Triple crank cog set question

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

Regards, from a hot summer starting here, in Chile...

Roberto

I only use a 42 chainring on my double crank, so I would never use a
triple crankset with a 39. I find the mph switch between chainrings to
occur roughly at the 42x14 or 42x13 gear. With a 39 I would have to
jump back and forth between the 53 and 39 rings to get that one extra
harder gear that is available on the middle ring with the 42. And if
you are on the 53 ring, then you will be in the larger cogs in back
(42x14 = 53x18) and most likely have 2 tooth jumps between gears. But
at the small cog of the rear cluster end using the 42 ring, you have
lots of 1 tooth jumps between gears.

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

The phrase "cog set" is only borderline acceptable in English. Even
then it only refers to the _rear_ sprockets, commonly known as the
"cluster" or "cassette."

English speaking cyclists reserve the term "cog" for the rear, if they
use it at all. The front sprockets are most commonly called
"chainwheels" or "chainrings."

http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary

To answer your question, the usual approach for riding with a "road"
triple crankset is to try to avoid using the smallest chainring except
for the toughest hills.

Whether the 42 or 39 middle is better depends on your local terrain,
your conditioning and the size of your largest rear sprocket.

Generally, if you have a "tight" cluster, with only smaller sprockets,
the 39 should let you get up most hills without needing to shift the
front to the 30 tooth ring.

If you have a wider range cluster, or are stronger, or live in areas
where the hills don't tend to be steep, the 42 middle ring may work well
for you, and the shifting between the middle/large ring may be slightly
better.

The 52/53 is so small a difference as to be pretty much irrelevant.

Quoted message said:

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

The 30 tooth chainring is only for use with the larger rear sprockets,
and you should never, ever use it with the 12. This "criss-cross" gear
greatly increases chain and sprocket wear, and consumes your pedaling
energy to do it.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

Sheldon "Chainline" Brown
+------------------------------------+
| A good plan today is better than |
| a perfect plan tomorrow. |
| --David Mamet |
| (Wag the Dog, Bulworth) |
+------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

Regards, from a hot summer starting here, in Chile...

Roberto

Dear Sheldon Brown,

I am truly fanatic of your web site and I know of it since 1996, when I
first read about elyptical chainrings, it's a real pleasure for me to have
an answer from you...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

English speaking cyclists reserve the term "cog" for the rear, if they

Quoted message said:

use it at all. The front sprockets are most commonly called

Quoted message said:

"chainwheels" or "chainrings."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary

Quoted message said:

Thank you for the correction, now I am a little better with my English.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Whether the 42 or 39 middle is better depends on your local terrain,

Quoted message said:

your conditioning and the size of your largest rear sprocket.

Quoted message said:

I live in Santiago Chile, South America, if you see a worldmap you will see
my country as a long and thin land strip, almost hanging from Los Andes
range of mountains. Our terrain is only a little flat, in my city we are
close to the mountains, that's the reason I use a triple crank set. I
usually go to Farellones, an sky center, almost 100 km, round trip, from my
house.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The 30 tooth chainring is only for use with the larger rear sprockets,

Quoted message said:

and you should never, ever use it with the 12. This "criss-cross" gear

Quoted message said:

greatly increases chain and sprocket wear, and consumes your pedaling

Quoted message said:

energy to do it.

Quoted message said:

Yes, I understand your words, and what I really mean is that even with the
same ratio it seems to be easier (riding steepy hills) with the 30 chainring
than with the 42 one, a friend of mine says that it's because the crank arm
is longer and the torque is greater.

I am very glad to read you Sir answering my post.

I wish you and all of the members of the list, a merry Christmas and a happy
new year.

Regards from a hot and sunshine Santiago de Chile...

Roberto

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

Regards, from a hot summer starting here, in Chile...

Roberto

Greetings to Chile! Enjoy your summer weather!

I know I'm answering a question you didn't ask, but you may want to
consider 50x40x30 - or even 50x40x26 (Campagnolo) I changed from
52x42x30 and am very happy with the new chainring sizes.

The 40 tooth ring gives you more climbing ability in the middle ring,
and the 50 keeps the gap between high and middle ring manageable. With
a 12T rear cog, the high gear is still high enough for most mountain
descents (but I haven't descended in the Chilean Andes).

I replaced the 30T with a 26T for a major mountain ride, and it has
worked so well, I left it on. Shifting is excellent. I run 12-23 in
back mostly, and switch to 13-26 for very hard climbs. The 12-23 gives
me an extremely wide range, great shifting, and closely spaced gears.

Mark

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mark Janeba said:

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

Regards, from a hot summer starting here, in Chile...

Roberto

Greetings to Chile! Enjoy your summer weather!

I know I'm answering a question you didn't ask, but you may want to
consider 50x40x30 - or even 50x40x26 (Campagnolo) I changed from
52x42x30 and am very happy with the new chainring sizes.

