On the Pedals
The Daily Grind
Mud and Manolos
Ask MBT
Decmeber 2011
Question of the Month
Dear MBT:
I'm starting to wonder if, when it comes to mountain bike gearing, there is such a thing as too much. I mean I remember back to my 10-speed days when I would cruise around town, using three or four of the ten cog combinations at my disposal and think, this is sort of overkill. Got into mountain biking a few years later, figuring sure off-roading sort of demands more gear ratios, especially for the climbs and descents. 18-speeds (6x3), then 21 (7x3), 24 (8x3), then 27 (9x3) followed and I foolishly upgraded as the gear count grew. Now I'm hearing about 30-speeds being the greatest thing since sliced bread. Really? 30 gear combinations (10x3). The gearing overlap must be outrageous. Thing is I'll probably have to have it by spring so can I at least vent first by asking if this many gears is even close to necessary and will, if this pattern continues, 33-speeds (11x3) be coming soon?
Thank you,
Glen Ferridham
I'm starting to wonder if, when it comes to mountain bike gearing, there is such a thing as too much. I mean I remember back to my 10-speed days when I would cruise around town, using three or four of the ten cog combinations at my disposal and think, this is sort of overkill. Got into mountain biking a few years later, figuring sure off-roading sort of demands more gear ratios, especially for the climbs and descents. 18-speeds (6x3), then 21 (7x3), 24 (8x3), then 27 (9x3) followed and I foolishly upgraded as the gear count grew. Now I'm hearing about 30-speeds being the greatest thing since sliced bread. Really? 30 gear combinations (10x3). The gearing overlap must be outrageous. Thing is I'll probably have to have it by spring so can I at least vent first by asking if this many gears is even close to necessary and will, if this pattern continues, 33-speeds (11x3) be coming soon?
Thank you,
Glen Ferridham
Glen:
As far as rants go, we conclude that you could definitely give our own resident ranter CG a run for his money. In fact, after having been shown your "question", CG confessed that he was giving serious consideration to simply putting his name on your letter and submitting it as his column for this issue.
All that aside, there is some validity to your concerns as after all, the more complexity we add to our bikes, the greater the risk of mechanical failure not to mention the further away from the beautiful simplicity of the bicycle as a machine we place ourselves. However it's critical to consider that there are some serious advantages to the ever-growing cog count that has been taking place throughout the years. Beginning with the fact that the benefits of having additional gearing options at your disposal with virtually negligible weight gain is pretty epic in its own right. About the only disadvantage to more gears, as you pointed out, is the possibility of some gearing overlap but even that is pretty justifiable as how often do we find ourselves in a situation where we aren't in optimal gear combination range but haven't the time to focus on changing the chain-rings and hoping for the best? Popping around the cassette is almost always preferable in these instances.
And finally do keep in mind that the 30-speed transmissions you speak of are technically the result of a compact 10-cog cassette and hence have opened the door for the 20-speed (2x10) option. Will the 33-speed tranny be the next big thing in mountain biking? We can't say for sure but considering it will likely demand little additional room, add barely any weight and open the door to the 22-speed double chain-ring setup, we say bring it on.
Dear MBT:
I have been considering upgrading my bike's drivetrain and have been torn as to whether to go with SRAM's XO kit or Shimano's (pricier) XTR stuff. As a SRAM devotee, is there a discernable difference in feel by going with Shimano? Or should I save myself $500 and stick with what I know and love?
Donald Seffer
I have been considering upgrading my bike's drivetrain and have been torn as to whether to go with SRAM's XO kit or Shimano's (pricier) XTR stuff. As a SRAM devotee, is there a discernable difference in feel by going with Shimano? Or should I save myself $500 and stick with what I know and love?
Donald Seffer
Steven:
We hate dispensing generic information almost as much as our readers hate receiving it but when it comes to shelling out the type of scratch you are talking here, the absolute best way to be sure is to head to your local shop or even the trailhead itself in the hopes of bumping into a kind-hearted fellow rider to test the components out for yourself. Drive trains, much like most aspects of the mountain bike, are a personal preference sort of thing. It would be extremely easy for us to recommend one over the other is say one didn't work as well or had a reputation for failure. The fact is that in our experience either component group will serve any mountain biker quite well.
That said the XTR bits, especially if you are considering the cross-country oriented build, are going to be a tad bit lighter as we assume you already realize. If weight were your primary concern we imagine you would be considering the lighter (and more similarly priced SRAM XX line rather than the XO).
In terms of discernable difference in feel from the cockpit is concerned, the best way to compare the two would be to imagine more deliberate and pronounced transitions across the cogs with the SRAM stuff and more light-action, almost electric gear changes with the XTR. Again different but whether one is superior to the other all comes down to rider preference.
We hate dispensing generic information almost as much as our readers hate receiving it but when it comes to shelling out the type of scratch you are talking here, the absolute best way to be sure is to head to your local shop or even the trailhead itself in the hopes of bumping into a kind-hearted fellow rider to test the components out for yourself. Drive trains, much like most aspects of the mountain bike, are a personal preference sort of thing. It would be extremely easy for us to recommend one over the other is say one didn't work as well or had a reputation for failure. The fact is that in our experience either component group will serve any mountain biker quite well.
