Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - here's a rant

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset, I am a beast because I ride with a double"
If I had stopped growing in the 6th grade and weighed 150lbs like them I might be OK with a double, but I can't charge the steep hills of florida like them with their lightweight compact crankset with its 48-34, 12-28 gearing.
whiz on it! I'm glad I go in phases that keep me off of this forum for months at a time unless I have a technical question.

Well I don't know but all the 10,000 -12,000 ft centuries I've done have been on a standard double 39/25!:D

I don't think it matters though! I've had my *** kicked by guys on triples. I chuckle everytime this subject comes up. I once rode with a guy that bought a multimillion dollar fancy litewieght bike. We rode up thru a canyon and I waited at the top for him for quite sometime. He was so shocked that I was on a triple! I usually use my double for climing rides though only cause it's a Cannondale ans superstiff on the climbs!;)

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset, I am a beast because I ride with a double"
If I had stopped growing in the 6th grade and weighed 150lbs like them I might be OK with a double, but I can't charge the steep hills of florida like them with their lightweight compact crankset with its 48-34, 12-28 gearing.
whiz on it! I'm glad I go in phases that keep me off of this forum for months at a time unless I have a technical question.

Well...I guess I'm a ******bag too!:D
Me like the granny ring. I've only had to use it twice...but it REALLY came in handy!
3 is...of course...a Prime number.
Holy Trinity of Cranking!
Third Ring is Charm.
Three rings to make a Circus.
**** 'em if they cant take a joke!...........(3 times of course!)
:D

Where on Earth do you get the idea we hate triples here in Clyde's? I ride bikes with triples by choice, for the lain reason I like having tractor gears for climbing. I'm not a Sports Car, I'm a truck!

We actually recommend triples here.

I learned on my first tour not to make fun of any one else gear because if you do they will probably kick your butt on the road. My rule of thumb now is if its safe and isn't going to break down on you and you like to ride it it's a great bike. I ride a heavy trek 520 with a triple.

I ride a compact, but I am 2 ft above sea level and my 53/34 is all I need to handle the leg killing 110 ft bridge I ride. :p:D. Now if I was riding anywhere else, it would have been a triple.

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset <<SNIP>>

I don't know why we seem to forget those insightful words of wisdom we all learned in grade-school: "It takes one to know one."

I agree with everyone else--if it rolls, gets you moving and you enjoy riding it then it's a great bike.

I definitely like the triples, so I'm with ya there.

But, did you just say steep hills and Florida in the same sentence?

I only use 2 gears. :(

I definitely like the triples, so I'm with ya there.

But, did you just say steep hills and Florida in the same sentence?

That's called sarcasm.

Wait... why is a triple crankset considered bad?

Wait... why is a triple crankset considered bad?

The same reason riding with mountain bike shoes on a road bike is considered bad, and riding with a visor on your helmet is considered bad. Roadies, AKA 'real cyclists', don't use them.

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset, I am a beast because I ride with a double"

I think it's because they are hungry. People with that mind set would do well with a sandwich and a kick in the lycra. Like mama always said, "if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your damn mouth shut".

So if you don't mind me asking, why is the clyde section the place for your rant? Nobody likes to made fun of but if someone on the internet of all places gets to you maybe you aught to grow some thicker skin.

Roadies, AKA 'real cyclists', don't use them.

Good thing I'm content with being a fake cyclist :D.

Good thing I'm content with being a fake cyclist :D.

Me too!

I definitely like the triples, so I'm with ya there.

But, did you just say steep hills and Florida in the same sentence?

Try Mt. Dora in central Florida!

Well...I hate to admit it, but I just don't like triples. Not because I'm one of those elite roadie types, but because I chew up chains and have to dink around with the derailures too often with a triple. Hell, I barely use the smaller ring on my 52/42 vintage road bike, except for on hills over 8% grade. But that is not because I go fast, either. I just have my technique down so that I pedal below 60 rpm's with no problem (move a lot - sit, stand, forward, back, etc.).

