2010 Bikes

Rotten pun. :-)

I assume the introduction of the 11 speed Alfine hub, due in September, will address the jumps between ratios?

No, it extends the range rather than providing smaller jumps

this new 11-speed Alfine has a gear range of 409%, compared to 307% for the current 8-speed version.

http://bicycledesign.net/2010/02/shimano-alfine-11-speed/

That seems a bit daft. I wonder if the rule change that now allows disc brakes in cyclocross will see any innovation around things like hub gearing in the next year or so. The Genesis bike above looks like a good bike for muddier cross races and should, in theory, increase drivetrain longevity. It'll be interesting to see if any pros switch to discs this coming season, and I assume some will at the behest of their sponsors who pushed for this change in the first place.

it will also be interesting to see what difference it makes to the pros that are on discs and whether it gives them any competitive advantage. In theory the better braking could mean later braking into corners but aren't the 33c tyres still going to struggle like they already do.

But guess later in the race when the cantis/rims are covered in mud and not working effectively the disc bikes will gain the advantage.

Any proven advantages would surely direct the pros, if the discs are any quicker then they will all have them. Why wouldn't they?

As much discussion as I've seen indicates that Pros will be adding another set of bikes to the pile of equipment they take to races, alongside the multiple wheel sets with different tyres. Disc brakes will need to get lighter to become universal, since reliable race worthy cross bikes are still well over the minimum weight and the fact that they have to be carried makes keeping them light even more important than it is for road bikes.

Its, quite unbelievably, the GIANT CHIXIE!

they have one of these in putney cycles, near me. not as nice in the flesh, ill tell ya.

I had meant unbelievably nasty looking.

As for 2011 bikes, its been the tradition that its Fixed Gear and Singlespeed bikes that have been highlighted. A bit obvious really, as that is what binds us all together. If we start listing geared bikes, where would we stop? The list would be endless.

Bad idea to list geared bikes IMO.

I think it's reasonable to include hub gears, as they have some features and benefits in common with FGSS. Obviously there are plenty of other places covering the hundreds of subtle variations on carbon frame/road groupset which come out every year.

Hub gears with up to 3 speeds is roughly in keeping with the spirit of early cycling. But hub gears with anymore gears than 3, is just against the spirit of fgss.

8-11 gears seems a joke to me, when comparing their similarity to singlespeed bikes.

3-spd fixed is well known and established. Has been so for many decades.

We're not all about the "spirit of early cycling" though. Some people just like the low maintenance/cleanliness aspect of having no dérailleur, so it doesn't matter to them how many gears are in that bean can at the back as long as they stay sealed in there.

We're not all about the "spirit of early cycling" though......

I disagree with you. Strongly.

How can you say that? You might be all about the spirit of early cycling, but have a look around you; there are people riding FGSS for many reasons which have nothing to do with history and heritage. I'm actually one of the ones who is somewhat influenced by a sense of heritage, as I time trial on fixed just like they did in the olden days, but most of the whippersnappers on here think fixed was invented in 2007, so their sense of the "spirit of early cycling" probably means they can just about remember when road bikes only had 9 sprockets.

3-spd fixed is well known and established. Has been so for many decades.

4-speed is over 70 years old, dérailleurs are over a hundred years old. Being long established is not a criterion for inclusion here.

Understood, but what's the forum called?

I know what the forum is called, but a quick look at current projects tells you that that the forum is not inviolably constrained by its name.

there is such a huge diversity of bikes on this site that it would be a shame to try and cap it.
fair enough if you only ride fixed, or only ride single-speed, but a huge percentage of users span the disciplines (if you could call it that) of cycling.

I'm sure the intelligent amongst you shall disagree, but the LEAST EMPHASIS in our forum's name, is on the word LONDON.

The raison d'etre of our creation was for the other part of our name FIXED GEAR and SINGLE-SPEED. This is why I joined.

I have no interest in multi-geared bikes, though they are clearly superior in so many disciplines. But those disciplines are amply discussed in every other cycling forum that I care never to think about.

One gear. Fixed or freewheeling. Or stick a good old Sturmey-Archer 3spd fixed on there, like on the Pearson 150 Special Edition, and I, and I'm sure some others, would approve.

For multitudinous gearing, other forums await with anxious anticipation. This forum does put up with it, albeit with gritted teeth. That's not to say that I hold the same all-inclusive sentiment.

If this goes on, there will be more and more riders that feel this is just another bike forum. It's not. It's the best, and the idea is FGSS.

We keep along this road, and eventually we'll include electric cars and land-yachts.

Soon people will be turning up at drinks in their Rolls-Royces, and not see what the problem is.

I don't agree that everything goes. Maybe the forum should more fully discuss this.

thats true, there is only so much that people tolerate. there is a limited number of threads about different bikes in comparison to fixed gear bikes and just less of an involvement with "other" bikes. but the occasional discussion etc is tolerable. i barely knew anything about any kind of bike before i joined this forum and now, i think i know a good amount of things about fixed gear and increasing amounts about geared bikes and i'm learning these things from people i feel "comfortable" with.

Soon people will be turning up at drinks in their Rolls-Royces, and not see what the problem is.

lynx already did that in a van :)
and there *are *threads about cars etc.

I'm not allowed to mention or discuss certain forumengers, so I will leave my answer in the imaginations of others.

As for threads of cars, they inhabit the same space as threads on cheesecakes. They are an amusing diversion. And I think such diversions are a good thing, or we'd be an awfully serious lot.

Wow, I didn't think I wasn't being that provocative. I simply suggested that, for obvious reasons of crossover appeal and because common bike fora tend to concentrate on dérailleur bikes to the exclusion of all else, the thread discussing new bike releases could include hub geared bikes alongside FGSS.

So swap the rear wheel on that genesis and you have option of a fixed/geared commuter/cross do it all winter bike? Cool

More pictures of bikes please (with or without gears I couldn't give a damn) less blanket statements about what the forum wants/doesn't want.

More pictures of bikes please (with or without gears I couldn't give a damn) less blanket statements about what the forum wants/doesn't want.

Werd.