Cycling UK Forum

An easy way to try out different solutions is to make cardboard templates and fit those.

I may be mis-understanding things but if you just use little plates to lift the rack you will be totally reliant on the bolts not loosening off otherwise the plates will rotate.

Richard at OxfordBikeWorks may be able to help with a suitable sized frame and wheels, with a range of different transmissions available. Very happy with my medium sized bike from him.

Following on from 2ai’s YT video is another that YT loaded up showing the Suntour in action.
Great to see people improving what is on the market as it is too easy to accept that as being the ‘norm’.

Sweep wrote: ↑16 Nov 2024, 5:48am [quote=AndyB1 post_id=<a href="tel:1880852">1880852</a> time=<a href="tel:1731664987">1731664987</a> user_id=61788]
I was my LBS yesterday and the guy said that he is having to change HG transmissions to CUES as he can not get HG parts….

Any ideas where I can get new chain rings for a Deore FC-M510 crankset?

Have you looked on the bay?
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I have looked from time to time. Inner ring OK, middle 32T and outer 44T needed. I want to use new parts.

To keep the bike running, earlier in the year I fitted a new unused pressed crank set that was hiding in my box of parts (but one ring went wobbly rather quickly….). I also had a little used 1990s Altus FC-CT92 off a 3 x 8 MTB so I am currently using that. I am taking the bike to India in January for a month so by the time I return the dust may have worn the transmission - hence it would be good to be able to refurbish the Deore crankset.

I did find a NOS ‘44T outer shimano ring’ but the bike shop selling it said they were not sure if it would fit. Now I have the part numbers from a post above I will search on those.
I suspect that Shimano rings for other cranksets might fit but if they do fit then does that mean they will also function OK? Or am I over thinking it?

Hence CUES looks attractive, particularly for a new build as it offers more compatibility of parts and spares will be available for years ahead.

rareposter wrote: ↑15 Nov 2024, 11:07am [quote=slowster post_id=<a href="tel:1880868">1880868</a> time=<a href="tel:1731667722">1731667722</a> user_id=41852]
With regard to the general question of future spares availability, my concern would not be that 9 speed parts were no longer available, but that certain 9 speed parts someone strongly preferred were discontinued.

Going back to the original point of the thread, that in itself is a strong argument for not considering a triple.

Never mind ratios, close spacing or any of the detail, the fact is that it's more and more problematic to source quality replacement parts for things - like triple chainsets and the associated shifters, mechs etc - that the industry has decided (rightly or wrongly which is a whole other argument!) are obsolete.
[/quote]

Exactly what I was trying to say - the OP has the option to go to CUES and forward proof his bike while we want to keep existing 3 x 9 bikes running with HG parts (as to change to CUES would mean a lot of new parts). A 2 x 9 CUES transmission could have a cassette going to 40T or more so the gear range is there.

Thanks for the link slowster. Knowing compatibility will be very useful.

I was my LBS yesterday and the guy said that he is having to change HG transmissions to CUES as he can not get HG parts….

Any ideas where I can get new chain rings for a Deore FC-M510 crankset?

Sweep wrote: ↑15 Nov 2024, 7:52am [quote=AndyB1 post_id=<a href="tel:1880529">1880529</a> time=<a href="tel:1731485928">1731485928</a> user_id=61788]


To go back to the OP, 3 x 9 shimano parts will be HG and are being phased out by CUES so rather than think about 3 x 9 on a new build maybe think 2 x 9 and CUES?

are 9 speed bits really disappearing?
What number of speeds will all the more basic bikes be using now and in the future -10,11, 12, 13?


won't folks be able to buy 9 and lower speed components meant for those?

(majority of my bikes are 9 speed, 2 bought as, others built up - hoping not to run out of spares)
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It is certainly getting difficult trying to find a HG Shimano bolted up crankset for 3 x 9 like an Acera FC-T3010 (only press-fit cranksets still seem easily available).
CUES is the replacement for some of the Shimano hierarchies such as Tiagra, Sora and Claris so it would seem unlikely that Shimano will keep manufacturing parts for those hierarchies - the link 531Colin put above is worth a read.

CUES would seem to be a simpler system as it uses one chain and sprocket width for all 9 - 11 speed transmissions, so changers will have the same indexing, and no distinction between road or MTB parts. Hence for a new build as the OP is talking about it would seem a better option than using HG.

But not so good for us with HG 3 x 9 transmissions.

Yes Colin - Tom Allen used a 42T chainwheel to replace the middle ring and fitted a 26T small ring, along with a cassette with more teeth. As the 2 chainwheel system was narrower than the 3 chainwheel system the idea was that the 42T chainwheel could be used with the larger sprockets on the cassette (to get more teeth in contact with the chain) and that out of alignment would not be an issue - while using the 26T ring when the going got tough.

To go back to the OP, 3 x 9 shimano parts will be HG and are being phased out by CUES so rather than think about 3 x 9 on a new build maybe think 2 x 9 and CUES?

Advantages might be:
- forward proofing spares if CUES does fully take over from HG
- Shimano claim CUES has better durability by I think a factor of 3
- 9, 10 and 11 speed systems use the same chains
- 9 speed should have a less dished rear wheel than 10 or 11

Good idea Nearholmer…..in my case I think it will be mud and grass that may foul it

‘BITD when MTBs were all 26 inch wheels, triples the norm and long cage RDs ubiquitous the RDs were closer to the ground than those on current 700c gravel bikes. It wasn't a huge problem then.’

Ah. My ‘all-road bike’, a Thorn Sherpa, does have 26 inch wheels…hence my concern about fitting a longer RD.

I am a bit late to the party…and not read everything here.

I currently use 3 x 9 with no problems on my ‘all road’ touring bike but when those gears next needs replacement one option is to go to 2 x 8 with a 11-40 cassette. But that means a longer rear mech……do longer rear mechs often get damaged?

Apart from that slight worry 2x8 would seem to give more tooth / chain contact and reduce chain wear, and simplify use. Tom Allen wrote in his blog about making this change but I have not seen a follow up on his thoughts after living with 2 x 8 long term.

I have now booked Taunton - LHR with just one change in London. It would have been about £10 cheaper going the Westbury route but it meant 3 x changes and last year when I used that route I almost came to grief with the bike on a down escalator (or rather, the person in front of the bike box almost came to grief as the geometry of the escalator changed from level to downsloping….).
I am not too concerned about problems LHR - Taunton as in the worst case the bike can come out of the box and I can ride away so I will try and book that leg in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for the replies…..I was starting to wonder if there was a pile of bikes at LHR which got stuck there due to not being allowed on trains!

Got it - yes I think you are both correct, too far ahead to book the bike on

I am sorting out a trip to India in January 2025 and I can book my bike on the train with me for my outward rail journey Taunton to LHR OK (all the trains have provision for carrying bikes). Strangely none of the trains running LHR to Taunton one month later will carry my bike!
Anyone got any ideas?