My commuter has a triple, it is also a vintage mountain bike (1994 Cannondale M300). It is fine for commuting, but the gears drive me nuts whenever take it out on longer rides. No matter how much I adjust them, there is rubbing and grinding when the chain gets on one extreme end of the rear cassette.

It is not that I don't like the easy gears on a triple, though. The bike that I have on lay-away has a compact double, with gearing that is very comparable with most triple-cranks. But the gears are easier to adjust, work faster and cleaner, etc. That said...I almost got a triple, but got a good deal on the compact. It could have gone either way.

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)

Just smile - look them up and down and drop them :D . Seriously worry less ride more. If I worried what other people thought about me I probably wouldn't get out of bed in the morning.

Shog

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)

Compact double(34/48) to a mountain (11-32) cassette, mountain SPD shoes, helmet with a visor AND a mirror on it, and a rack mounted handlebar bag.

Threads dissing other forums are verging on crap-agitating, if you ask me. Every forum anywhere on the world wide web, this one included, has its in group and its out group, its prevailing customs and ways of getting along, so, y'know...look in the mirror, this forum isn't perfect either. People gravitate to this or that forum because of their interests and because they want to hang with like-minded people. Don't get your gel-padded bike shorts in a bunch because people on some other forum don't have minds like yours.

I ride a compact double here in Colorado. 50/34x12/27. Nothing wrong with triples at all! In fact, many many times I wish I had one! But the cost of changing over to a triple prohibits is. Much less buying a new bike...

When riding with my girlfriend, she is always telling me I need to spin instead of mash. I tell her that if I had a triple, like hers, I would! I run out of gears way to fast...LOL ;)

The same reason riding with mountain bike shoes on a road bike is considered bad, and riding with a visor on your helmet is considered bad. Roadies, AKA 'real cyclists', don't use them.

That's not true! I did a ride with a group of guys, one was RAELLY fast. He climbed the 4,000 ft climb like a goat. When I got to the top, he complimented my ride (I was in shape back then:D). I said I did ok for a rec rider knowing he was a top notch racer. I pointed out that I rode in mtb shoes, that's how serious I wasn't!

He pointed down and sure enough, he was wearing MTB shoes too!:eek:...AND I gaurantee this guy would rip a new none on 99.9% of the riders in the Road forum!:fight:

Good thing I'm content with being a fake cyclist :D.

A group of 76 clydes (almost all of us with triples) did manage to ride on average over 1319 miles last year for a total of 100288.2 miles (from spinner Saturday) under all kinds of conditions, with an average weight of over 200lbs, on bikes ranging from 35 year old heavy steel road bikes to heavy aluminum MTB's.

So I want to ask the guys who ride their plastic wonder bikes 20 miles a year after driving them around on back of the SUV, just who is the "real" cyclist again?

I just gotta say I think some of you take things spouted on the Algore tubez a little to seriously.

Just ride your bike, if you need or want a triple use it. If not that's fine as well. We'll all get where we are going in the end so at least have some fun doing it.

I use triples on my bikes.
Triples sure beat bringing up breakfast on a steep grade.

I am about to turn 65 and have been riding a triple for the last 7 years...here in Colorado...and can climb about anything...Mt Evans yearly and Estes Park to Grandby several times a year. Started riding in 1955 and could say that REAL MANLY riders go with a 48/52 front and 11-18 rear cassette and nothing less (but I won't). The poor fragile egos that have to pound their chests and look down on any other cyclist are really wannabees who are the same J***O**S that pass you and don't acknowledge your presence...Takes all kinds.

Deanster04 i hope to be like you when i grow up.

as most of you know i am loking for a new bike to replace my roadie. As a dad and family guy justification ofreplaceing the 5200 isint in the cards.

So i am bumming my wifes WSD trek 7100 step tru with flowers and triple. (how embarassing) Wiat a minute i can go to the store and not dress like i am from Belgium and and getting cooffee since i only a domestique.

