> Anybody have one? Comments?
Compared to what?
The current 10-speed Dura Ace triple works exceptionally well. Chain drops
(off the inside) are almost unheard of, chains run quietly, and it's not
that much heavier than a double, even when you consider the longer-cage rear
derailleur.
If you're trying to get a relatively-low gear, the Dura Ace 10-speed system
is much better at not dropping chains than a "compact" double with 34/50.
This I know from personal experience (I have a 34/50 myself) and the work we
do on many bikes. Another advantage to the triple is the greater duplication
of gears, meaning that you don't have to shift the front derailleur as often
to get just the right gear.
Notice that I've specifically talked about *10*-speed Dura Ace. the 9-speed
Dura Ace triple was an abomination, one of Shimano's sorriest excuses for a
high-end system in a long time. It will randomly dump the chain from the
middle chainring to the small one without warning, is pretty noisy, and
doesn't shift very well.
I don't buy into the arguments that the doubles shift much better; in real
life, I just don't find that to be the case. Most of this is due to
improvements over the years in rear derailleur design, such that the upper
jockey wheel tracks the gear cogs very closely, regardless of what gear
you're in.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA