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Anybody out there still riding a triple?

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Old 04-05.-2008, 02:32 PM   #1
lohsnest
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Default Anybody out there still riding a triple?

I used to ride a bike that had a triple carbon crank a long time ago. Not a bad ride, but really did not end up needing the granny ring....basically, it ended up being extra hardware and weight. Of course, I wound up "downgrading" to a double and have been happy ever since. My question to you roadies out there: "Who still rides a triple and why?" Even my local bike store stopped carrying triples for road bikes. They are all special order. Frankly speaking, I can't see myself actually paying more money for the privilege of riding one. Even found it difficult to sell the thing. Are triple road cranks virtually a thing of the past?
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Old 04-05.-2008, 02:43 PM   #2
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by lohsnest
I used to ride a bike that had a triple carbon crank a long time ago. Not a bad ride, but really did not end up needing the granny ring....basically, it ended up being extra hardware and weight. Of course, I wound up "downgrading" to a double and have been happy ever since. My question to you roadies out there: "Who still rides a triple and why?" Even my local bike store stopped carrying triples for road bikes. They are all special order. Frankly speaking, I can't see myself actually paying more money for the privilege of riding one. Even found it difficult to sell the thing. Are triple road cranks virtually a thing of the past?


Hardly. My club has some pretty strong riders, and about half ride triples, and most of the rest 50/34 compacts. It's hilly here. I did a 50 mile ride today with about 3000' elevation gain, and actually found myself in all three chainrings at one time or another. There are plenty of triples on bikes at my lbs. I have another bike with a compact crank and like it a lot, but I find myself shifting back and forth from the 50 to the 34. With the triple, I'm in the middle chainring 80% of the time.
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Old 04-05.-2008, 03:09 PM   #3
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

No.
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Old 04-05.-2008, 06:01 PM   #4
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

I am not implying that people who ride triples are not strong riders. I guess it really depends on where you are. I live in a relatively flat area. The local owner of my LBS are good friends and he has told me that he has seen a drop in demand for triples. All of his cranks are doubles.
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Hardly. My club has some pretty strong riders, and about half ride triples, and most of the rest 50/34 compacts. It's hilly here. I did a 50 mile ride today with about 3000' elevation gain, and actually found myself in all three chainrings at one time or another. There are plenty of triples on bikes at my lbs. I have another bike with a compact crank and like it a lot, but I find myself shifting back and forth from the 50 to the 34. With the triple, I'm in the middle chainring 80% of the time.
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Old 04-05.-2008, 06:02 PM   #5
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by lohsnest
I used to ride a bike that had a triple carbon crank a long time ago. Not a bad ride, but really did not end up needing the granny ring....basically, it ended up being extra hardware and weight. Of course, I wound up "downgrading" to a double and have been happy ever since. My question to you roadies out there: "Who still rides a triple and why?" Even my local bike store stopped carrying triples for road bikes. They are all special order. Frankly speaking, I can't see myself actually paying more money for the privilege of riding one. Even found it difficult to sell the thing. Are triple road cranks virtually a thing of the past?
I have a 110/74 triple - just because the places I like to train have grades of over 20% for a considerable period of time and I'm 175lb. i.e. fat. If I want to get my training done on these roads then I need a gear that I can get over....

If they guy that used to hold the record on Mont Ventoux (before Iban Mayo broke it) needed a 39x28 to race up in a 7 mile stage then I'll live with riding with a 30x27 and going up there 4 times in training. LOL

Jonathon Vaughters and Chris Horner - Solano Classic 2003
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/?..._hornervaughers

This is how some of the woman in the race faired.....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/?...tage2_spineteam

... do I see racers walking back there?
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Old 05-05.-2008, 12:20 AM   #6
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Just spent a week riding in Italy on a rental Derosa King with a Record compact setup. Most of the other rentals were Avants with Veloce triples. The typical ride had 800-1000 meters of elevation gain in 80 km, with a few 10% or steeper climbs; didn't hear anyone complaining that their gearing was "too low".

Although I'm used to a triple, found the compact worked just fine. In rolling terrain, it did seem to require a lot more shifting on the RD than my Shimano triple set up, but the Campy thumb lever makes it easy to jump down the cogs in one push.
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Old 05-05.-2008, 05:22 AM   #7
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scirocco
No.

Yep. I have the new 105 triple that is 50/39/30. The 9speed 52/42/30 never worked well with me. I use the new 50/39/30 mainly as a double and like the 50/39 but there are times when the 30t comes in handy. Mainly in the Spring when my fitness level is not great. I also live in a very hilly section of Ohio. The new 105 changes gears very well.
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Old 05-05.-2008, 05:53 AM   #8
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

No! I too live in a hilly part of Ohio and like to ride in the Appalachian Mountains (for all the folks west of the Mississippi, I know they are only foothills but it says "Mountain" on my Atlas). A triple really makes most of the rides easier and some of them possible.

