General Cycling Discussion - Double vs. Triple

Here is the dilema. I was looking for a good deal on a Zurich and found one at a dealer who will no longer be carrying road bikes, only MTB. He has the bike I want at a great price, but it is a triple. Can't swap it out because he isnt carrying road components. I'm not a racer, just someone who rides for workouts and distances for fun. Any feedback on pluses and minuses of triples? Thanks.

recreation? it would be good im guessing. Because I'm competitive I only go for the double, because im really strong and gong fast. But if I was just cruising I would go for the triple. Also if you have bad knees, or some really long hills I would.

Cheers
Brendon
:beer:

I debated between a triple and tighter rear group or a double with a little bit wider cassette. I ended up choosing the double (39/53) with a 12-27 and it's worked out well for me even though I live in a pretty hilly area. Sometimes I wish I had gone the other route but so far I've wished less for that granny gear than I thought I would so I'll probably stick with a double for the future.

Plus- it's a good deal
Minus- it weighs a couple ounces more
= your new bike

Someone "who rides for workouts and distances for fun" shouldn't be particularly encumbered by a triple, and it may come in handy if you have some serious climbs in your vicinity or you want to spin instead of hammer on upgrades.

It's a nice frame, and if you still love it in a couple of years but have decided you really don't want the triple, you can always replace the stuff then.

That's one answer.

Another answer is that buying a road bike from a shop that doesn't specialize in road bikes could be a mistake. If the shop is dropping road bikes, chances are it's been quite a while since they were really proficient at supporting roadies. One of the reasons for patronizing bike shops is because of the support and service they provide.

But the fact that you're asking the question at all makes me wonder if you'd already decided you really wanted a double. And I think that buying a bike that's not perfect in every way might be a mistake.

RichC

I have a triple. I love it.

Of course, it's not necessary, but neither is television.

I almost never use the big chainring. Downhilling for a commuter does not need speeds above 35 mph. So without the big one, it's really only a double.

But the triple is not a bad thing.

The only problem I had was adjusting the front derailleur. That was a real pain, before I switched out to a 20-year old Schwinn gear shift.

:)

It's odd that he "can't" get you the parts to swap it out. He can get 'em from any supplier from which he'd get mountain parts (presuming you're not looking at Dura Ace). This leads me to believe he just doesn't want to have the extra double parts sitting around as they don't fit with the plan to go solely with MTBs. Couple that with the lack of familiarity with road bike maintenance/support brought on by dropping them, and I'd look elsewhere.

Triple is good! Go for triple! Sooner or later if you decide to take a long trip or just riding them hills you are going to praise your triple crank. I almost never use the granny gear (smallest ring) but I sure was glad I had it when I rode for metric century, to set new PR in distance and not in time. When really tired a triple is great or when carrying heavy loaded panniers or just going for them hills.

Go triple!

I wish all of my bikes had triples but I live in a very hilly area. I have often wondered if a triple and a corn cob 11-20 on the back may be better than a double with a 12-28 due to the rotational weight of the rear wheel? Anybody got any thoughts or have any experience with this type of set up?

Of course your could have any size cog on the rear to meet your needs and you could swap those out pretty easily with the right tools.

I have a triple on my Trek. The advantage is that when and if you need it you have it. The only disadvantage I can see is the "look" factor.
If the LBS is a reputable dealer he will support you after you buy the bike from him. Really, there is not all that much difference between a road and mtb as far as service goes. If this guy has a killer deal jump on it. The Lemond is a great bike.

If you want to spin up steep climbs, a triple is your ONLY choice. :D

I have a tripple and love it! It is nice to have the extra gears if you need them. I also have a mtb that I have converted to runaround/commuter that has the wider spaced rear casset on the rear and many times I feel that I have just changed too many gears with one change.

I say get the tripple if it suits you, it's no penality at all.

If I were you , I'd go with the triple, so if you ever need a real low gear, you have one. And whats the worst that could happen - you don't use it!

I personally have a triple, which I'm grateful for on the 800 ft. climb I have to do at the end of every ride.

Thanks everybody. Still torn, but you guys have given me some great feedback.

Thats a hell of a nice bike,whats retail and what are they asking?Is it a 02 or 03?

