Double to Triple

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
I'd like to change my Ultegra double to Triple on my 03 Specialized Allez Comp. Yes I know I should have got the triple to start with but I did so like the natty Zebra stripes. Anyway...

I know I need to change the bottom bracket, crank and front deraillieur but do I need to change the shifters, chain and rear deraillieur as well... and what else?

shifters and rd are fine

Have you considered this (quoted from a local bike shop web site).

http://www.granfondocycles.com/specials.htm

Consider the appeal of Compact Drive… Compact drive is the buzzword for a double crankset with a 50 tooth outer chainring with a 34 tooth inner. (A standard double would have a 53 tooth outer and a 39 inner. A standard triple will have 52, 42 and 30 tooth chainrings.) What do these minor changes in your crankset accomplish for you? They give you the light weight and shifting ease of a double, while still having the low gears of a triple. Prepare yourself, here come the numbers… A compact drive 50x34 crankset when used with an 11x25 cassette gives a rider the same low gear as a 30x21 on a triple while still giving a top gear bigger than 53x12. Using a 50x34 with a 12x27 will give a rider the same low gear as 30x25 on a triple with the same top gear as 53x13 or 52x13.

Who uses this kind of thing? Consider that when Tyler Hamilton crashed and fractured his collarbone in the final kilometer of the Tour's first stage, many people felt that his race was over; there was no way a rider with a broken collarbone could tackle the big climbs that were to come. But Tyler had a little help from component maker FSA. FSA supplied Hamilton with a special version of its new 515gram Carbon Pro Elite crank, allowing him to run a 36 tooth inner chainring with a 52 tooth outer. The lower gears helped Hamilton stay seated on the climbs, and recover enough eventually to break away from the peloton on the first slopes of the Col de Soudet and take out a stage win. FSA now offers this same crankset to the general public.

The Compact Drive cranks are easy to install and require a minimum of extra parts. It is easier to convert from a standard double and they can be used with nine or ten speed drive trains. The cranks are available in 170, 172.5 and 175mm crank lengths and will work with both Shimano and Campagnolo drive trains. The new chain ring combination also eliminates the need for cassettes like a 13x29 or 12x32, which tend to have large gaps in the mid range. And finally, did I mention that they cost much less than converting to a triple?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by kerank
Have you considered this (quoted from a local bike shop web site).

http://www.granfondocycles.com/specials.htm

Consider the appeal of Compact Drive… Compact drive is the buzzword for a double crankset with a 50 tooth outer chainring with a 34 tooth inner. (A standard double would have a 53 tooth outer and a 39 inner. A standard triple will have 52, 42 and 30 tooth chainrings.) What do these minor changes in your crankset accomplish for you? They give you the light weight and shifting ease of a double, while still having the low gears of a triple. Prepare yourself, here come the numbers… A compact drive 50x34 crankset when used with an 11x25 cassette gives a rider the same low gear as a 30x21 on a triple while still giving a top gear bigger than 53x12. Using a 50x34 with a 12x27 will give a rider the same low gear as 30x25 on a triple with the same top gear as 53x13 or 52x13.

Who uses this kind of thing? Consider that when Tyler Hamilton crashed and fractured his collarbone in the final kilometer of the Tour's first stage, many people felt that his race was over; there was no way a rider with a broken collarbone could tackle the big climbs that were to come. But Tyler had a little help from component maker FSA. FSA supplied Hamilton with a special version of its new 515gram Carbon Pro Elite crank, allowing him to run a 36 tooth inner chainring with a 52 tooth outer. The lower gears helped Hamilton stay seated on the climbs, and recover enough eventually to break away from the peloton on the first slopes of the Col de Soudet and take out a stage win. FSA now offers this same crankset to the general public.

The Compact Drive cranks are easy to install and require a minimum of extra parts. It is easier to convert from a standard double and they can be used with nine or ten speed drive trains. The cranks are available in 170, 172.5 and 175mm crank lengths and will work with both Shimano and Campagnolo drive trains. The new chain ring combination also eliminates the need for cassettes like a 13x29 or 12x32, which tend to have large gaps in the mid range. And finally, did I mention that they cost much less than converting to a triple?

Ahhh!... This sounds more like it. I actually like the simplicity of the double... but as a heavy rider hills are a major headache. I'm loosing weight pretty fast and get further up them each time but I still end up walking up the hard ones (not good for the ego... or the cleats). I'll definately check these out.

Thanks Kerank

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
Yes I know I should have got the triple to start with but I did so like the natty Zebra stripes.

hmm. i got the triple instead of the double because the stripes hurt my eyes.

You will need to change your entire driveline. This will include front & rear derailleurs, bottom bracket, crank (of course), chain, and front shifter. You will a long-cage rear. You will need this because of the extra slack in the chain that you will need to take up if and when you use the small ring in the crank.

Ron

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by kerank
And finally, did I mention that they cost much less than converting to a triple?

I agree with all the rest except that they cost LESS.

The FSA Compact costs about $330 and an Ultegra Triple Crank, BB and FD costs just over $200 (prices ExcelSports.com).

But I think the compact is a better option for me.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by kodoz
hmm. i got the triple instead of the double because the stripes hurt my eyes.

Can't see them when you're ridin'.

I'm planning to do the opposite - convert from triple to double. I currently have Ultegra shifters and Ultegra FD and RD. Am I going to need to get a new RD and FD in addition to the crankset and BB? The only reason I ask is because Shimano does sell separate derailleurs for a double or triple set-up. Any comments/suggestions?

Thanks!

If you go from a 52-42 to a 50-34 compact do you also need a new chain and a long-cage derailleur?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
I agree with all the rest except that they cost LESS.

The FSA Compact costs about $330 and an Ultegra Triple Crank, BB and FD costs just over $200 (prices ExcelSports.com).

But I think the compact is a better option for me.

yup ultegra double to triple is no more than 200 bucks, tad less the other way around

Well... I bit the bullet and shelled out for a FSA Carbon Compact (175). I had to take a link out of the chain but the changeover was pretty simple. The difference it makes to my riding is amazing. I've climbed previously insurmountable hills (for me), my average speed and cadence has increased (only a couple of Revs and km but it's a definite increase) and the slightly longer crank feels very comfortable.

FSA is now offering a less expensive line of compact crank (aluminum) in addition to the carbon model. Nashbar is also offering a compact double(house brand) for less than $100.

I just bought a bike and made the "possible mistake" of getting a double when maybe I should have gotten a triple. When I get to even the smalles of inclines or hills I die immediately. It's gotten better, but is still very discouraging.

I started looking into getting a triple... but going to a compact looks like the ticket. Looks to be less of a major task of switching out, with the benefits of both triple and double setups. Also looks like now I'll be able to get a decent price on one too.

Anybody else have comments on compact cranks?