105 Double to Triple

tony diggory said:

My road bike is 3 yrs old, and I want to change to a triple crank. All gear is original Shimano 105.
I will need a new front derailleur , but will I need new gear shifters.?
Anything else to think about?
(Rear cassette is 9 speed.) ....thanks.

Unless you need to climb the side of a building, Shimano's compact 34-50 crankset, with their 12-27 cassette, will give you an awesome low gear and a high gear that allows 40mph without over spinning. And you retain the shifting and derailleur adjustment simplicity of a double crankset.

lks said:

Unless you need to climb the side of a building, Shimano's compact 34-50 crankset, with their 12-27 cassette, will give you an awesome low gear and a high gear that allows 40mph without over spinning. And you retain the shifting and derailleur adjustment simplicity of a double crankset.

I agree. I live at the base of a series of mountains and recently went from a double to a compact crankset. The compact can get me up and over the mountains and is much easier to maintain than a triple. Less duplication of gears as well.
I'm running a Campagnolo Record CT 34/50 with a 12/23 10sp. Cassette.