The 40 tooth ring gives you more climbing ability in the middle ring,
and the 50 keeps the gap between high and middle ring manageable. With
a 12T rear cog, the high gear is still high enough for most mountain
descents (but I haven't descended in the Chilean Andes).

I replaced the 30T with a 26T for a major mountain ride, and it has
worked so well, I left it on. Shifting is excellent. I run 12-23 in
back mostly, and switch to 13-26 for very hard climbs. The 12-23 gives
me an extremely wide range, great shifting, and closely spaced gears.

This is the scheme that I use. That 30 tooth chain wheel
might as well be a 26. Then you do not have to put a large
cogwheel in back (26/23 ~ 30/27). As long as you are
running a triple chain wheel set take full advantage:
granny gear and a closely spaced rear cogwheel set.

I am not a strong rider, but have often kept up with
stronger riders on some of the stiff little climbs around
here because of that granny gear.

--
Michael Press

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear Sheldon Brown,

I am truly fanatic of your web site and I know of it since 1996, when I
first read about elyptical chainrings, it's a real pleasure for me to have
an answer from you...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

English speaking cyclists reserve the term "cog" for the rear, if they

Quoted message said:

use it at all. The front sprockets are most commonly called

Quoted message said:

"chainwheels" or "chainrings."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary

Quoted message said:

Thank you for the correction, now I am a little better with my English.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Whether the 42 or 39 middle is better depends on your local terrain,

Quoted message said:

your conditioning and the size of your largest rear sprocket.

Quoted message said:

I live in Santiago Chile, South America, if you see a worldmap you will see
my country as a long and thin land strip, almost hanging from Los Andes
range of mountains. Our terrain is only a little flat, in my city we are
close to the mountains, that's the reason I use a triple crank set. I
usually go to Farellones, an sky center, almost 100 km, round trip, from my
house.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The 30 tooth chainring is only for use with the larger rear sprockets,

Quoted message said:

and you should never, ever use it with the 12. This "criss-cross" gear

Quoted message said:

greatly increases chain and sprocket wear, and consumes your pedaling

Quoted message said:

energy to do it.

Quoted message said:

Yes, I understand your words, and what I really mean is that even with the
same ratio it seems to be easier (riding steepy hills) with the 30 chainring
than with the 42 one, a friend of mine says that it's because the crank arm
is longer and the torque is greater.

42x17 and 30x12 are identical gear inches. And since you are pedaling
each with the same crankset, the crankarms should be the same length.
The crankarms don't get longer when you change gears. At the same rpm
in both gears, you should go exactly the same speed. The 30x12 gear is
more cross chained than the very in-line 42x17 so in theory the 30x12
might have slightly more friction. Not enough to care or notice.

As already mentioned, if you need lower gears you can change the 30
tooth inner ring to a 28, 26, or maybe 24. 74 mm bolt circle diameter.
All will fit but the 24 may cause the chain to be too slack and the
rear derailleur cannot keep the chain from drooping excessively when in
anything but the largest cogs in back.

Quoted message said:

I am very glad to read you Sir answering my post.

I wish you and all of the members of the list, a merry Christmas and a happy
new year.

Regards from a hot and sunshine Santiago de Chile...

Roberto

I like a Campy triple with a 50/40/30 even better.

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

Regards, from a hot summer starting here, in Chile...

Roberto

Really tough to say what would be right for you. a 39t middle may make
shifting less crisp than a 42, depends on the system.

A well set up triple with a 42 middle where you can use all the rear
cogs in the 42, as it should be, is best, IMO. BUT if you only need the
30t as a part time bailouty, small time use, then perhaps a 53.39, like
a 'normal' road crank gearing, with a bailout, might be a better
option. I would look at where you ride and what chainring you are in
most of the time. What you need gearing wise and how often.

Rememeber tho, that cross chaining, like a 30/12, will work but will
wear things out much more quickly than using the 42/17....

Gearing is very personal and what works for me may not work for you.

BTW-I envy you beyond words, warm weather and all.

Sheldon Brown said:

Roberto Cornejo said:

Dear fellow members of this list,

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

The phrase "cog set" is only borderline acceptable in English. Even
then it only refers to the _rear_ sprockets, commonly known as the
"cluster" or "cassette."

c'mon Sheldon, the guys in CHILE for crisssakes...whats chainring in
Spanish??

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

English speaking cyclists reserve the term "cog" for the rear, if they
use it at all. The front sprockets are most commonly called
"chainwheels" or "chainrings."

http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary

To answer your question, the usual approach for riding with a "road"
triple crankset is to try to avoid using the smallest chainring except
for the toughest hills.

Whether the 42 or 39 middle is better depends on your local terrain,
your conditioning and the size of your largest rear sprocket.

Generally, if you have a "tight" cluster, with only smaller sprockets,
the 39 should let you get up most hills without needing to shift the
front to the 30 tooth ring.

If you have a wider range cluster, or are stronger, or live in areas
where the hills don't tend to be steep, the 42 middle ring may work well
for you, and the shifting between the middle/large ring may be slightly
better.

Quoted message said:

The 52/53 is so small a difference as to be pretty much irrelevant.

