Fair call. But i also think it comes down to locality as much as anything. The longest hills we have around my area and in most rideable places in Australia are nothing compared to overseas. I know of a couple of local climbs that are around 5-6km in length (while still remaining a steepish grade) and they are considered tough around here (my 39 inner chainring coupled with a 23 rear is considered a bit soft! 23 or 39 they try to tell me but not both). there is really no need for a triple especially for those who race, as u rarely go slow enough on these climbs even in training to consider using a triple.

On the topic of gearing i think it wont be long b4 we see triples become almost redundant again, with compact drivetrains on front (50x36/34) and more gears (11-27 10, 11 or even 12 speed) on back creating just as wide a range with less weight. Similar to what MTBers are experimenting with. I know FSA already have a compact crankset and CAMPAG have one on the cards for next yrs Record and Chorus. What do u think?

BTW i am 22yrs

I think you have a point, when the Ultegra 10 speed comes out, the ratio of doubles to triples being sold should shift more towards doubles. But I don't think triples will be going away anytime soon. The only downsides to a triple, as far as i can see are 1) a little extra weight and 2) the stigma attached to triples by some racers and racer wannabees. There are large populations for whom neither of these are a concern, so I think triples will continue to live on.

BTW, what is a "compact crankset"?

I don't understand why people think compact cranks are so great. You are missing out on the top end (50 vs 53)! With a triple you get the best of both worlds: easy spinning when you need/want it, as well as gears to hammer on.

Tradeoffs, tradeoffs. Everyone's got their own ideal balance, which is why we all use different cranksets.

If you're using a compact crank, yes, you loose some teeth. If you're using a more standard configuration, yes, you loose some climbing range. If you're using a triple, you add a touch of weight and lose a pinch of shifting precision.

I haven't used one yet, but I'd seriously consider a compact crank in the future -- I prefer doubles, don't do too many fast flats or TT-type situations, and nearly all of my rides involve big, long climbs.

There's no silver bullet when it comes to gearing, but you can find something that works pretty well for you.

I'll put on a triple when I'm so old/weak/fat that I can't ride without one - and not one second earlier. Rear shifts with a triple suck; front shifts with a triple suck AND the chain rubs in most of the gears.

OK, "suck" may be too extreme - substitue "lack crispness" and re-read.

Ultegra 10s isn't going to change the ratio of doubles to triples sold - they still won't offer anything bigger than a 27 on the back so the low gears are going to stay the same. People buy triples for the low end and going 8s to 9s to 10s the max cog recommendation has stayed the same.

HOWEVER - if Ultegra looks like DA10 and you can't see the granny ring through the crank... a lot of folks who don't want anyone to KNOW they're riding a triple might go for it.

People buy compact cranks because they need a triple but won't admit it to themselves... one's probably in my future in the next 10 years or so. Anyway, when you're at that stage in your life you don't feel like going gonzo downhill in a 53x12 so a 48x12 is fine and it's also lighter.

On the other hand, we all slap on our bikes what we're comfortable with. Here's a confession:

I've got an 11/22 cassette on my Giant, but a 12/27 on my Klein's DA10. Ok, what I really wanted was a 12/25 (not in stock at the time), but the point is that I figured I'd get what would suit me best given my style and the bike's usage. I can still get plenty of speeding churning out of the 12 cog, and since the Klein is purely a pleasure/show-off rig, I saw nothing wrong with using a 25 or 27 to make the hills more fun.

And Scott, you know all about those Bay Area hills. Pulling myself up South Park Dr. in Tilden is manly and rewarding on my Giant, but it's also fun to do it a bit faster, and with a touch less sweat, on the blue dream machine.

Here's another confession. I've only gone DOWN South Park Drive. But only because that puts me in the right direction to do Pig Farm the hard way... in my 27t of course.

Sorry to all you non Bay Area lot for the insider talk.

A crankset format that FSA started pushing last year, sporting a 50/34 set of rings on a (I believe) tighter spider. Some of the pros busted them out for major climbing stages, but they've got the attention of enthusiasts looking for double-drivetrains more skewed towards climbing gear ratios. A touch sexier than a triple, for my money, though I'm sticking with my 53/39 for now...

FSA's gear ratio PDF here.

Nah, screw them.

Here's another confession. I may go up S. Park every now and then, but it tends to make me jiggle, weave, and ultimately, it takes me near to tears.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DiabloScott
[B]I'll put on a triple when I'm so old/weak/fat that I can't ride without one - and not one second earlier. Rear shifts with a triple suck; front shifts with a triple suck AND the chain rubs in most of the gears.

OK, "suck" may be too extreme - substitue "lack crispness" and re-read.

There may be valid reasons you don't need a triple for your riding, but poor shifting isn't one of them. Not sure where you dug this up, but it's "hooey" of the highest order.

I've got a DA 9sp with FSA Team Triple crank on my new bike, and the shifting is great....quick and crisp, even when I'm out of the saddle. The chain doesn't rub in the middle cogs at all, and if I get rub in the extreme cogs, a quick trim in or out is all it takes.
It certainly shifts better than my old Ultegra double.

The triple FD did take a bit more fiddling to get set up right, since the cable tension and alignment is more critical on the triple. Once it's set, chainring shifts are quick and positive both ways.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dhk

Quote:

I've got a DA 9sp with FSA Team Triple crank on my new bike, and the shifting is great....quick and crisp, even when I'm out of the saddle. The chain doesn't rub in the middle cogs at all, and if I get rub in the extreme cogs, a quick trim in or out is all it takes. It certainly shifts better than my old Ultegra double.

I agree I have an Ultegra triple and it has silky smooth shifting. Identical to the DA double that I test rode.

I had almost no fiddling on mine. I have turned the barrel adjusters 1/2 turn each, so far that is the extent of adjustments needed.

I have mentioned this earlier, and I am still standing by the theory that a 52/42/30 triple crank paired with an 11/21 racing cassette is superior to a 53/39 double with 12/25. I know this is heresy to some but look at the gearing tables and you will see that not only is the triple's range greater at both ends (37.5 - 124.2 gear inches, versus 41.0 - 116.1 GIs with the double) but the gaps are much more filled in with the triple. I have noticed that the difference between the cogs that are only one tooth apart (say 12 and 13) represent about 5 RPM of cadence (in the 90-100 range), so very precise shifting is a real possibility.

My bike doesn't have barrel adjusters, but after one FD and one RD tension adjust at 600 miles, all has been fine here too.

Agree the triple fills in the gaps better than a double or compact setup. It's great to have a wide range of climbing gears with the inner ring rather than just banging down into the big cog on a double and grunting it out.

I went with the 12-25 paired with 53/39/30 FSA Team Triple. Guess it depends on the low gear you need for where you ride, but the 21 wouldn't quite do it for me.

Regarding precision in triples versus doubles -- I suppose I can concede that a well-tuned triple front der can shift as crisply as a double. At the very least, though, double fans appreciate the minimal ability to screw up while you're riding.

Not that shifting through three gears is rocket science -- it's just that a double is quite elegant. Either you've shifted up into the big guy, or you've shifted down into the little guy. Throw the lever, and bam, you're there; worry about trim if you're picky.

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i relish complicating the obvious and trivializing the stupendous

What's the difference? Newbie here....

I used to use a triple, I think it made me a bit lazy on big climbs. Now I use a double and with the extra effort I've used over the last few months without the third ring, I think I'm getting stronger. I'm sticking with double.