- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
Bike technology
A replacement front mech has just arrived for my bike - the updated 105 R7000 one. Sometimes I think we take all this precision engineering for granted. £22 and its an absolute masterpiece if you spend some time looking at it. 4 2mm adjustment screws, a seriously strong spring, 4 or 5 different materials, all in something that weighs mere grammes. Electronic shifting might be more high-tech but this thing is a mechanical marvel. Remember, it has to work on a whole variety of bike frames as a generic part, so it has to be highly adjustable but still perform in a predictable manner. Having grown up with downtube shifters, 5-speed blocks, and no indexing perhaps I appreciate it more...
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- quiff 54 min 18 sec ago
As of yesterday, I have one of each (both humble 105 mechanical spec). Now to decide if they're sufficiently different to keep both...
- eburtthebike 1 hour 8 min ago
https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/councillor-and-officer-development/......
- mdavidford 1 hour 19 min ago
I believe that was a response to widespread* vocal criticism over the original treatment....
- quiff 1 hour 39 min ago
Surely the origin of the road names. EDIT: should have read chrisonabike's reply first...
- chrisonabike 1 hour 56 min ago
It doesn't seem to have enlightened the driver....
- mdavidford 2 hours 45 min ago
If you're going to be ripped off, you should at least know how much you're being ripped off to the tune of....
- andystow 7 hours 52 min ago
Ok, just noticing this on my own bike. The rear wheel I bought from wheelbuilder.com. The front I rebuilt on my existing SON hub with a rim ordered...
- jamesha100 13 hours 6 min ago
This is so sad but also so sadly familiar. I am not sure whether more punitive sentences - e.g. life driving bans - would make any difference but...
Add new comment
5 comments
"Suntour in the late 70s to mid 80s, now that was a massive advancement, particularly in rear mechs.
A pair of Suntour power shifters, a cycle MKII rear and front mech with a Sedis sport chain and an Everest freewheel and you'd have changes absolutely buttery smooth and better than 5800/R7000 in my personal experience.
The design is tidy but I don't think the tech is anything special over and above what was around BITD"
Suntour superbe and suntour cyclone rear mechs were good, the sedis sport chain was very flexible laterally . Things were far more simple in those days .
Suntour in the late 70s to mid 80s, now that was a massive advancement, particularly in rear mechs.
A pair of Suntour power shifters, a cycle MKII rear and front mech with a Sedis sport chain and an Everest freewheel and you'd have changes absolutely buttery smooth and better than 5800/R7000 in my personal experience.
The design is tidy but I don't think the tech is anything special over and above what was around BITD.
The shifting action of a R7000 front mech is an improvement on previous front mechs I've used.
Yeah it's a big improvement. I've got a 5800-badged one of these on my best bike. Set and forget, reliable, easy shifting. Very impressive.
And it will last for ages too. Working pretty much faultlessly.
The shifter will probably die before it does.
Rear mechs never last as long as the front.