Advice on changing from Triple to Double / compact please?

HeatherMillsLeg

Hi,

I have owned a Spesh Allez Triple 2011 from new. I've spent probably near on the price paid upgrading and changing parts.

I now have the opportunity to "upgrade". At present I am running Sora 50,39, 30 with an either 11 or 12 / 23 - not sure but it's pretty small.

90% of the time I am in the top 2 chainrings - highest gear only going downhill -and very rarely use the granny ring but when I do I need it! Am absolutely terrible on hills - being 15.5 stone & 6'2" not really built for them but whatever I do I don't get off - which I used to when I first started riding!

I have seen a really good deal on 105 groupset, this would be put on a new CF frame. Just wondering if anyone had any advice on what ratios to get? Think they come in 50/34 and 53/39 with various cassette ranges.

I'm umming and arring. I know I don't "need" a new bike but once you get into this sport you get BAS - (Bike Aquistion Syndrome)!

ATM I can afford a new bike build, and you are right, lose a stone and get fitter which I hope to do. It would just be nicer to do that with a brand spankin new bike!

Any advice greatly received.

Cheers

arthur_scrimshaw

If you don't like hills I'd suggest a compact chainset (50/34) with a 11-28 cassette, this will give a good spread of gears. I'd suggest looking at complete bikes as well, normally cheaper than building from scratch if you can find a desirable spec.

Peddle Up!

I'm about your weight and height and while I am never likely to whizz up hills like the "electric elves" that pass me, I almost always stay on the bike (foot down and walk for a 30% gradient, but I guess I can be forgiven for that ).

I ride a compact (as suggested above) so you'll probably be fine depending on your age and fitness.

HeatherMillsLeg

Thanks guys

Absolutely hate them but as said, actually ride them and sometimes seek them out - that's what cyclists do isn't it?!

What I was saying is that no hill daunts me anymore. I WILL get up that mother of a hill whatever. I might just be in need of resuscitation at the top!

The Purbecks look like a lovely ride from Bournemouth beaches. They look like hell when you are on them - especially if you miss calculate your ride and have to go into Swanage! What a hillhole!

Kieran_Burns

I exchanged my 105 triple (50/39/30) for a Dura Ace triple (52/39/30) and also changed the cassette from a 12-25 to an 11-28. (105 to Ultegra)

Got a whole different feel to bike now and I consider my setup to be a road equivalent with a bail out option for the very worst hills. I'm 6' and 15 stone and really find hills difficult so the granny does get used occasionally but I am forcing myself to spin more at the moment to protect my right knee.

Oddly - for you, I'd upgrade from what you have to what I had.

halfround

I have a 105 triple 50 39 30 and a 11 28 on the back which gives a massive range of gears , I used to have a 52 42 30 which was even better. A triple gives you a great range of high gears and a bail out when your legs are gone , I only use the 30 with the 28 . I think you will get up the hill with a compact but it will be easier with the triple.

markp80

I have a compact chainset, 50/34 with an 11/32 cassette and this has done everything I've needed.

At present, your lowest available gear is 30/23. If you went to a 50/34 compact with an 11/28 cassette, your lowest gear would be 34/28 - this is actually a bit lower than what you have now, and would make things a little easier for you on the really steep stuff.

Highest gear would be 50/11. It depends how quick you are, but I personally only ever use this on steep downhills and I've never felt I needed anything more - have you felt you needed a higher gear than what you have now (50 - 11/12 you said)? If not, then I would suggest the compact 50/34 - 11/28 would meet your requirements, IMHO (which I think had been suggested earlier too).

Note, the 2014 Shimano gear is available from Sept (I think) and this is 11 speed and the cassettes can go up to 11-32, although this would probably be more costly than any deal you have seen available now.

Cheers,
MarkP

HeatherMillsLeg

Thanks for all the advice guys and for working out the gear possibilities I might have. I really need to sit down and go through it and comprehend what's best.

My main reason for changing to a compact is, if I am building up a bike on a CF frame then may as well save as much weight as possible. If I am careful I can easily knock 2 Kgs off what I am riding now. Secondly it also seems to be "the fashion" but also if I only ever rarely use the granny doesn't seem much point if I can get a similar range from a compact.

Thanks Mark P for telling me the possible range. I did get Maths at GCSE somehow scraping a C - NEVER used any Algebra where N = X. Perhaps if they put real life situations in, like this, I may of paid more attention!

BTW - I'm looking at the full 105 in Black here http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/r ... black.html at £360 in black and even less if cashback pays out.

That is one thing that I have worked out and can't find it cheaper buying individually. Shifters seem incredibly expensive for what they are! Or £337.45 in silver - which is probably more practical.

Decisions, decisions - thanks again for all the info. Am going to mull it all over and take off my rear wheel and make sure what exact cassette I have!

Cheers

navrig

HeatherMillsLeg wrote:

That is one thing that I have worked out and can't find it cheaper buying individually. Shifters seem incredibly expensive for what they are! Or £337.45 in silver - which is probably more practical.



Cheers

The shifters are the clever bits. They tell the derailleurs what do and when to do it.

Kieran_Burns

Bottom line:
a triple will always give you more range, but it may not necessarily be more USEFUL range

You should consider your cassette in any decision made and as noted above a 50/34 coupled with a 11-28 or 11-32 will give you a huge range a good low bottom gear.

There is one thing you need to take into account though when choosing which cassette to go for: The rear dérailleur may only accommodate a 28 tooth cog, so if you go for the 32 tooth bottom gear make sure your get the right dérailleur.

I don't think the 105 mech will actually accommodate anything bigger 28 teeth.

HeatherMillsLeg

Really appreciate the replies guys. Has been very helpful so thank you all. In reality I guess I should really test out a set up or two but seeing that we don't have an Evans local I feel a bit "guilty" going into a LBS to "try before I don't buy".

I can't quite work out if my attitude is wrong or right. I have no trouble taking a bike on a test ride from Evans - a national chain - but do from a LBS - even though my local specialists have been complete a***oles when I have dealt with them.

* To qualify - I got them to fit a front mech once. They were empty, told me it would take 30 mins. Went and got a cuppa, they hadn't even looked at it. Told me it would be another 30 mins. I went to get a pint. 1 hour later strolled up - still hadn't been done. 4 hours later they texted me to come and collect.

IMO that isn't great service. If you don't want to do a repair, or are busy, either don't do it or give a realistic timeframe!

Mikey23

Give them a chance, there might have been extenuating circumstances that you were not aware of. A good LBS is a real blessing and I would rarely buy stuff off the Internet ...

clickrumble

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Bottom line:
a triple will always give you more range, but it may not necessarily be more USEFUL range

You should consider your cassette in any decision made and as noted above a 50/34 coupled with a 11-28 or 11-32 will give you a huge range a good low bottom gear.

There is one thing you need to take into account though when choosing which cassette to go for: The rear dérailleur may only accommodate a 28 tooth cog, so if you go for the 32 tooth bottom gear make sure your get the right dérailleur.

I don't think the 105 mech will actually accommodate anything bigger 28 teeth.

I've got 30 teeth on my cassette with 105 rear mech and it works fine.

I've got one bike with compact 50/34 and 11/32 (Sram) and one with triple with slightly lower gears (Shimano,50/39/30 and 12/30). On the whole I think I prefer the triple, it's smoother and seems less prone to going out of adjustment. On the compact, I find I'm frequently having to adjust the stops on the front derailleur as otherwise the chain comes off once or twice on each ride.