double or triple?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cdale
I was just wondering what everyone rides, a double or triple? I just bought a cannondale r1000, test road a lot of bikes and it was the best fit for me. Only thing that was kinda buggin me was it was a triple? I knew I prolly wouldn't need that small ring but the end-o-season deal was to good to pass up. The LBS checked out other shops to see if they could find one to trade up for but no luck. So is it a big deal???

I have some knee problems so theoretically a triple might get me out of a pinch sometime...performance wise i have full use of my gears with very little chain rub and i don't really care about the weight.

So it just got me thinkin and i wanted to know what people ride?

I currently ride a triple but the area I ride in has a lot of hills. My strength is good because I've done a lot of weight training in the past but my stamina needs work so I do end up using that small gear about half way through a ride up the hills. My goal though is to get to a point where I don't use it all and I'm hoping my next upgrade down the road will be to just a double.

Matt

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cdale
I was just wondering what everyone rides, a double or triple? I just bought a cannondale r1000, test road a lot of bikes and it was the best fit for me. Only thing that was kinda buggin me was it was a triple? I knew I prolly wouldn't need that small ring but the end-o-season deal was to good to pass up. The LBS checked out other shops to see if they could find one to trade up for but no luck. So is it a big deal???

I have some knee problems so theoretically a triple might get me out of a pinch sometime...performance wise i have full use of my gears with very little chain rub and i don't really care about the weight.

So it just got me thinkin and i wanted to know what people ride?

I have ridden both a triple and the regular two. On my new Calfee, I elected to go with the regular two, since I hardly ever used the granny ring. However, what do you have to lose to have it on there? Its just a bit more weight, and it might get you up that steep climb someday. Albeit at 4 mph, but its better than walking!!

I agree with Steve, 4 mph is better than walking the bike up a steep hill. I rarely use my triple, but I will be using it more when I start doing touring on my bike.

Whether you have a triple or a double depends on how fit and what kind of rider you are.

I'm basically a 50 year old enthusiast biking for health and fun.

Used to ride a triple Tiagra Raleigh R500 until I scored a Klein Q Pro Carbon Dura Ace double. I ride a fairly hilly environment and never got into the smallest ring except to try it out. Now I am a serious gym rat so leg strength isn't an issue. Until recently I thought the triple was a low/mid level marketing ploy since I had mainly seen them in the sub 1500 dollar price point, but the higher end Shimano group has them as well. Now I have yet to see a 5k bike with a triple. I wouldn't worry about the triple if you like the frame and the ride. Most likely you won't have a choice with everything else being the same. If it bugs you just rip off the small ring. Keep in mind the middle ring will be more teeth on a triple than the small ring on a double.

since the bike has a triple, I assume you live somewhere with hills. probably not many shops in kansas or nebraska carry triples. I have an ultegra triple. the two larger chainrings have been replaced twice, but still on the original small ring. the granny will probably never be replaced since its only gets used about a half dozen times a year. its extra weight I carry and hardly use, but when I need it, I am extremely glad I have it. I'm sometimes ridiculed by my so-called friends for having it, but for those times when I'm sitting and spinning by them on a steep incline while they stand and struggle, they'd gladly swap.

I've never had a triple, but have decided to get one on my next bike. Agree it is a big decision. But to me it's more of a lifestyle issue than a real compromise, since it says I'm a recreational rider, not a sometimes crit racer anymore.

I won't use the 30 tooth ring very often, but with 7-10% grades around here, I'm pretty sure it will come in handy late in the day on the long rides with the big climb near the end.

You can upgrade to a triple for less than $100 on Campy Record or D-A, $50 on Ultegra, with just a few ounces of extra weight. As I get older, it seems like a good investment to make on the new bike. (I won't need to upgrade later for $600.)

Another thought. If you climb steeps a lot, I think the triple should extend your frame life. Standing up on that 10% grade and torquing with all your weight at 5 mph can't be good for the fatigue life of the frame; the triple should reduce the impulse loads quite a bit. Easier on the frame tubes and the knees.

Dan