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What are the benefits of a 24-speed vs. an 8-speed? Is an 8-speed sufficient for bike commuting here in Seattle?

mabatubatu asked in Bicycles about 1 year ago | Report

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3 Answers

  • N871065272_8115_small
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    Tom Sackett

    A 24-speed bike will almost always have much more range (low and high gears) than an 8-speed bike. The real benefit is in the low gears. Seattle has enough hills that you'll want to have some nice low gears where you can slowly climb without having to stress your knees. For an 8-speed bike to have gears that low, its highest gear wouldn't be very high, and you would find having to go slower than necessary on flat portions of a ride, because you just couldn't pedal any faster.

    I'm assuming, by the way, that when you say 8-speed, you mean a bike with 8-cogs on the rear wheel and one big cog (usually called a "chain ring") on the crank. If, instead, you mean a Shimano 8-speed internal gear hub (the Nexus or Alfine models), we're talking about something very different. The Nexus/Alfine hubs have a range that is about the same as most 24-speed bikes. These hubs are nice because the shifting is very simple, because they require very little adjustment, and because bikes with internal gear hubs can use chain guards that keep grease off your trouser cuffs. However, the Nexus hubs I've had seem a little less efficient than the standard derailleur system on a 24-speed bike. The Alfine might be better.

    Tom Sackett answered in Bicycles about 1 year ago | Report
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  • 70771_557224368_828917_n_small
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    I've been riding an 8 speed Dutch Bike for years now and haven't had to push it up a hill or replace my knees yet. So, yes.

    That said, lower gearing makes for easier hill climbing. But if you ride a 30 speed road bike after commuting on an 8... prepare to pass all those people who snickered by you when you were on the 8.

    Bob answered in Bicycles 11 months ago | Report
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  • 11443802614723fe566385e_small
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    It really depends on the specifics, but in general yes, an 8 speed bicycle will be fine for getting around Seattle.

    There are plenty of people who use single-speeds or 3-speeds for getting around Seattle.

    The advantage of more gears is not usually a greater range, but rather finer steps within that given range. The disadvantage of more gears is greater complexity, and as the number of cogs on your cassette (the set of gears on the rear wheel of the bike) goes up, a smaller chain that will wear out faster.

    Lilting Missive answered in Bicycles about 1 year ago | Report
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