you people out there riding double or tripple? - Page 14

Triple...me, at 42, and my beer gut need all the help we can get out here in CO...but seriously, I have a 2000 Ultegra setup and wouldn't mind trading it out for a 53-39 double Ultegra (and yes I'll probably go to a 12-27 from a 12-25 rear cassette).

Anyone want to swap cranks and BB's?

Either way, I'll still look like a "grannie" coughin' up a lung in the hills..

Glad to see so many are out there riding triple.

I picked up cycling again 6 months ago, after a 8 year break and decided to go triple, because I didn't see myself rolling the same gears as in my younger (and what is more: fitter) days, but still wanted to have the gears very narrowly spread.

I'm still running a 12-23 cassette, as 8 years ago, but now the 3rd ring get me over the hills and I don't have to swap wheels or cassettes to do trips to the french Alps.

Ride a triple because:
1. The bikes in my price range are/were all equipped with triples.

2. Being a relatively new road biker, or, a biker who now has a road bike to ride, I'm frankly not strong enough yet to be able to use a double. In my defense, I can say that I can get up all but the steepest hills without using the triple. Maybe in a year I'll be strong enough to push the 52 on the flats and use the 42 for all of the hills...

Just realized that the lower-end bikes now typically are sold with triples. Wonder if that marketing gives triple a bit of a "beginner" stigma? For a higher-end or custom bike, believe the triple will cost about $50 more than a comparable double.

Believe you'll find on the long grades and long rides you can produce more sustained power output if you can maintain a high cadence, eg 80-90 rpm, and alternate sitting and standing. Whatever gear it takes to do this on the hardest climbs you go up...that's the right gearing for you.

For Lance, it's 39/23 on a 10% mountain, but that's not what most of us mere mortals need.

I guess a 42 might be a little high to climb. Unfortunately/fortunately, since I have a triple, it's either that or a 30 in front. I'd like something in between (like a 35 or even a 39), but you can only find those on doubles. The problem with doubles is that the bigger gear usually has 50+ teeth, which is, as of right now, too hard to sustain a ~90 rpm cadence. As I said before, maybe in a year or so I'll be able to do that.

People might also think that a triple will make them look weak in comparison to the other riders.

You can always change your 42 to a 39 if you want. I ordered my FSA triple crank with a 39 since with a 12-25 cassette it gives me that 90 cadence at the speeds I most often ride. Another option is of course the 50/34 compact crank.

Agree the cadence is the important thing. As you get faster and stronger, you'll use the inner ring less and less, but it still doesn't cost much to carry it for the days you need it. My 56 mile club ride today was typical....inner ring not needed, about 85% of the time in the middle ring at 15-19
mph, with 15% big ring at 20-25. Since there were no fast wheels to suck...I had to do a lot of the pulling, meaning mostly little ring and 90 rpm.

Concerning looking weak, I've found that if I can climb side-by-side with a stronger rider by using my triple, they tend to be impressed regardless of the gearing. To me, walking your 39/23 bike up a 15% grade looks weak, and I've seen plenty of riders doing that.

Same combo. I would feel too old to have a trip on my road bike. I still feel like I can handle life with a 11-23 rear cassette. I'm not sure how long that'll last though.

Road Bike = Double
Mtn Bike = Triple

Yea, you'll be there someday smart ass. We all get old. Though I realized that my 52/42/30 11-30 only gave me one lower gear against my 53/39 13-34, so triple is not always a saving. I'm now doing 53/39 and 12-34. I assume this will take me into my 90s and beyond.

It's not just the gear range, it's the steps between gears too - smaller steps with a triple

__________________
Regards Michael

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

It still gets down to the terrain you want to climb. For this Saturday's 75 mile club ride, we have several big climbs....the toughest being 14% average for 1.25 miles, with 13 switchbacks that can kick up to 25% or more.

A few of the lightest/strongest climbers will do it with a double, maybe getting off to walk in a few spots. Personally, I'll be in my 30/25 all the way, 3-5 mph, at max HR....and wishing I had a lower gear.

I use a double with a 53/39 up front and a 12-27 out back. I do a lot of riding in the hills of central PA, and I still very rarely use the 27. The 25 is my "all purpose climbing gear" and the 27 is my "bail out gear" for using on the super steep hills at the end of the ride.

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my bike page - my journal

If that's a Shimano 12-27 you don't have a 25.
12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27
Just in case you want to re-program your Flight Deck.
There have been a few times I wanted a lower gear than 39x27, but not many. Walking up hills looks way more grannyish than a triple though.

I ride a 2004 cervelo soloist with a double chainring and a 12-27 rear cassette.

There's just something very cool about a girl who really knows her equipment!