531colin wrote:hayaman wrote:OK, thanks everyone. So much useful information. I wish Shimano would pay attention and make a touring road set up with a sufficient range for big mountain climbing...............
Some brakes would be nice, too......and the odd cassette with say 34T but without starting at 11T, 12T, that you don't need.
(they aren't listening......
)
IMHO our(UK tourists) problems stem from the fact that we're an odd bunch in that we like to tour with drops,whereas most the rest of the world like straight bars(though there is hope in the colonies
).Straight bars work well with any MTB or "Trekking" drivetrain,not so drops especially as more people want STI's which means using road chainsets,which in turn limits chainring size.
The quest(?) for more cogs on the back is complete folly IMO throw into that the insistance by manufacturers to outlaw the triple chainset which is,frankly,bonkers.
The latest lunacy from Mr Shimano for his MTB gruppos to be 10sp which is not compatable with either 10sp or 9sp road or 9sp MTB gruppos
whereas the 9sp system was the same for both road and MTB a curiosity which didn't kill or maim anyone's cat.
But hey you can have an IHG 7,8or11sp,that's if you like pedalling in treacle or don't ride if there's more than 3% moisture in the atmosphere and absolutely no puddles
I digress..........
Our(us out on a limb as the wood cutter approaches) problem is one of gearchangers and finding the right ratios for our out moded and old fashioned systems
.
If we limit ourselves to the very limiting
9sp or even heaven forbid,very old fashioned and even more limiting 8sp rear and the ver,ver, unfashionable
triple chainset,there's hope
.
It comes in the shape of a 14-25 Tiagra and 11-32or34 9sp and 11-32or34 8sp cassettes,by the split and make up method I can make 8sp or 9sp 14-32or34 cassettes and by using the Spa(thanks be to God) or Stronglight chainsets can have triple and wide range(if I wish) chainset to suit and as a bonus a squaretaper BB which actually lasts
.
STI's can be older Tiagra,105,Ultegra, and unfashionable
9sp units or the new Sora double paddle units
if I require or the older 8sp Sora units,though they have a slightly different upchange lever which I don't get on with personally though others may do.
If I require other types of changers there's always d/tube,b/ends,Colin's(when in full production,there is a big enough market I'm sure so keep up the good work) or Kelly take off's,used with either 8 or 9sp units.
As for mechs,SoraTiagra,105 or Ultegra road,work with STI's and the other levers mentioned above and the Spa and s/light Impact c/sets with a big ring minimum of 46 and a middle of no bigger than 36t (if the mech is moved up the seatube slightly to compensate for a 12t difference ie setting it as if there were a 48t big ring,obviously this doesn't apply if using a 48to36 or 46to34 combo.
If you wish to go for a 44-32-22 MTB chainset,a 8or9sp MTB front mech is needed and limits the front changer to friction.
I think that covers it for Mr Shimano's managerie of gruppos,other than to say his chains are cr@p and I prefere Sram's offerings and their 9sp 971 chains work on 8sp and 9sp systems very well indeed.
PS I f the Mods think this is worth it,this post could be put in the to good to loose section.
Edit:- I've made some small changes and corrected some typo's