THE DRIVETRAIN DILEMMA Companies Committed to Making True Touring Bikes Operate in a Niche Largely Ignored by the Big Two Component Manufacturers by Dan D’Ambrosio
THE DRIVETRAIN DILEMMA Companies committed to making true touring bikes operate in a niche largely ignored by the Big Two component manufacturers by Dan D’Ambrosio et’s say you’re the lead bike designer road bike components. future I think you will continue to see for Novara, the bike line offered That means Shimano’s long-cage wider gear ranges being added to our by REI for 32 years – every one of mountain bike derailers, with their road line up and more options for Di2,” them including a dedicated touring ability to handle the big cogs Co- said Shimano American Road Product bike — and you’ve just sat down at Motion wants to use to get at least a Manager Dave Lawrence. Lyour computer to start working on next 20-inch low gear on their touring bikes, Shimano is still making the 9-speed year’s specs. no longer work with Shimano’s road XT rear derailer, even though it quit You will soon be dealing with a bike shifters. making the rest of the group, because familiar frustration — finding the Stehley explained that Shimano there are still companies like Co- components you want for your new used to have a 1-to-1 actuation ratio Motion ordering a lot of them. Indeed touring bike, particularly where the with both types of components, road the 2015 Novara Radonee also uses an drivetrain and gearing are concerned. and mountain, meaning the shifters XT rear derailleur. “Over the years, it has been a bit of pulled the same amount of cable at the “For flat-handlebar-touring cyclists, struggle as the two major component derailer, making them compatible.
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