That said the XTR bits, especially if you are considering the cross-country oriented build, are going to be a tad bit lighter as we assume you already realize. If weight were your primary concern we imagine you would be considering the lighter (and more similarly priced SRAM XX line rather than the XO).
In terms of discernable difference in feel from the cockpit is concerned, the best way to compare the two would be to imagine more deliberate and pronounced transitions across the cogs with the SRAM stuff and more light-action, almost electric gear changes with the XTR. Again different but whether one is superior to the other all comes down to rider preference.
Dear MBT:
My favorite part of your site is the bike tests. Please try to test more than one bike each issue. Otherwise keep up the good work.
Deb Graf
My favorite part of your site is the bike tests. Please try to test more than one bike each issue. Otherwise keep up the good work.
Deb Graf
Deb:
Thanks for the feedback and suggestion. If it were up to us, we would cram dozens of bike tests into each bimonthly update as reader demand is always high when it comes to reviews. The trouble is we're at the mercy of the bike manufacturers when it comes to such things as no publication, regardless of advertising revenue, has the budget to purchase each and every model appearing in its pages (especially one that makes absolutely no money off its readership like ours).
Unfortunately as the economy wobbles and stumbles along, consumers buy less. When consumers buy fewer bikes, manufacturers have to start making budget cuts to stay afloat. Generally speaking, the funds used to maintain a fleet of demo bikes and the costs associated with shipping them to and fro the various magazines and sites around the world is one of the expense-cutting areas targeted.
We certainly hope that as the economy strengthens, this trend will reverse. If it does, plan on MBT returning to the multi-bike test format per issue of yesteryear.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestion. If it were up to us, we would cram dozens of bike tests into each bimonthly update as reader demand is always high when it comes to reviews. The trouble is we're at the mercy of the bike manufacturers when it comes to such things as no publication, regardless of advertising revenue, has the budget to purchase each and every model appearing in its pages (especially one that makes absolutely no money off its readership like ours).
Unfortunately as the economy wobbles and stumbles along, consumers buy less. When consumers buy fewer bikes, manufacturers have to start making budget cuts to stay afloat. Generally speaking, the funds used to maintain a fleet of demo bikes and the costs associated with shipping them to and fro the various magazines and sites around the world is one of the expense-cutting areas targeted.
We certainly hope that as the economy strengthens, this trend will reverse. If it does, plan on MBT returning to the multi-bike test format per issue of yesteryear.
Dear MBT:
Why don't you have a video series on Youtube like a lot of other bike-specific sites? I feel like your vids would be hilarious.
KT
Why don't you have a video series on Youtube like a lot of other bike-specific sites? I feel like your vids would be hilarious.
KT
KT:
Believe it or not a few of our editors have dabbled in the ways of releasing helmet cam footage to Youtube throughout the years with varying degrees of success. And by that we mean our efforts have been largely unaccepted by a world obsessed with Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber videos. However we put our Floridian test rider Mike Sullivan behind the camera lens this very issue with his exclusive take on the Ibex Wool Jersey and suspect if enough people push the little "thumbs up" button on Youtube after watching it, we just may have to continue the trend of video reviewing. Stay tuned!
Believe it or not a few of our editors have dabbled in the ways of releasing helmet cam footage to Youtube throughout the years with varying degrees of success. And by that we mean our efforts have been largely unaccepted by a world obsessed with Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber videos. However we put our Floridian test rider Mike Sullivan behind the camera lens this very issue with his exclusive take on the Ibex Wool Jersey and suspect if enough people push the little "thumbs up" button on Youtube after watching it, we just may have to continue the trend of video reviewing. Stay tuned!
Dear MBT:
I have a new little son and can't wait till he's big enough to get out on the trails with me. He's too little for a two-wheeler yet, even with training wheels but I want to get him a bike as soon as possible. Any recommendations or should I stick with tricycles until he gets bigger?
Steve Bogart
I have a new little son and can't wait till he's big enough to get out on the trails with me. He's too little for a two-wheeler yet, even with training wheels but I want to get him a bike as soon as possible. Any recommendations or should I stick with tricycles until he gets bigger?
Steve Bogart
Steven:
Absolutely, go with a push bike. These things rely upon the child's own mobility to move rather than the propulsion associated with pedaling. Best of all they teach the fundaments of true two-wheeling without ever requiring training wheels.
A great place to start would be to consider the Strider; a running bike that takes pedaling out of the mix so that kids can concentrate entirely on learning balance. As they put it, the pedaling is a secondary skill that kids can easily learn within a few short minutes, making the transition to a traditional bike effortless.
Here's their official site:
http://www.stridersports.com/
Absolutely, go with a push bike. These things rely upon the child's own mobility to move rather than the propulsion associated with pedaling. Best of all they teach the fundaments of true two-wheeling without ever requiring training wheels.
A great place to start would be to consider the Strider; a running bike that takes pedaling out of the mix so that kids can concentrate entirely on learning balance. As they put it, the pedaling is a secondary skill that kids can easily learn within a few short minutes, making the transition to a traditional bike effortless.
Here's their official site:
http://www.stridersports.com/
