at my bike shopping for 2022, and I've come to the realization that maybe sticking with Shimano 10sp is going to simplify most of my fleet:
  • eCommuter: currently 1x10
  • Drop bar rd: currently 3x10 (likely replace with a new bike in 2022 with GRX 2x10)
  • Flat bar rd: currently 3x10
  • Mtb hardtail: currently 2x9
  • Mtb trail: currently 1x11 (replacing with a Scott Spark 960 with Shimano XTd 1x12)
Apart from the mtb trail, which is being replaced with a 1x12 bike, it makes sense for the other bikes to all be 10sp drivelines, then I can keep spare chains and links readily available.

Has anyone else settled on 10sp drive-trains for their general road bikes?
I use campagnolo 10sp - 51/39 front, 12-23 on the back. Its almost perfect for the rolling terrain I ride. The cassette gives me a straight 12-19 run, and no climb around here requires lower than a 39/23 gear. If i know I’m going to be doing any serious climbing I swap in a 13/29 cassette. I have a couple of cassettes (12/23 and 12/25) and a compact crankset stockpiled, which should last me years while giving me some gear-lowering options as I age. That being said, I am pondering switching to 12sp in a couple of years - a Chorus groupset can be had for ~$1200, and an 11-29 on the back is very appealing. We’ll see how I feel, physically and financially, a couple of years from now.
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Old 12-05-21, 10:14 AM
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As long as it has a 16t.
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Old 12-05-21, 10:29 AM
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Time marches on. 10 speed lacks availability, except for low level drivetains. I started using 11 speed in 2008 and 12 speed in 2019.
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Old 12-05-21, 11:01 AM
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Saying "n speed, of m speed" is a little vague. It might be more informative if you compared drivetrains in terms of maximum percent range, size of steps, and actual number or unduplicated ratios.
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Old 12-05-21, 11:57 AM
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Nine is Fine
Ten is Zen
Eleven is Heaven
Twelve is a Dozen


EDIT:
Hilarious! But to answer the original question, ten cogs would be enough for me (I'm on 9sp). I appreciate the idea/efficiency of keeping your entire stable on 10sp, but in your shoes I'd move to something more current. Life seems a little easier when you're up to speed, as it were, be it 11 or 12sp. You might find a way to appreciate more cogs, and you can get parts more easily.

Best of luck with your choices.

Last edited by BCDrums; 12-05-21 at 04:30 PM.
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Old 12-05-21, 04:44 PM
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I haven't drank the 11/12 spd koolaid because if a Road cassette doesn't have a 16 & 18, it's not for me...
Not sure how, but the manufacturers have convinced many that all they need is 11-28... and the options on 11 & 12 spd cassettes is terrible.
Fact is 11 is a waste on me, and 27 is the same as 28... mostly...
12 is ok with a 50 - or 52 (53) x 13 is all I need to hang with the vast majority of group rides.
maybe if I was still under 50 (or 60, 70)... things are not what they once were, which is fine/life.
I have plenty of cassettes to last me a lifetime - I'm set - 10 spd will do until they put me into my pyramid....
I still enjoy each and every ride. Maybe more than ever.
Ride On
Yuri
"are terrible..." not "is...) LOL!

Last edited by cyclezen; 12-06-21 at 10:58 AM. Reason: words matter
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Old 12-06-21, 12:02 AM
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A couple years ago Ichanged a couple of family bikes to 9sp to simplify things.
My wife and both kids have 2x9 road bikes and 1x9 mtbs. It's nice for maintenance.

I have no desire to run everything of mine the same. 3x9, 2x11, 2x11, 2x11, 1x1.
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Old 12-06-21, 12:45 AM
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You can just use 11 speed chains on 10 speed drivetrains. Works without issue.

Eh. For me most bikes in the house but kids' bikes is 11 speed and so is my parts cache, but when it's new bike time, it's going to be 12 speed. Ten and eleven speed stuff is enough for me, but the newer stuff is a bit better and buying old stuff on purpose just doesn't make sense imo.

At some point the availability of parts especially, high end is going to taper off. For 11 speed that's probably almost a decade down the line. By that time I expect I'll buy at least one new bike.
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Old 12-06-21, 02:12 AM
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I've had/have everything from 6-11 cogs. 10 is more than enough. I've always thought 9 is the sweet spot. When you get more than 9 the chains get narrower and weaker and tuning gets more finicky.

My favorite bike has one gear.
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Old 12-06-21, 04:06 AM
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11 chains aren't any weaker than 9 speed or 10 speed. Good lube and a quality chain to begin with and they last really long, and chain breaking on 11 speed - I don't know a single rider who managed that.
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Old 12-06-21, 08:08 AM
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I have a 1x7 for my hard tail commuter/gravel bike and that’s been fine for me for 4+ years

My road bike that I got this year is 2x10, but I never use the small chainring, and that is more than enough ratios. As someone who prioritizes cadence over speed, the jump in the ability to fine tune my gearing from 7 to 10 speeds was pretty amazing. Looking at ratios of 11sp cassettes, I imagine the returns wouldn’t be worth having to upgrade my entire drive train.

It’s also worth considering industry trends/standards as well. While still available, 7sp cassettes are on the outs for most brands, outside of big box stores. While my commuter has a lot of sentimental value, I’ve definitely put more money that it’s currently worth into replacing worn out parts over the past COVID year.

Last edited by nel e nel; 12-06-21 at 08:16 AM.
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Old 12-06-21, 08:17 AM
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2x, more than enough. I don't do 1x.
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Old 12-06-21, 12:28 PM
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I have two bikes that are 1x11 and one that is 2x10 they’re all more than enough
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Old 12-06-21, 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
I wouldn't go to any trouble to keep all bikes the same speed. It's not difficult to keep a couple of spare chains around. A disadvantage to 10 speed is that if you need shifters you will be limited to lower level components unless you can find NOS.
I have several sets of 10-speed wheels that rotate among 3 different bikes. Nice to be able to swap different tire and gear set ups from bike to bike.
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Old 12-06-21, 02:02 PM
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All of my bikes are 6-8 speed, with either a double or triple up front, and they're more than enough. They have more than 10 now? Wow.

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Old 12-06-21, 04:58 PM
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Campy 2x10 and 3x10 here on all my bikes...
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Old 12-06-21, 05:38 PM
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Yea, I keep as many bikes as I can 10sp Shimano / Sram to be able to put everyone's bikes on the direct drive trainers in the winter without swapping cassettes.
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