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Old 05-05.-2008, 10:14 AM   #9
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by lohsnest
I used to ride a bike that had a triple carbon crank a long time ago. Not a bad ride, but really did not end up needing the granny ring....basically, it ended up being extra hardware and weight. Of course, I wound up "downgrading" to a double and have been happy ever since. My question to you roadies out there: "Who still rides a triple and why?" Even my local bike store stopped carrying triples for road bikes. They are all special order. Frankly speaking, I can't see myself actually paying more money for the privilege of riding one. Even found it difficult to sell the thing. Are triple road cranks virtually a thing of the past?
I road doubles for 30 years and upgraded to a fairly high end bike last year with at triple, and have never enjoyed riding so much. Most (yes most) of the road bikes sold around here are triples, including higher end bikes, with compact doubles a close second. Oh, and it's very hilly around here. I use my 30-26 combo a lot, every ride. My ride home has approximately 6 grades over 15%, a couple over 20, and another half dozen between 10 and 15.

I guess your choice of words "Who "still" rides a triple..." sounds kind of condescending to me as if it is something worth getting away from. The truth is that your experience is exactly the opposite of people who live among geography.

By the way, when I was shopping for my bike on ebay last year and the year before, in my opinion (of course!) the good quality triples (Ultegra and above, on good frames, for example) were harder to get at what I considered good prices. I have no idea if that's still the case.
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Old 05-05.-2008, 02:13 PM   #10
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Believe me, it was never meant to sound condescending. I absolutely see a need for triple cranks. I just have never used them...never really had the need to climb. If I were racing Mulholland Pass or climbing Angelest Crest Hwy., I can see a need for the third ring. I've always lived in a relatively flat area....Los Angeles is virtually a flat basin. For me, going back to a double crank was easy.
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Originally Posted by Camilo
I road doubles for 30 years and upgraded to a fairly high end bike last year with at triple, and have never enjoyed riding so much. Most (yes most) of the road bikes sold around here are triples, including higher end bikes, with compact doubles a close second. Oh, and it's very hilly around here. I use my 30-26 combo a lot, every ride. My ride home has approximately 6 grades over 15%, a couple over 20, and another half dozen between 10 and 15.

I guess your choice of words "Who "still" rides a triple..." sounds kind of condescending to me as if it is something worth getting away from. The truth is that your experience is exactly the opposite of people who live among geography.

By the way, when I was shopping for my bike on ebay last year and the year before, in my opinion (of course!) the good quality triples (Ultegra and above, on good frames, for example) were harder to get at what I considered good prices. I have no idea if that's still the case.
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Old 06-05.-2008, 03:06 AM   #11
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by swampy1970
I have a 110/74 triple

If your big ring is 110 teeth, what's the granny gear, 56?!?!

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Old 06-05.-2008, 09:44 AM   #12
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bernmart
Hardly. My club has some pretty strong riders, and about half ride triples, and most of the rest 50/34 compacts. It's hilly here. I did a 50 mile ride today with about 3000' elevation gain, and actually found myself in all three chainrings at one time or another. There are plenty of triples on bikes at my lbs. I have another bike with a compact crank and like it a lot, but I find myself shifting back and forth from the 50 to the 34. With the triple, I'm in the middle chainring 80% of the time.

I have a 50/36 and can't go to the 50/34. I've tried them and the 34 is nice on hills but I don't stay in my 50 a lot, so the 34 is too small. The 36 is just right. I am considering a triple for my next bike.
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Old 06-05.-2008, 11:05 AM   #13
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

I've just taken my triple crank off my traveling bike (Ritchey Break-Away) as I replaced the group and the new shifters are double. So I have a compact.

BTW I have the FSA Team Issue Carbon Triple Crankset w/BB and a Campy Record 10sp Group (triple FD and RD, Shifters, Calipers) for sale if anyone is interested... PM me.
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Old 07-05.-2008, 07:08 AM   #14
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

I went one further on my trainer, removing the inner and outer rings on my triple, and the FD. It works fine on 11-32 x 9, but plays hell with the chain on the extremes.

However, If you've got real hills, and carry heavy loads, why wouldn't you have a triple crankset? That's what gears are for.

One guy I know has made up a quad crankset, somehow increased the range of his FD, and uses it with a 6 cluster to give 24 gears. Yet another way of doing it.
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Old 07-05.-2008, 07:23 AM   #15
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Default Re: Anybody out there still riding a triple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclemanx
I went one further on my trainer, removing the inner and outer rings on my triple, and the FD. It works fine on 11-32 x 9, but plays hell with the chain on the extremes.

However, If you've got real hills, and carry heavy loads, why wouldn't you have a triple crankset? That's what gears are for.

One guy I know has made up a quad crankset, somehow increased the range of his FD, and uses it with a 6 cluster to give 24 gears. Yet another way of doing it.
I bet he has a lot of overlap in his gearing, probably about eight speed overlapping which would give him a total of 16 useable gears.
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