Just read that the original Shimano Dura-Ace groupset from 1973 had a 5-speed freewheel, which seems wild compared to today's 12-speed setups. Where did you first learn about vintage component specs?

2 comments

2 Comments

Honestly, the jump from 5 to 12 speeds is cool, but I'm not sure it's that huge a deal for most riders. My old 8-speed bike shifts just fine, and I doubt I'd even use all 12 gears. Sometimes it feels like the bike industry just makes up new things for us to buy.

the_pat15d ago

Disagree on the 12 speeds not being useful. Having those extra gears helps you find the perfect one for any hill or headwind, so you can keep a steady pace. Don't you find yourself between gears sometimes on your 8-speed?