Quoted message said:

Despite of the rears cogs, using a triple has improved my riding a lot, even
if you ride in a same ratio arrangement, let's say 42x17 or 30x12, if the
road it's hard, riding in 30x12 is a lot easier for me.

Any comment about this stuff?

The 30 tooth chainring is only for use with the larger rear sprockets,
and you should never, ever use it with the 12. This "criss-cross" gear
greatly increases chain and sprocket wear, and consumes your pedaling
energy to do it.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

Sheldon "Chainline" Brown
+------------------------------------+
| A good plan today is better than |
| a perfect plan tomorrow. |
| --David Mamet |
| (Wag the Dog, Bulworth) |
+------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

c'mon Sheldon, the guys in CHILE for crisssakes...whats chainring in

Quoted message said:

Spanish??

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hello Peter,

You will laugh, In Chile and Argentina, we call "platos" (dishes) to the
chainrings.

I think you could laugh even starting with my country's name: Chile... but
that's the way the things are...

Regards,

Roberto

Quoted message said:

cogs in the 42, as it should be, is best, IMO. BUT if you only need the
30t as a part time bailouty, small time use, then perhaps a 53.39, like
a 'normal' road crank gearing, with a bailout, might be a better
option. I would look at where you ride and what chainring you are in

Hello Peter,

That it's what I was thinking, because I use the 30 chainwheel only in the
steepy hills.

Quoted message said:

BTW-I envy you beyond words, warm weather and all.

You're right: everything here it's beautiful here but the politicians and
all of the stateman...

Roberto Cornejo said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

In addition to giving him specific answers to his technical questions, I
noted:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The phrase "cog set" is only borderline acceptable in English. Even
then it only refers to the _rear_ sprockets, commonly known as the
"cluster" or "cassette."

Peter Chishom chimed in with:

Quoted message said:

c'mon Sheldon, the guys in CHILE for crisssakes...whats chainring in
Spanish??

C'mon, Peter, obviously I knew he wasn't a native English speaker,
and recognized that he didn't quite understand the arcana of
English-language bike jargon, so I tried to set him straight.

Roberto understood my message in the helpful way it was intended, and
replied, in part:

Quoted message said:

Thank you for the correction, now I am a little better with my English.

I sometimes make usage errors when writing in French on the various
French language newsgroups, and I, like Roberto, am always grateful for
an opportunity to improve my understanding of my second language.

Sheldon "Lighten Up, Peter!" Brown
+------------------------------------------------+
| I will be performing in the Christmas Revels |
| Cambridge, Massachusetts http://revels.org |
+------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Roberto Cornejo said:

I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
triple crank along the last four years.

I was wondering if there is any reason not to get the Dura-Ace triple
(7703) and remove the granny, use the 109.5 BB, and ride it as a
double.

I have monetary and technical reasons for doing this, so what I'm
asking is: Will it work?

Bob Cooper

Roberto Cornejo said:

Quoted message said:

cogs in the 42, as it should be, is best, IMO. BUT if you only need the
30t as a part time bailouty, small time use, then perhaps a 53.39, like
a 'normal' road crank gearing, with a bailout, might be a better
option. I would look at where you ride and what chainring you are in

Hello Peter,

That it's what I was thinking, because I use the 30 chainwheel only in the
steepy hills.

Quoted message said:

BTW-I envy you beyond words, warm weather and all.

You're right: everything here it's beautiful here but the politicians and
all of the stateman...

Pretty much like everywhere else.

Ron

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Kenny said:

I like a Campy triple with a 50/40/30 even better.

What are you talking about?

--
Michael Press

Michael Press said:

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Kenny said:

I like a Campy triple with a 50/40/30 even better.

What are you talking about?

maxo's gonna call you a drunk for that one!

<eg> LOL <eg>

Sheldon Brown said:

Roberto Cornejo said:

Quoted message said:

>I am currently using a triple crank in my road bike, and I've been using a
>triple crank along the last four years.
>
>My question is what cog set should be better: 52x42x30 or 53x39x30.

In addition to giving him specific answers to his technical questions, I
noted:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The phrase "cog set" is only borderline acceptable in English. Even
then it only refers to the _rear_ sprockets, commonly known as the
"cluster" or "cassette."

'borderline acceptance' is what irked me...

Sounds like there are rules or something.

How about-'cogsets refer to the rear sprockets, chainrings refer to the
front sprockets'

Roberto Cornejo said:

Quoted message said:

cogs in the 42, as it should be, is best, IMO. BUT if you only need the
30t as a part time bailouty, small time use, then perhaps a 53.39, like
a 'normal' road crank gearing, with a bailout, might be a better
option. I would look at where you ride and what chainring you are in

Hello Peter,

That it's what I was thinking, because I use the 30 chainwheel only in the
steepy hills.

Quoted message said:

BTW-I envy you beyond words, warm weather and all.

You're right: everything here it's beautiful here but the politicians and
all of the stateman...

Sounds like the US in summer.