I have a triple on my MTB, and since I am not in the best physical shape, it has lugged my bacon up several hills in town, which is where I ride it. We have some pretty steep places. I live 2 blocks from the Court House, which sits on top of the world here. It is dowhill in every direction. I would not be without it. I don't have as much experience as most, but I now what is working for me. I only ride my rode bike on the rail to trail, which has very low grades, it is nearly flat, and even I can run the 53 ring from time to time, no granny needed there. - Ted

Originally posted by Copperskier
Thanks everybody. Still torn, but you guys have given me some great feedback.

As most people have said, when in doubt go for the triple. I know I didn't but I'm okay with that. The downsides to the triple are that it's slightly more weight (if you care about that sort of thing), increases the Q-factour and doesn't shift quite as smoothly as a double. If these things don't really matter to you then the choice is obvious.

Every bike I plan to own from now on will be a triple. The Zurich is a great bike snatch it up while you can!

Zack

I personally ride a double....but I implore you to strongly consider a triple :)

There have been many many times going up hills when I 'ran out of gears' and wished to hell that I had a granny gear so I could continue pedaling

Sounds like consensus is the triple. I am seeing an 02 Zurich triple for $1475. Anyone seeing one cheaper than that?

All my bikes have triples. The only possible reason to prefer a double would be if you're in good shape and therfore don't need a triple.

Shifting patterns on triples are not all created equal, BTW. The 4 bikes that I ride regularly have different patterns. Two of my bikes have granny gears that I hardly ever use, but they're nice to have. On one bike, I hardly ever use the large chainring. My other bike has 3 cloesly-space chainrings, all of which I use.

If it fits,thats a nice price.

With a triple, you have a lot more options. I like to spin, regardless of the terrain. In the hills here and around KC, and with the river bluffs, I use the granny. Another thing I've found, When riding in wind, and I can't pull the big ring, I can go to the middle, drop a couple on the cassette and still maintain speed. I'm just spinning faster. It's a lot easier on the legs, knees, the whole nine yards. I will never buy a road bike that is not equipped with a triple. anyway, that's my two cents:D

Go with the DA tripple, 30-39-53 and a tight cassette, that way you can have it all, fly with the club and at the end of a 150 mile day use that small front ring to get you up the last hill on the way home. If you only need the 30 tooth ring once a year it's worth carrying.

My suggestion: Take advantage of Shimano's great interchangeability between component lines. I'd switch the 53t outer chainring to a 49, lose the Ultegra rear derailleur and cassette, and substitute a 12-34 Deore XT cassette and Deeore XT long cage derailleur; you'll still have a good high gear and triple-like low gear, you will lose some fine differences between higher gear cogs but still have a lot of usable gears with a quieter, lower-maintianance drive train.

Thats a lot of crap to do,just get a fricken triple and forget about it.

I got a triple on my ultegra roadbike and i've had a few problems with it. I so rarely use the granny gear that I feel i'd rather have got a 52/39 with 12/27 rather than my current 52/39/30 12/25. Next time I change casettes or front cogs, I think I might either upgrade the 52 to a 53 and the 30 maybe a 34 or so (if that's possible) or maybe change the casette to an 11/23.

I think my problems however are not typical or triples in general, and if you're not racing or anything then it's probably better to have the option of the triple. Personally next time though I'd get a double, each to their own though.

triple? it is good to have more options when you are climbing steep grades and/or when you're really tired. Personally I have never tried a triple since... I use a double 52-46... I have a 11-23 rear.. And, i would love a triple but still am hesitant--the look factor.. and


[i]The downsides to the triple are that it's slightly more weight (if you care about that sort of thing), increases the Q-factour and doesn't shift quite as smoothly as a double [/B]

We do have a lot of climbs here but I can still manage with my current setup..
But when i cannot pedal more than 60rpm anymore(i maintain 90-100rpm), that is a sign to turn back... And this happens more often now than 5yrs ago(i was 50lbs lighter then)... that is why i need a triple

I must be doing something wrong because i never shift from the middle front cog.I only need to shift from the cassette.Does that mean i could get by with a double?

Originally posted by shokhead
I must be doing something wrong because i never shift from the middle front cog.I only need to shift from the cassette.Does that mean i could get by with a double? It sounds like you could get by with a single. ;)

Copperskier,

Since you say you want the bike for workouts and distances for FUN, I would recommend going with the triple. Since it doesn't sound as if you're going to be using the bike for racing, I don't think the extra weight (1/4 lb.) will be noticeable. I also agree with what mrfix said about using a tightly spaced cassette. That gives you good cruising gears for group rides as well as low gears for hills. If the bike fits, stick with the triple.

SteveE