you people out there riding double or tripple? - Page 15

Thank you...

whats a 'triple?'

Timely question for me as I am contemplating a new bike with double or triple

I have Ultegra triple now. All my rides have hills. I find that with the 52 42 30 Ultegra triple I don't have enough bottom end in my 42 (12 x 25 cassette) and end up in the 30 but on the 21 in the back to often. So I am kind of caught between the granny and the 42. When I am in shape I don't use the granny much because the shifiting up to the 42 from the Granny while on a hill is no fun at all. So I end up with chain rub because of going to the middle of the cassette.

So now I am contemplating a 52 39 double with a 12 x 27 cassette.

Looking at the available gearing charts available on line I won't be missing to much. I will still keep the triple bike for early season or the extra hilly rides.

my 2 cents

I've ended up with a 50, 33 X 13-29 or 32, which works great for all the mountains and hills I ride. My cadence is 80 so the 13 does not represent a problem on flats with a wind at the back or downhill as I generally coast. If I'm pushing downhill, I just up the cadence.

Best,

G

Im doubling - got a new bike a month ago, saracen ventoux, came with a double and i'm tellin u - its a bastard gettin up climbs in it

But with a double you go much quicker uphill especially as you need to put more effort into gettin up than you do with a triple.

In conclusion a double makes u look more like a pro and also despite makin u knackered up the damn hill it makes u get up it quicker and a result a 17 year old satisfied with his climbing performance!

Double here

FSA Compact 50/34 rear 11/23 9spd.

Works for me as I get back into shape. Looking forward to poping the 52/39 std double back on.

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2003 Campy Record Cranks

Wow! You make a lot of sense. I've thought a lot about my triple (9 speed cassette in the back) and how many of the gears I really use. Sometimes I think my 10-speed (total) was more suited to me, but if I get more experienced, maybe I'll be better at using them?
I've been riding in the foothills of the Blue Ridge for five years, so I've ridden hills, and I just got back from riding the Rockies for a month and didn't walk any of them, just used my granny (I have a 52-42-32) quite a bit. Some of the really experienced riders in the club say I just use the smallest one in the back and switch from the other three in the front (They're exaggerating: I vary a little more than that - I don't use the small one in the back with the small one in the front!)
Do you think I should switch to a double with a larger ring in the back? And maybe just five gears back there? I haven't approached my bike shop, but I'm a road bike rider and a woman, so sometimes they aren't so helpful, but I don't know how to "talk the talk" or whatever.
Thanks,
Colleen

Double, with a 26T .. only mentioning it to point out double does not automatically = no granny gear
Equipment :

TA 44x26
9sp 13x25
Pair of office-withered desk-jockey legs

So .. no overlapping ratios, just one huge double shift required at the crossover point

JJ

Triple all the way for me. You never know what that next hill will be like here in the North Georgia mountains. Especially helpful if you do the 6-gap ride. It doesnt add any weight and it helps keep cadence up on the hills.

Agree the triple is great for mountain Centuries. But a lot of riders on this thread probably don't ride Centuries like the 6 Gap either....10,700 total feet of climbing, with sustained 15% sections on a "signature" 7 mile long mountain.

Is the largest triple chainring bigger than on a double chainring? If so it means triples are faster on the downhills.

I use a double ring and often max out my speed on a good downhill because the chainring is too small. However I rarely use the easiest gears on the small ring unless theres a killer hill.......or if im feeling lazy. The granny rings as you call them are designed for fat people if they ever want to cycle.

Standard: I don't think so. Triples seem to be a 52/42/30, Doubles are usually a 53/39.

The 30 in front is also used if there are really steep hills. I believe that even some Tour de France cyclists (sprinters) will use a triple in the mountains.

Speed downhill is more dependent about who weighs more and cadence. A 100 lbs rider will not go faster on a 53 than a 150 lbs rider on a 52 (assuming all other things are equal).

I ordered my FSA triple with 53/39/30.....the same chainrings are available as with a double.

Agree the 30 ring is for the serious mountains. On many rides here with just rolling hills, I don't use it at all. But when you're talking sustained 10% climbs, or 15-25% steeps, it's great to have the little ring.

Also agree downhill speed isn't about top gear; at 40+ mph, forget about pedaling. To go fast, just tuck in well and watch the road ahead. If the descent is twisting, then controlling speed and the corner line becomes priority.

double only. 39/53, 23-11. Just bought a new Giant compact with 9 speed 105 after riding a fuji alloy frame with sachs new succes 8 speed for the last 6 years. and i'll tell you something. Iv'e got TOO MANY GEARS THAT MAKE IT TOO EASY. after riding up my local climb with my old man yesterday i was amazed that i could ride it at a very comfortable tempo on the fourth and fifth sprocket (im only 63 kg ) and not be anywhere near out of breath.

as a traditionalist i'll also say that triples are for mountain bikes and i'll only use the smallest ring if its quicker than walking up the sucker.