Dual vs triple?

Good questions, same as I had. I posted a thread a few days ago "Double vs Triple", which you can find below.

Based on the input, I've decided to go with the triple on the new bike I'm building. I don't need the triple for the normal hills, but will be able to take on the 10-12% grades with confidence, and will have low gears available for the really tough grades, hilly century rides or worst days I may face. I say go triple!

Also agree with you on the 42 middle ring, vs the 39 I've got now. I like the Campy Chorus 10 sp triple, with the 13-26 cogset, better than the Shimano 12-25. Campy 13-26 has a 16 and an 18; both handy gears for flat cruising on the 42 in my main speed range.

Weight: I've gone down from 213 to 168 pounds this year, and it makes a lot of difference in how I climb. Still, have decided the triple is the choice on the new bike. Campy Centaur or Chorus 10 sp vs Ultegra/DA 9 sp is now the decision I need to make.

Dan

I'm in the process of updating my road bike and have decided on going to a triple. Like armchair I was reluctant to give up the dual, but I have accepted the fact that I need the triple. While loosing 50 pounds and getting into better shape would be a good solution for me too, getting a triple is a more realistic answer. And on the positive side - getting the triple may be a step toward losing those unwanted pounds. If you get so slim and fit that the triple is no longer needed - go back to the double. In the mean time you will not have to avoid climbs.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by armchair_spacem
OR would I be better off losing 50lb, learning to climb better on the dual?

A no brainer from where I sit.Ditch the 50 pounds of fat and get some fitness. Lots of other benefits besides getting up a hill easier.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
A no brainer from where I sit.Ditch the 50 pounds of fat and get some fitness. Lots of other benefits besides getting up a hill easier.

Thanks Boudreux, the 50lbs thing is kind of obviousn (actually it's more like 80) but does that mean get the triple or don't get the triple (in your opinionr😉 )

Thanks Dan old man. I think I'm pretty much sold on the triple, despite the BS I'll get from my "hard core" roadie mates. Like you I probably won't need it for my usual rides, but it will probably open up some new terrain to me, and I reckon it'll help me keep my HR down on recovery ride days. A local LBS guy told me he shaved 45minutes off his PB on a 200k alpine audax event using the triple, compared to 53/39 13-26 he had on the previous year. He stayed on top of his gears instead of grunting it out with leg strength, adding 4-5kmh to his usual climbing speed. Damn the torpedoes, go triple! Now the decision is Chorus or record - chorus is the better value proposition, and I'll have enough on the difference for a slick new set of wheels. There's about 90gr difference b/w the chorus and record triples - a couple of slurps from the water bottle. Chorus triple is still going to be about 200gr lighter than the daytona setup i'm currently on.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dhk
Good questions, same as I had. I posted a thread a few days ago "Double vs Triple", which you can find below.

Based on the input, I've decided to go with the triple on the new bike I'm building. I don't need the triple for the normal hills, but will be able to take on the 10-12% grades with confidence, and will have low gears available for the really tough grades, hilly century rides or worst days I may face. I say go triple!

Also agree with you on the 42 middle ring, vs the 39 I've got now. I like the Campy Chorus 10 sp triple, with the 13-26 cogset, better than the Shimano 12-25. Campy 13-26 has a 16 and an 18; both handy gears for flat cruising on the 42 in my main speed range.

Weight: I've gone down from 213 to 168 pounds this year, and it makes a lot of difference in how I climb. Still, have decided the triple is the choice on the new bike. Campy Centaur or Chorus 10 sp vs Ultegra/DA 9 sp is now the decision I need to make.

Dan

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by armchair_spacem
Thanks Dan old man. I think I'm pretty much sold on the triple, despite the BS I'll get from my "hard core" roadie mates. Like you I probably won't need it for my usual rides, but it will probably open up some new terrain to me, and I reckon it'll help me keep my HR down on recovery ride days. A local LBS guy told me he shaved 45minutes off his PB on a 200k alpine audax event using the triple, compared to 53/39 13-26 he had on the previous year. He stayed on top of his gears instead of grunting it out with leg strength, adding 4-5kmh to his usual climbing speed. Damn the torpedoes, go triple! Now the decision is Chorus or record - chorus is the better value proposition, and I'll have enough on the difference for a slick new set of wheels. There's about 90gr difference b/w the chorus and record triples - a couple of slurps from the water bottle. Chorus triple is still going to be about 200gr lighter than the daytona setup i'm currently on.

Yep, the "hardcore" macho issue probably holds a lot of people back from triples. I do like to sprint up hills with young guys, run the HR up to max as long as the hill or the ride isn't too long. However, I'm pretty sure I can make more sustained horsepower before blowing up by spinning at 90-100 rpm rather than standing and grunting it out. Besides, I may want to try some hilly 200K Randonneurs myself when having a bailout gear could make the difference.

Record should be more durable than Chorus, but I think it's mostly the carbon style points. Centaur seems like the best value for the dollar; looks to be about the same construction as the higher lines, minus the carbon. A few grams of weight doesn't really matter to me....I carry a cellphone, wallet and spare tube (100 gms each) plus an 800 gm waterbottle.

If I don't stay "cheap" with Centaur, I'll likely end up going to Record because it's not much more expensive in the build kit order than Chorus.....what's another $2-300...you know that routine!

Dan

Triples are clumsy and less efficient anyways -- you end up with one too many trim positions, and shifting between rings inevitably takes more thought than you'd expect, and tends to be less graceful. Doubles are no brainers; much less trouble.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dhk
I do like to sprint up hills with young guys, run the HR up to max as long as the hill or the ride isn't too long.
Dan

I was running a triple on a bike I just sold ('03 LeMond Victoire W/Ultegra 52-42-30 and 23-11 cassette) and although I personally feel I don't really need the triple I enjoy the options it affords me... Typically I only use the granny (30-23) at the beginning of my training rides on inclines to keep my heart rate down during a warm-up. Once I'm warm up, and depending on what I wanted to accomplish as far as a training ride is concerned, I'm in a 42-16 out of the saddle sprinting up the hill. The 30 front simply expands my options.

BTW, my new bike which is due sometime in Dec. is an '04 Tet de Course W/Record Triple. I will admit vanity got the better of me and I got the 53-42-30 front and not th 50-40-30. (Decisions, decisions...) 😉

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by lokstah
Triples are clumsy and less efficient anyways -- you end up with one too many trim positions, and shifting between rings inevitably takes more thought than you'd expect, and tends to be less graceful. Doubles are no brainers; much less trouble.

Sure........

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by lokstah
Triples are clumsy and less efficient anyways -- you end up with one too many trim positions, and shifting between rings inevitably takes more thought than you'd expect, and tends to be less graceful. Doubles are no brainers; much less trouble.

But walking up the hill is even less gracefull than that!

Allan

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flea77
But walking up the hill is even less gracefull than that!

Allan

So true. Do what you must.