How many gears do we really need on a bike

[silva]

 

[classic33]

Are there really folk who have a genuine everyday need for 17-120? As I've posted before, my cassette gives me ample range for cruising along on the flat or grinding up steep alpine climbs weighted down with bike packing bags.

My 105 gears give a range of 29 - 229.

 

[Ajax Bay]

At the end of the day there are also wider range 12 speed set ups, it's just GX Eagle is a little more mainstream. I can also easily and cheaply change the chainring to further adapt the range to my riding if I want.

You really can't claim that GX Eagle is anything but edgy (not mainstream).
A 10-50t cassette costs >£150. Those chainrings are so easy to change, aren't they.
And you've dragged this thread off into off-road requirements. You'll be arguing next that "we really need" disc brakes.
Ming's triple 9sp set up for the road is entirely fit for anyone's purpose, gives a great range of gears and small steps between them: what's not to like? (On the road). Chains are cheap (<£17); cassettes are cheap (<£25).
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR...36,42,50&UF=2280&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=KMH&DV=teeth

 

[Punkawallah]

Is that all? I have 531 on mine.

No! Mine has 531!

 

[chriswoody]

You really can't claim that GX Eagle is anything but edgy (not mainstream).
A 10-50t cassette costs >£150. Those chainrings are so easy to change, aren't they.
And you've dragged this thread off into off-road requirements. You'll be arguing next that "we really need" disc brakes.
Ming's triple 9sp set up for the road is entirely fit for anyone's purpose, gives a great range of gears and small steps between them: what's not to like? (On the road). Chains are cheap (<£17); cassettes are cheap (<£25).
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR...36,42,50&UF=2280&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=KMH&DV=teeth

I've dragged the thread off course, the ruddy cheek of it!

The original post asked how many gears do we need and as I've consistently maintained it's all about the type of bike and the useage you want to put it to. So the answer for me is 12 gears on a 1x set up. At this point it's highly relevant to point out that this is for off-road use because I have always maintained that 2x or 3x are more relevant for road use.

On that same note, mountain bikes and gravel bikes are a large part of the bicycle industry these days and SRAM are one of the largest component manufacturers. GX Eagle is their mid tier off-road groupset, so it follows that this will be specced as standard OEM fitment on a good many of the brand new bikes sold today, so yes GX Eagle 12 speed cassettes are mainstream, unlike more esoteric brands like E-Thirteen and Wolftooth that tend to be fitted as aftermarket replacements.

Despite owning a 1x11 I've gone for 12 speed as ideal because my 11 speed is fatefully flawed in not having enough range. To combat that I do indeed change the chainring dependent on whether I'm going touring or not. For my Race Face crankset you remove one 8mm bolt from the DS crank, the spindle is attached to the offside crank, so no need to remove that. Then I undo one lock ring on the back and the chainring comes away. Replace with a small/larger chainring, then redo the lock ring and bolt the crank arm back on, remembering to torque it up to a monstrous 61nm, job done.

So there we go, yes 1 x 12 has all the gear range I need for the type of bike I have and the usage that I put my bike to.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

You really can't claim that GX Eagle is anything but edgy (not mainstream).
A 10-50t cassette costs >£150. Those chainrings are so easy to change, aren't they.
And you've dragged this thread off into off-road requirements. You'll be arguing next that "we really need" disc brakes.
Ming's triple 9sp set up for the road is entirely fit for anyone's purpose, gives a great range of gears and small steps between them: what's not to like? (On the road). Chains are cheap (<£17); cassettes are cheap (<£25).
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR...36,42,50&UF=2280&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=KMH&DV=teeth

Sorry, I have a lot of respect for your knowledge and opinion but I think you've gone too far here.

I know next to diddlysquat about gearing, preferring to stick to a few simple principles but a couple of points to consider:

Chris said the X Eagle was more mainstream (and qualified it as slightly) - that's not saying it's mainstream. There's a good argument to be made that saying something is more mainstream than another is actually suggesting that it is not mainstream, at all.
Elsewhere here (and I freely admit you may not have seen it) Chris has shared, in detail, how he sets his bike up for his backpacking adventures as opposed to his 'daily' riding. Some of what he does is beyond me, but some of it isn't. I'm no mechanic but some of what I have done is beyond some.
Yes the cassettes are more expensive - and he talks of conservative chain replacement to minimise that cost. (Yes, that's a different cost).
Disc brakes are a 'strawman', and frankly have no place in respectful debate and discussion.
How is the thread 'dragged' off topic? This is the op

For decades a 5 speed sprocket in the rear was enough. Then to entice us to buy new bikes, the numbers went on up to 12.

So my question is, how many is really enough. IMO 8 or 9 would seem to be plenty.

It's a shame to see a thread heading down this road.
Chris has always taken time to explain his bikes, his specs and his decisions in a helpful and patient manner.

Some posters, not you@Ajax Bay, are killing this place.

To get back on topic the obvious answer is 42 - the answer to everything!
(That's a Hitchiker's reference)

 

[Dogtrousers]

Extreme range is a bit pointless IMO. Hardly anyone needs the top end other than very occasionally, and if they do (like if your name is Ganna) then they don't need the bottom end. I'm more than happy with the range that a (fairly standard these days) 34/50 + 11-34 gives me. But as I rarely venture up to the top end (50/11=109"? I forget - I'm freewheeling by then anyway) I'm thinking of a subcompact double to shift it all down a bit.

That said, if you do want extreme range then there are ways and means. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you want or have unusual requirements.

As to number of gears, it's never really in my mind whether I'm riding my 8 or 11 speed cassette bike. I didn't notice any difference when I moved from 10 to 11. Some people are very fussy about not having big gaps between gears. I understand the concept, but it's never been something that has bothered me at all.

