105 triple crank upgrade

LewisBricktop said:

I just bought a new steed with a 2007 shimano 105 gruppo, this includes 50/39/30 chainrings. I want to change that to a double, possibly even 53/46, if I feel man enough that is. What would be involved in doing this? Obviously I would have the new crankset, but would I need to switch the front DR, S.T.I. levers, etc.....

Why don't you just replace the 50t ring with 53t, remove the granny ring and lock off the granny ring FD position with the limit screw? You may need to lengthen your chain slightly to do this, but only if you are prone to selecting big/big accidentally.

LewisBricktop said:

I just bought a new steed with a 2007 shimano 105 gruppo, this includes 50/39/30 chainrings. I want to change that to a double, possibly even 53/46, if I feel man enough that is. What would be involved in doing this? Obviously I would have the new crankset, but would I need to switch the front DR, S.T.I. levers, etc.....

Depending on the frame (e.g., if it is aluminum), you may NOT want to change the cranks ... just remove the 30t granny, et voila, you have a double!

As far as the 53/46 combination, you may find that getting/using an 11-21 cassette with your remaining 50/39 will fulfill your LACK of need for lower gearing.

You don't have to change anything else (for now) ... except your front derailleur's stops.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to get a 53t ring since I will probably get a better set of wheels to begin racing on at a later date and will get a 11-23 cassette to use for that purpose and leave the 12-25 on the current wheels. I'm assuming that the Ultegra 53t ring I'm seeing online will work, and at $20-25 after my student discount at the LBS who can complain.

The Ultegra chainring will fit PERFECTLY on your 105 cranks ...

BTW. You may actually find the 50t to be more-than-enough on the high-end, even with a 12t cog.

Here's the deal with taking the granny off. It works, and the shifter/derailleur will work well with that configuration. Just change the BB, because, if the chain falls off, it will get caught in the gap left by the now-adsent granny, and is a [censored] to get out.

Unless you have a Hollwtech crank, in which case, you can take your chances.

benkoostra said:

Here's the deal with taking the granny off. It works, and the shifter/derailleur will work well with that configuration. Just change the BB, because, if the chain falls off, it will get caught in the gap left by the now-adsent granny, and is a [censored] to get out.

Unless you have a Hollwtech crank, in which case, you can take your chances.

I do have Hollowtech II cranks. For curiosity's sake, why is it that the bb need not be replaced with these as you recommend doing with other cranks?

LewisBricktop said:

I want to change that to a double.

Just out of curiosity, why do folks with triples want to change to doubles? I have a triple and it has saved my life in the hill country here in Austin a few times. Granted, I *usually* don't have to visit grandma on most hills or rides, but when I'm 60 miles in and it's 100 degrees it beats walking up.

Is this a style issue (most cool folks have doubles)? Or is it practical (better mechanically)? Or is it that most people want a double because it's more high-zoot but they'll list "better mechanically" as the reason anyway?

LewisBricktop said:

I do have Hollowtech II cranks. For curiosity's sake, why is it that the bb need not be replaced with these as you recommend doing with other cranks?

The Hollowtech II BB spindle is part of the driveside/RIGHT crank arm/spider ... it cannot be changed.

The slightly longer spindle is not a problem, per se ... AND, the difference in Q-factor (~5mm per side) is probably only a factor if you are a 5'6" Euro-racer.

FWIW. I mount my DA 7700 cranks on a 112.5 XTR spindle on some of my bikes as this allows me to swap out to an Ultegra 6503 crank with minimal effort on my part when I want to use a triple.

Caden said:

Just out of curiosity, why do folks with triples want to change to doubles? I have a triple and it has saved my life in the hill country here in Austin a few times. Granted, I *usually* don't have to visit grandma on most hills or rides, but when I'm 60 miles in and it's 100 degrees it beats walking up.

Is this a style issue (most cool folks have doubles)? Or is it practical (better mechanically)? Or is it that most people want a double because it's more high-zoot but they'll list "better mechanically" as the reason anyway?

I can;t speak for others, but I go to school in a very hilly area and love to climb. I've improved quite a bit and stopped using the inner ring months ago, so its really nothing more than an extra few grams at this point. I should have thought through the purchase a bit more at the time and just bought a double, but this was convenient. I also just like the look of a double.

LewisBricktop said:

I can;t speak for others, but I go to school in a very hilly area and love to climb. I've improved quite a bit and stopped using the inner ring months ago, so its really nothing more than an extra few grams at this point. I should have thought through the purchase a bit more at the time and just bought a double, but this was convenient. I also just like the look of a double.

For those who are interested...

If you want the lower gear ratios of a triple, but want the reliability of a double consider using a compact crank.

Bikelyst said:

, but want the reliability of a double .

Bah.... what [censored] is that!!!!

BTW I ride a T & a D

Bikelyst said:

For those who are interested...

If you want the lower gear ratios of a triple, but want the reliability of a double consider using a compact crank.

I haven't found a compact crank - rear cassette combo that will match the low gears of my triple. Close, but not there. Significant difference when the steep hills come.

That said, I rode for decades with a "normal" double set up. Not a tiny racing cassette, but with something like a 25t rear, and never had problems getting up hills. There was a lot of standing and gasping for some, but I made it up. Now I have a triple and really like being able to sit and spin up the hills instead. That and I'm mid-50s and never race.

I can't imagine any reason, other than hard core racing or personal aesthetic taste (both are good reasons, don't get me wrong), to change a triple for a double. Sure you might not need it often, but why change it?