Southern California - Thanks Uncle Sam!

Got my taxes done tonight and my return should put me over what I need for my roadie. I'm looking at getting the Trek 5000. My only question is should I go with the 52/39 or 50/39/30 crank? Any other suggestions?

-grant

My appointment with the accountant is on Feb 8... (money, money, money, money)

52/39
It is the only way to go... because another cyclist said that 'If you don't have a triple chain ring, you'll never use it...'

And here I did my taxes on Friday and thought I was a freak for doing them so early.

Glad I'm not the only one.

triples is a bad habit to fall back too, I know!!!!!

My only question is should I go with the 52/39 or 50/39/30 crank? Any other suggestions?

If you're not going to race then get the triple.

Get the double. Or have the LBS swap it for a compact.

If you get the triple and use it all the time, you'll be training yourself to go slow. On the other hand, if I didn't have a triple, I'd be mashing myself into knee injuries.

I can't speak to your conditioning, but if you're even asking the question.... Many around here have a 50-34 compact crank which I think can be swapped with a 52-39 without much pain.

Ask the bike shop if you can do a test rides with different configurations. I don't mean a 'lap around the block' test ride, I mean a get yourself to your favorite steep climb test ride.

Get the double. Or have the LBS swap it for a compact.

Ditto.

How strong are you? If you are strong enough, get 52/39, if not go compact, no triples.

52/39
It is the only way to go... because another cyclist said that 'If you don't have a triple chain ring, you'll never use it...'

Of course that other "cyclist" was a pinhead.

If you don't have a triple chainring and need it, you'll miss out on some awesome climbs and beautiful riding territory. It all comes down to strong you are now. Try some genuinely steep grades on a double. If you're up to it by all means go for the double. They do shift a bit better (tho not by much) and Extort won't make fun of you.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: Otherwise get the triple now.

Of course that other "cyclist" was a pinhead.

the other cyclist is Robert Kahler (http://www.cyclingpros.com/Torture.htm)... and I wouldn't laugh at grumbles for having a triple chainring (but there would be other times that I would laugh at him)

the other cyclist is Robert Kahler (http://www.cyclingpros.com/Torture.htm)... and I wouldn't laugh at grumbles for having a triple chainring (but there would be other times that I would laugh at him)

Checked the link -
"ROBERT KAHLER CYCLING ACADEMY
CYCLING DEVELOPMENT & TORTURE CLINICS"

You made my point for me :D :D :D

a double/triple debate in socal. awesome. stop it.

a double/triple debate in socal. awesome. stop it.

Hahahaha!

I like helmets.

Only a girly man would have a triple. Real men climb in 55x11.:fight:

i can hardly climb downhill in that gear.

Spoke protectors rock.

Let's keep all this in one thread.

Spoke protectors rock.

Let's keep all this in one thread.What do you listen to on your iPod while you're riding?

What do you listen to on your iPod while you're riding?

Yes, but when I do I ride on the left side of the street so cars can't sneak up on me.

since it says 'bike newb' right under your screen name, just get the triple. you can get another bike with a double soon enough.

I kinda miss the triple on my touring bike (which is resting in semi-retirement). But the compact has been working fine for me. It's a 50-36, but I really would have liked a 50-34 on the long climbs on Saturday.

If you're not used to riding a lot, get the triple. Work your way up to a double later on. Just train yourself on the triple hard enough that you don't use the lower gears very often.

Thanks for all the info. And as it says under my name, i am a newb, so I may just go with the triple ring and switch it out later. I've been hauling my heavy a$$ mtb around on the road so far and it's helped me drop 30 lbs since I started. Only time I've used the smallest ring on the mtb is climbing some steep trails. I guess i'll have Robert make fun of me for wanting the 3 ring, too, since he's the one I'm getting the bike from. :)

Crikey, I don't even have all my tax forms yet. Good luck with your new bike though, whichever you get.

If you want to do some long climbing rides, get the triple. The only real disadvantage is you may get crap from other riders. You will get the widest possible gear range and alway have a bail-out gear. Be good to your knees and they will be there for you.

To be honest, not only do I run a triple, but I use a mountain bike cassette also (11-32 rear). That's a little extreme, but I also use the bike for loaded touring. The only people who have said anything about my gearing are those who said they wished they had similar gearing.

Heyo, grumbles: Getting the triple, then switching it out later is an expensive proposition. You'd be looking at a new front derailleur, possible a new rear derailleur, and probably a new bottom bracket. I may be wrong on that.

My vote: Have the bike shop give you a compact, and get a 12/27 cassette in the back. You'll have (almost) the low climbing gears of a standard triple with a 12/25 cassette, and you can use all the standard derailleurs and BB's...and Extort won't laugh at you.