Overview and Specifications of WheelTop's Affordable Electronic Groupset "EDS"
This article summarizes the features and specifications of the budget-friendly electronic groupset "EDS" newly released by the Chinese manufacturer WheelTop.
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Road Bike Gear Shifting Speeds: Pros and Cons of Upgrading
Modified at: May 23, 2024
Posted at: Sep 10, 2021
The higher the grade of road bike components, the more gear shifts are available. In this article, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of upgrading to a higher grade of component and increasing the number of gear shifts.
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Table of contents
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Main Number of Shifts on Road Bikes
Number of Shifts for Shimano Road Bike Components
Shimano components for road bikes have a maximum of 3 front and 12 rear gears. The number of gear shifts is determined by which grade of component you use.
The number of gear shifts for the current and one previous grade of road component is as follows.
| Series | Front | Rear | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| R9200 (DURA-ACE) | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| R9100 (DURA-ACE) | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| R8100 (ULTEGRA) | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| R8000 (ULTEGRA) | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| R7100 (105) | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| R7000 (105) | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| 5800 (105) | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| 4700 (TIAGRA) | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| 4600 (TIAGRA) | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| R3000 (SORA) | 2(3) | 9 | 18(27) |
| 3500 (SORA) | 2(3) | 9 | 18(27) |
| R2000 (CLARIS) | 2(3) | 8 | 16(24) |
| 2400 (CLARIS) | 2(3) | 8 | 16(24) |
| RX810 (GRX) | 1(2) | 11 | 11(22) |
| RX600 (GRX) | 1(2) | 11 | 11(22) |
| RX400 (GRX) | 2 | 10 | 20 |
Number of speeds in Campagnolo’s road bike components
The current line of road bike components from Italian bicycle parts maker Campagnolo all have at least 12 speeds in the rear, with the exception of the CENTAUR, and the EKAR, which is designed for gravel, has 13 speeds in the rear.
| Series | Front | Rear | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUPER RECORD | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| RECORD | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| CHORUS | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| CENTAUR | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| EKAR | 1 | 13 | 13 |
Number of Shifting Gears in SRAM’s Road Bike Components
American bicycle parts manufacturer SRAM’s road bike components feature a wide range of gear shift options in the higher grades, as the company also offers a front single-component lineup in line with recent trends.
| Series | Front | Rear | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Red22 | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| Force | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Force22 | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| Rival | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Rival22 | 2 | 11 | 22 |
| Apex | 2 | 10 | 20 |
SRAM’s latest road groupsets all feature 2x12-speed (24-speed) configurations, while the previous generation models offer 2x11-speed (22-speed) setups.
Note that SRAM’s gravel-specific groupset “XPLR” is not a standalone groupset. Instead, it is designed to convert Red, Force, or Rival series setups into a front single (1x) drivetrain configuration.
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Benefits of Increased Gear Count
Easier Fine-Tuning at Cruising Speed
The biggest advantage of a higher gear count is the ability to fine-tune your cadence at cruising speeds due to smaller jumps between the top gears.
For example, when cruising at around 30 km/h and facing a headwind or a mild 2% incline, you might want to “ease off the legs” a bit. With fewer gears, a single shift might drop the gear ratio by as much as 0.3, causing your speed to fall sharply to around 27 km/h if you maintain the same cadence.
In contrast, 11-speed or 12-speed setups typically have 1-tooth differences between the top 5 cogs, so the speed drop would be more gradual—down to 29 km/h, making it easier to maintain momentum with minimal effort.
This is particularly useful when riding on suburban roads or cycling paths with few traffic lights, where maintaining speed while slightly reducing effort is often desirable.
More Range on the Low End
When using a tightly spaced (close-ratio) cassette for cruising, the largest cog on the low end tends to be smaller.
On hilly routes, especially with steep inclines, riders often prefer wider-ratio cassettes with large sprockets like 30T or 32T for easier climbing. However, on a drivetrain with fewer gears, expanding the low end means larger gaps between gears on the top end, sacrificing fine control during cruising.
A higher gear count allows for wider gearing on the low end while maintaining close steps on the top end, making your setup more versatile across a wide variety of terrain.
More Front Chainring Options
A road bike’s gear ratio is largely affected by the tooth count of the front chainrings, which act as the denominator in the ratio.
With fewer gears, riders tackling hills often have to use compact chainrings (e.g., 50-34T) to lower the overall gearing.
However, with more rear cogs (e.g., 32T on an 11-speed or 34T on a 12-speed), you can use a wider-range cassette for climbing without giving up a larger front chainring like 52-36T. This means you can still tackle hills while preserving high-speed gearing.
Plus, in setups with 11 or more speeds, even with a wide-range cassette, the top 4 gears can still have just a 1-tooth difference, so your top-speed gears remain practical.
Drawbacks of Increasing Gear Count
Higher Cost for Parts Replacement
As of current models, DURA-ACE and ULTEGRA use 12 and 11-speed drivetrains, while 105 remains at 11-speed. Upgrading to an 11-speed or higher rear drivetrain means you’ll need components from the 105 series or above. Naturally, parts in the 105 or higher range are more expensive compared to entry-level components.
For example, if you damage your STI lever in a crash, a replacement 8-speed CLARIS (ST-R2000) set costs around ¥16,000 for both left and right. In contrast, the 11-speed 105 (ST-R7000) set costs around ¥22,000—about ¥6,000 more.
Higher Maintenance Costs for Consumables
While road bike drivetrains have gained more speeds over time, the rear dropout spacing (hub width) has remained nearly the same. This means the more speeds you add, the narrower the cassette and chain must become.
Narrower chains and cogs wear out faster than their wider counterparts, which leads to more frequent replacements. Additionally, since higher gear counts are typically reserved for higher-end models, replacement parts tend to be more expensive, driving up maintenance costs.
This isn’t a problem for enthusiasts who ride for enjoyment, but for those who use their bike as daily transportation, the cost-performance of consumables becomes a real consideration. Be sure to factor this into your decision-making process.