you people out there riding double or tripple? - Page 9

Or...you can continue to suck down the burgers and fries and ride a double to burn it off.

Or skip the burgers and the fries and pedal your double past the doubles powered by burgers and fries.

That's nothing! I swapped my 53 for a 55, and got rid of my useless 39 altogether. Much lighter! I'm running 11-21 in the back, but only use the 21 for big hills. Man, I can't tell if the rest of you pansies are over 30 years old, or sometimes do something other than ride a bicycle, or are just plain genetically inferior.

all of the above. Will you let me keep my triple now:-)

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Regards Michael

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

Yes, Yes, and Yes. And I bet by forcing yourself to tough it out in the big ring, you'll soon be putting out 500W and climbing like LA.

Indeed, one must force one's self, if one is to be taken seriously

I guess the concept being proposed by thumbs can be summarized in the following formulas:

triple ring user = slightly inferior rider, not to be taken seriously

double ring user = power rider + testoterone X 10

Or am I missing the gist of your posts? ;-)

I am going reiterate my position that a triple provides plenty of high gear options, and for anyone with a triple (30-42-52) who is running out of gears at the high end, I would suggest a racing cog (11-21) rather than trying to convert ot a double. Look at the gearing charts and you will see a comparable (slightly better) top end as with a standard cog (12-25) double (39-53), but with quite a few extra intermediate gearing options.

Anyone who is serious about increasing their cadence (80 --> 100+ rpm) would do well to consider a triple and the extra gearing options it provides.

I am not down on doubles, especially a DA 20, but preferring it (and dissing a triple) purely on macho appeal seems a bit extreme.

Yea, sorry, you might be missing the point of those posts, in which case you're being very patient and polite. I was joking. I thought it was completely obvious, but then, I'm quite new to this forum. Evidently, the macho poser a**holes I was satirizing really do exist here. Who knew.

I am deeply in the triple camp, and happily spin for long stretches in that granny gear. I don't even need a hill for an excuse. My hat is off to all those who ride longer and faster than me, as well as those who don't, but try. Especially if they have grandchildren.

Your irony is subtle, indeed. I think the use of "pansy" and "genetically inferior" were a little out there and are what led me to place you in the "macho poser a**hole" camp. The simple fact that you came up with the phrase "macho poser a**hole" makes me want to give you a fresh start! Later.

Double Campagnolo Record Crankset: 172.5mm; 53x39 chainrings on a 13-26 10-speed Campagnolo full-titan sprocket.

Just a note: although the ideal crank for my physiology is 170mm, i've switched to the 172.5 because it give me better leverage. True that my cadence has slowed down on climbs but I never really was a high spinner and by experimentation this combo enables me to stay on the gear much longer before lactate acid builds-up.

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no pain, no gain

Double 53x38 12x27 Notice the 38 in the front and the 27 rear. got it all covered but don't tell my riding buddies.

I have a triple on my Serotta but I'm going with a double on the new bike I'm building. I'll use the Serotta for centuries and other rides with lots of climbing and the new bike for the weekend club rides.

moses

I run a standard 53x39 and 12-23 rear. gives me heaps of gears within the useful range for the area around me and it is seldom that i wish for more (lower) gears. My theory being (dont take offense if it is different for you) that if i need a smaller gear then maybe it is time i got off my bum and did some training. I am reasonably young and fit so i feel a triple is just a bit of an excuse to have a bludge on a hill (not to mention i would lose my training buddies if i had to go to that small a gear). I think my local terrain may be a little easier to handle than some of you guys also.

None taken. I feel I’m still fit at 61 years of age. Able to ride a 32:30 flat 20K ITT averaging around 23 mph. I would just rather spin up hills rather than power up them as I did when I was your age. I love my 12-27 but still have the 21 when needed.
Ride Safe.

I think it's mostly an age thing. I'm five years younger than you, and just got my first triple bike this year. After suffering for several decades with heavy steel frames and doubles, suddenly realized I had no need to continue with either.

On the Century I did a couple of weeks ago, the third climb at 82 miles in was 9% for 2.5 miles, with a 22% kicker for the final 200 yards. It was fun passing a lot of younger, stronger guys who were walking their doubles up that hill.

Since I know I'll never have the power of Lance Armstrong, I figure I have no business trying to use the same 39/23 he does for climbing the mountains.