Road bike - 10 speed to 11 speed?

[g7jhp]

I have a Specialized Roubaix Elite Compact 2012 which is 10 speed on Shimano 105.

Current
- Cassette: Shimano 105, 10 speed,11-28t
- Chainrings: 50/34 Compact, 50/39/30 Triple

I'm getting to the stage where components could do to be refreshed.

I do sometimes feel like I'd like to be able to drop down a gear when climbing steep hills to be able to keep my legs spinning.

Is it worth upgrading from 10 speed to 11 speed (possibly Ultegra 6800)?

Or should I stick with 10 speed and add a lower gear 11-32?

What are the benefits.

[Treb0r]

You would probably also need new wheels which can accommodate an 11 speed cassette

[g7jhp]

Treb0r said:

You would probably also need new wheels which can accommodate an 11 speed cassette

Yes thanks. New wheels are on the list (as well). Probably upgrade the Fulcrum 6 to Fulcrum 3/ Campagnolo Zonda C17 or Mavic Kysrium Elites.

The other though it is to upgrade the bike!

Back on 10 to 11 speeed and gears. Any thoughts?

[Your Dad]

Not worth changing to 11spd, unless you want to spunk the money on new shifters/cassette/rear mech/chain.

11-32 10spd cassette, new chain and medium cage 105 10spd rear mech is about £75. Moving to 11spd will cost you 3x that amount.

[Usget]

10 speed 105 is fine, no reason to change unless the reason is "I really want to" in which case crack on!

Since 6800 is still about £500 I think, I'd rather spend the money on a power meter tbh(in fact, that's exactly what I did - Quark Elsa R for my 10 speed Cervelo S2). The structured training which can result from power data will help you fly up the hills much easier than an extra mid-range gear.

[g7jhp]

So logic would say change like for like and then add a 11-32 10spd cassette, new chain and medium cage 105 10spd rear mech.

Certainly sounds more affordable!

[g7jhp]

Your Dad said:

Not worth changing to 11spd, unless you want to spunk the money on new shifters/cassette/rear mech/chain.

11-32 10spd cassette, new chain and medium cage 105 10spd rear mech is about £75. Moving to 11spd will cost you 3x that amount.

Just looking and there doesn't appear to be a 11-32t cassette for a 10 speed on the 105 range - 5700 (there is a 11-32t on the 11 speed 105 - 5800).

So either staying with current or upgrading to the new 105 11 speed 5800 version may be the options.

[Master Bean]

There is/was a Tiagra 10 speed 12 - 30 cassette.

[Your Dad]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-tiagra-4700-10-spe...

£24

[Usget]

g7jhp said:

Your Dad said:

Not worth changing to 11spd, unless you want to spunk the money on new shifters/cassette/rear mech/chain.

11-32 10spd cassette, new chain and medium cage 105 10spd rear mech is about £75. Moving to 11spd will cost you 3x that amount.

Just looking and there doesn't appear to be a 11-32t cassette for a 10 speed on the 105 range - 5700 (there is a 11-32t on the 11 speed 105 - 5800).

So either staying with current or upgrading to the new 105 11 speed 5800 version may be the options.

There's nothing for it. You'll need a new bike.

[yellowjack]

Your Dad said:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-tiagra-4700-10-spe...

£24

^^^This^^^

Current Tiagra stuff going onto new bikes is basically 'old' 105 rebranded. So look for a ten speed Tiagra rear mech too, if you need a longer cage to accommodate the bigger cassette.

Alternatively new 5800 105 11 speed isn't insanity money really. I can't afford it but it's not massively out of reach. Wiggle have this... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5800-groupset/... ...for £350, although it sems to come with an 11-28 cassette. Shop around and you'll probably find 11-speed groups where you can specify cage length and gear spread, hopefully for similar money.

But saying that, I went from 6700 (10 speed) Ultegra to 6800 (11 speed) Ultegra (forced on me by writing the bike off in a crash) and the only real differences were the price of replacement cassettes and chains (10 speed is cheaper) and the fact that, until I got used to the new shifters, I felt that I preferred the comfort of the old ones. There's no massive leap in performance, and while 11 speed is 'nice to have' it won't help you out on the pull, and won't make you any faster on the bike.

In your position, I'd forget about 11 speed for now, get that 11-32t cassette fitted and save my pennies. If an expensive part, such as a shifter, should subsequently break, then that's when the replacement cost becomes justifiable, IMHO...

[yellowjack]

Cheaper still at JE James... http://www.jejamescycles.com/shimano-cs-hg500-10-s... ...£20.99

[Dr Imran T]

That's a big range 11-32 perhaps more akin to something one might use on a MTB.

Are you sure you want a 32 cassette even with a compact? - may be worth having a play on the sheldon brown gear ratio calculator to see what the difference is from your current set up?

Other option is 12-30 if you're not using the 11 cog much. As others have said you'll need a med/long cage rear derailleur to cope with the large range of the cassette.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ultegra...

[47p2]

g7jhp said:

So logic would say change like for like and then add a 11-32 10spd cassette, new chain and medium cage 105 10spd rear mech.

Certainly sounds more affordable!

No need to change the rear mech, the 105-5700 short cage works fine with a 32T cassette

[g7jhp]

Dr Imran T said:

That's a big range 11-32 perhaps more akin to something one might use on a MTB.

Are you sure you want a 32 cassette even with a compact? - may be worth having a play on the sheldon brown gear ratio calculator to see what the difference is from your current set up?

Other option is 12-30 if you're not using the 11 cog much. As others have said you'll need a med/long cage rear derailleur to cope with the large range of the cassette.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ultegra...

The 12-30t Shimano Ultegra 6700 10 Speed Road Cassette looks like a good call.

I don't think I'd need a new a new rear derailler.with a 12-30t.

[anonymous-user]

I would aim for the cheapest sensible solution too

Once you start to edge towards the top of the very slippery and very steep slope of considering an upgrade from 10 to 11, it isn't very long at all before you will start to slide towards things like Di2 and whole new bikes!

Nothing wrong with that of course

[g7jhp]

JPJPJP said:

I would aim for the cheapest sensible solution too

Once you start to edge towards the top of the very slippery and very steep slope of considering an upgrade from 10 to 11, it isn't very long at all before you will start to slide towards things like Di2 and whole new bikes!

Nothing wrong with that of course

Oh, I have looked at the new bike with 11 speed, Di2 etc but I want to see what sort few simple upgrades will do.

Plenty of time for another bike!

[Matt_N]

yellowjack said:

Current Tiagra stuff going onto new bikes is basically 'old' 105 rebranded. So look for a ten speed Tiagra rear mech too, if you need a longer cage to accommodate the bigger cassette.

It's worth noting that current Tiagra 4700 rear mechs and shifters are not backwards compatible with older 10 speed stuff like 5600, 4600, 6700 and 7900 owing to a different pull ratio.

It uses the same pull ratio as the newer 11 speed groupsets that followed with the switch to 5800, 6800 and 9000 but remains 10 speed.

[g7jhp]

Ended up fitting the following:

Ultegra 12-30T Cassette
Ultegra Chain
105 Rear Derailleur (Med)
105 Front Chainrings 50T (as the existing one was sharp) & 34T (whilst I was refreshing)

The bike is now night and day better and so slick and quiet.

Nice to have the extra gear when climbing. Overall very pleased.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

[louiebaby]

I do like it when people close off their threads.

<Goes back to check he closed any of his off.>