How many gears do we really need on a bike

[Dogtrousers]

... and I'm sure it doesn't need pointing out to the learned assembly on this thread, but such a bike has been used to complete Paris-Brest-Paris in under 90hours (by a less-than-youthful amateur)

Just been reading about it. Not only was it retro direct but it was actually an original 1920 machine. Fascinating.

https://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/12/30/pbp-memories-drew-buck-and-his-1900-peugeot/

Not something I could do on any bike, regardless of the number of gears.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Just been reading about it. Not only was it retro direct but it was actually an original 1920 machine. Fascinating.

https://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/12/30/pbp-memories-drew-buck-and-his-1900-peugeot/

Not something I could do on any bike, regardless of the number of gears.

A bit discombobulated watching him cycle up hills, as you pedal backwards for the lower gear.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

A bit discombobulated watching him cycle up hills, as you pedal backwards for the lower gear.

I wonder why that mechanism never caught on. (I'll keep my head down incase there are multiple corrections to that).

 

[midliferider]

And what you're carrying.
I remember putting an 11-30 cassette on when I was heading for the Pyrenees.
Yesterday I put on an 11-40 cassette.

There's no way I'd go back to 2x5 or 3x5 - half step and a granny anyone?

I am interested to know more about this 11-40.
Is it GRX, 1x?
Or anything else?

 

[bobzmyunkle]

I am interested to know more about this 11-40.
Is it GRX, 1x?
Or anything else?

Grx front 46/30. Rear is r7000 105 derailleur withe a spa extender.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m8b0s222p4600/SPA-CYCLES-11-Speed-Extender-Link
Shifters are 10 speed tiagra.

 

[matticus]

Front shifters are dead! And hub gears are the New Big Thing! (at least in the Pro Peloton )

 

[fossyant]

Front shifters are dead!

And hub gears are the New Big Thing! (at least in the Pro Peloton )

Interesting. I suppose you need that to counteract the drag from the 'massive' rear mechs bikes seem to have these days - about 3x bigger than some years ago.

 

[midliferider]

Front shifters are dead!

And hub gears are the New Big Thing! (at least in the Pro Peloton )

Absolutely.
I couldn't get the front shifter to work and I did the entire tour, nearly 1000 Km just using the smaller cog (34) and rear gears (11-36).

 

[rydabent]

With a triple in front, and 12 sprockets in back giving 36 gears, it just seems like over kill to me.

 

[classic33]

With a triple in front, and 12 sprockets in back giving 36 gears, it just seems like over kill to me.

Put a seven speed hub in there, you'll have a few more to play with.

 

[Dogtrousers]

With a triple in front, and 12 sprockets in back giving 36 gears, it just seems like over kill to me.

I think you're complaining about something that doesn't exist.

Triples aren't particularly fashionable these days. 12 speed groupsets are the cool and trendy (and expensive) ones and they tend not to come with triples as an option. 2x or 1x only. I think you'll only find triples for 10 and fewer speeds - Deore and Tiagra and the like. If you go and search for an off the peg bike with a 12S cassette and a triple I doubt you'll find one. I'm not certain, and I'm not interested enough to go looking so I could be surprised.

There's a challenge for you: Find an actual off-the-peg bike on sale with 36 gears. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, you come up with.

 

[Alex321]

With a triple in front, and 12 sprockets in back giving 36 gears, it just seems like over kill to me.

There is always some overlap though, you don't really have 36 gears to play with, or 22 if you have a 2x 11.

I have a 2x 11, and I hardly ever use the two smallest sprockets with the small ring, and while I do use the largest sprockets with the big ring, only if it is going to be for a short section, and many people wouldn't even then, so that only leaves you with 18 actual combinations in use.

I'm not convinced that 3x 12 actually exist BTW. Triple chainrings are normally only used with 7-10 sprockets.

 

[Ajax Bay]

With a triple in front, and 12 sprockets in back giving 36 gears, it just seems like over kill to me.

Don't think anyone, bar esoteric machines, are set up with drivetrains with a 3x12 so this is a straw man, as others have said.

 

[simongt]

In the most recent copy of 'Cycle' there is a photo of three cyclists touring Wales in 1977. All of them were riding fixed, had one large saddlebag each and the ubiquitous yellow capes strapped to the top of said saddlebags. Oh and each had a 35mm. camera slung over their shoulder - !
How things have changed, or are we generally going soft - ?

 

[classic33]

In the most recent copy of 'Cycle' there is a photo of three cyclists touring Wales in 1977. All of them were riding fixed, had one large saddlebag each and the ubiquitous yellow capes strapped to the top of said saddlebags. Oh and each had a 35mm. camera slung over their shoulder - !
How things have changed, or are we generally going soft - ?

They might have been on singlespeeds.