Triple, Double or Compact

John.T

JGSI wrote:

If Op was confused before...
As a starter a triple aint no bad thing at all.
As you become fitter on the bike then you consider compact chainsets and cassette options.
If you want to race after you become one mean son of a roadie then you can upgrade the bike to big assed double.

You are quite right. But my earlier advice still holds. Learn how to use and understand gear tables and avoid the exaggerated claims from proponents of either system. Once you do this you will be able to make an educated decision. Sheldon Brown's is a good one and a good article on how to use them is also on his site.
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

keef66

Well I'm glad I was able to illustrate your point so well. :oops:
OK, so no 3 tooth jumps then!
Maybe it's the convenience of those first 6 sprockets combined with the 39 chainring that appeals to my sense of laziness?

Christophenes

I ride a 52-42-30 with a 11 - 25 on the rear. I ride mainly on the big ring now but started off mainly on the middle ring.

The 'granny' ring is great for getting you out of trouble on really steep sections, but it should be reserved for that.

I am looking at a new bike for 2012 and will probably go for a compact just to see what all the fuss is about. Triples tend to be chunkier than doubles or compacts so I think it's weight/vanity issue for the people that don't like them, but then these tend to be the people I overtake when they're walking up the steep hills!

New rider and fitness would probably have me going for the triple option with the thought of upgrading in a year or so when i was a bit fitter. This is what I'm doing!

Good luck and happy riding!

andy46

I started off on a compact but will be moving to a standard double when I get my new bike.

I'll be going from a compact 8 speed to a standard 10 speed, what will be the main differences that I will notice?

Bobbinogs

andy46 wrote:

I started off on a compact but will be moving to a standard double when I get my new bike.

I'll be going from a compact 8 speed to a standard 10 speed, what will be the main differences that I will notice?

Why not visit the page that JohnT has already recommended: http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

Just fill in your current and new figures and you will get a nice table of gears in ratios.

Personally, I prefer to work in inches. In my opinion, the whole standard/compact thing is a red herring because the gearing is made up of a combo of front and back so there is a lot that can be done that changes things (I have two 9 spd bikes with standard 53/39 with 13/28 = ~110"-38", which is not that much different from a compact 50/34 with 12/25).

Going from 8 to 10 speed will help you fill in gaps nicely but some folks are more sensitive to gaps than others, nothing wrong or right there, just the way it is.

Edit: Here is a good website for gear inches, just remember to enter tyre size in cell G2:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/About_t ... rTable.XLS

secretsam

I've got a triple and in the Chilterns for me, a newbie who's not very fit, it's essential

Ignore all the hard man bo11ocks about "you can get by with a double" or "everything in this country can be climbed with a compact 34/25 set up", hope those riders are looking forward to their knee surgery. If they are super fit, then WTF are they doing on a BEGINNERS forum????

As for SRAM Apex, nothing's new any more, is it? Back in the days when I started cycling, lots of touring bikes used set ups of 36 inner ring to 34 at the back because friction shifters and triples weren't hugely reliable - so why it's being hailed as some super innovation is beyond me, it's like calling a wheel a fantastic step forward - it's been done before.

essjaydee

Bobbinogs wrote:

Edit: Here is a good website for gear inches, just remember to enter tyre size in cell G2:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/About_t ... rTable.XLS

Thanks for that 8)

zippy483

Many thanks for all the advice it's been very helpful

Ordered the bike today, Cube Agree GTC Triple arrives hopefully at the end of Jan can't wait now

Nik Cube

good man a cube with a triple the only way to ride but then i am a little biased

both my other bikes have proper man like doubles

but my cube with its lovely triple is my favourite bike .

Lycra Man

Borders Roadie - thank you so much for your clairty of expression summing up your post.

I agree with you completely.

Which is why am happy to have a triple on both my bikes. The reason it suits me is that I do Audax rides, and there is a good reason to have a granny with you when you've already done 200 miles and you are fraced with a 25% climb.

When I see another rider with a triple I think 'Mmmm, sensible'

Lycra Man