When out riding my 6 speed Brompton I like to occupy my mind with using all the gears in strict sequence. Every other change is a double change. It keeps me happy.

Edit. I was way off 50/11 is 121"!!!

 

[Alex321]

8 or 9 seem to suit me best after that you just seem to spend all your time changing gear rather than enjoying the ride.

I can't say I think about changing gear - it's automatic and instinctive.

I'm with you there.

It is just push the appropriate lever when it is feeling too hard to maintain pedalling at the speed I want, or when I feel i'm spinning a bit. The only time a little thought is needed is when changing chainring.

 

[fossyant]

I don’t whom you are referring to, but let’s be clear 1X doesn’t increase range, it’s the reverse. Have the humility to accept that.

Alot of folk swear by 1x. I'm not in that tribe as all mine are 2x with one older bike with 3x7. Off road, propper climbing and rough stuff, 1x works well and the guys I know with 1x have a lower gear for the hills than my 2x. But where it falls down is the gaps, especially where terrain if flat or smoother.

Eg gravel bikes are a do it all, but are seriously compromised on road with 1x as the jumps are just too big. My CX bike doesn't suffer this with 2x and is ideal on road with a change of tyres.

 

[Ajax Bay]

The original post asked how many gears do we need and as I've consistently maintained it's all about the type of bike and the useage you want to put it to. So the answer for me is 12 gears on a 1x set up. At this point it's highly relevant to point out that this is for off-road use because I have always maintained that 2x or 3x are more relevant for road use.

I do indeed change the chainring dependent on whether I'm going touring or not.

So there we go, yes 1 x 12 has all the gear range I need for the type of bike I have and the usage that I put my bike to.

12 on a 1x, off road: yes sounds entirely reasonable (depending on the 'need' bit) provided (your words) you can afford the eye-watering cost of cassettes.
Forgive me if I don't trawl back to see where I missed your maintenance of doubles/triples being better for providing the gearing for the road.
My comment about chainring changes was positive: the securing system (which l looked at in a bike shop a while ago) is an excellent engineering design, executed at a sensible price point, allowing, as you said, easy and cheap (and quick) change of rings.

Finally, to pick up on the 'mainstream' bit on which @HobbesOnTour commented, any system is "more mainstream" than single speed or 13sp cleverness. Still think anything 12sp is in the edge margin: what proportion of bikes are sold OEM with 12sp? (And of course begs the question whether they "need" it or whether it's a marketing requirement).
My daughter runs 12sp sometimes with a double (56-44) and sometimes with a 1x when there are no hills and no significant headwind. But she's trying go fast and beat people (next race IM Hamburg on Sunday).

 

[Jenkins]

I have all the gears I need plus a few spares on all of my bikes. That number varies depending on which bike it is.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

Can only use one gear at a time, ergo only one gear is needed.
Can only use one bike at a time, ergo only one bike is needed.

IGMC

 

[Dogtrousers]

In the early days there were bikes with two gears where one of the gears was engaged by pedalling backwards. (Retro Direct)

For cycling that is done purely for exercise that might be a good thing to bring back as I'd imagine that backwards pedalling under load would add a new dimension to the workout.

https://retrodirectbike.com/

 

[Alex321]

Finally, to pick up on the 'mainstream' bit on which @HobbesOnTour commented, any system is "more mainstream" than single speed or 13sp cleverness. Still think anything 12sp is in the edge margin: what proportion of bikes are sold OEM with 12sp? (And of course begs the question whether they "need" it or whether it's a marketing requirement).

If you are going to define non-maindtream according to proportion of bikes sold with it, then most decent bikes fall outside the "mainstream", as quite a high proportion of bikes sold are the Halfords or genereal shop low-end bikes (under £500).

Given you can now get carbon frame bikes with 105 Di2 (12 speed), for around £2000, I think it is definitely moving into mainstream territory for keen cyclists. Not even close to a majority of bikes sold, but much closer to a majority of those bought now which will be regularly used on the road.

Incidentally, to answer the OP, you need as many gears as will provide reasonable gaps between the lowest you need and the highest you need.

What the lowest and highest you need are will depend on what terrain you ride, how fit you are, what sorts of loads yoyu carry, and your purpose in cycling. Probably other factors as well.

 

[ColinJ]

Obviously, very fit riders can do a lot with just one gear. Example...

It wasn't so much that longers was flying up the 20% hills on his fixie, it was the fact that he was actually managing to ride them at all!

I got a very good view of him tackling Storiths and Langbar because I was about 50 yards behind him a lot of the way.

The difference was that I had the luxury of a 29 inch bottom gear but I think he was on something like 72 inches!

Lesser mortals (such as me!) can do an awful lot with just 4 gears...

1. ~72 inch gear for general riding, longish climbs at about 4-5%, short climbs at 5-10%.
2. ~95-100 inch gear for whizzing along with a tailwind, or on fastish descents where freewheeling doesn't quite satisfy.
3. ~40 inch gear for flat rides into brutal headwinds, or longish climbs at 10-15%.
4. A very small gear for nightmare climbs of 15-30%. 29 inches is not bad, but 20-25 inches would be easier!

I converted my singlespeed bike to cover #1, #2 and #3. I would have been happy to just have those 3 gears but needed to add another 3 sprockets to get the chainline and shifting right.

Having got used to riding singlespeed, and 6-speed as a 3-speed, my 1x11 bike's gears feel pretty luxurious. My CAAD5's 3x10 feels super-luxurious but I don’t much like changing between chaingrings these days.