Kids want to go for a ride shorts and tee not dad has to spend 20 mines getting ready.
My son can go into the woods on his bike and i can follow.

yep i am not a roadie anymore. But i am still a cycelist.
BTW Every bike i see wehre the riders are riding from here to katmandu all those bikes are triples. Yep they are not cycelist at all.

Guess i got tired of posing.

And we care what other people think because.........????

It's the internet for goodness sake - don't take what you read so seriously.
If it's mechanically safe and it works for you, then ride it and forget what other people say.

Hahahaha, I ride only doubles and ONLY because all my bikes are vintage.

They are either 10 speed, or 12 speed, with the exception of my 'modern' Rodriguez ;) .

East Hill

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)

I decorate my bike basket, and change the decor with the seasons :rolleyes:

I decorate my bike basket, and change the decor with the seasons :rolleyes:

A person after my own heart.

I decorated my saddle bag and bento box with parrot appliques and buttons. Oh, and let's not forget that I'm trying to dye my cycling shoes because they don't 'match'.
Hey - a girl's got to accessorize!! :D

The guys at my LBS are all roadies and most are either current or ex-racers; they just shake their heads at me and smile. They know that whatever keeps you happy and riding is a good thing!

I am not here to diss the roadie forum. I have noticed however that when I am out riding whether on my hybrid (the year round commuter) or my road bike (the light fun fair weather ride), I have noticed that most riders will somehow acknowledge me as we either give a slight wave with the fingers or a head nod. I have noticed that the roadier are the more likely to act like you don't exist. To each his own.


Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)

Triple - Check
Mountain SPD - Check
Polypro shirt - I buy all my shirts either on sale at Dicks or Target, so I think that matches - Check
Eyeglass mirror - Substiture in Blackburn brifter mounted mirror - Check
Camelpack - No Check

My additions:
- Handlebar bag its my man purse:D Most importantly it holds my tools, food, maps, wallet, phone, etc
- Road Morph G pump mounted on frame (swaps between hybrid and road bike)
- Wedge under seat - hold my spare tire and is big enough to hold a vest when the temps warm up
- Trek LED front light mounted on Carbon fiber front fork
- PB SuperFlash rear light on seat stem
- Helmet I bought at Target and paid less than $30. I do remove the visor... but only because it blocks my view on the road bike. It gets take off when I need the rain cover as well on bad weather days on the hybrid. Otherwise I LIKE the visor on sunny days.

My two items of roadie gear:
- Cycling shorts... because they work!
- '06 LeMond Buenos Aires road bike with lots of carbon fiber, and ultegra components. I got it because it fit well, and was a 2 year old model so the price was excellent, not because I needed flashy carbon fiber for show. I do love the bike and have greatly enjoyed the long rides.

Happy riding,
André

When someone talks about how they think there's nothing wrong with riding a triple, and then they say, "but i'd never do it", I just hear this condescending tone to it. implied or not. as if a person who is a double chainring rider is a former minor league journeyman baseball player, and tells everyone about it, and someone who was a star (triple), never mentions it. make sense. that has nothing to do with whoever just put something on here about minor league baseball. That person just said I did it, and left it at that.
I probably should just look at pictures of bikes on the internet and sparingly view these forums.

My opinion?

Guys who ride triples are the coolest because they think for themselves! Not that there aren't good reasons to choose a double, but if you choose a triple it shows that you thought things through and chose something practical despite fashion. A good mind is a guy's best feature, and you can tell the guys on the road forum I said so!

I don't know if I will ever be good enough to ride just a double. All of my bikes are triples, I don't worry about what others think. It is my life, my knees, and my ankles. I would be mashing a lot with a double.

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset, I am a beast because I ride with a double"
If I had stopped growing in the 6th grade and weighed 150lbs like them I might be OK with a double, but I can't charge the steep hills of florida like them with their lightweight compact crankset with its 48-34, 12-28 gearing.
whiz on it! I'm glad I go in phases that keep me off of this forum for months at a time unless I have a technical question.


I'd consider a bike with a double for weekend rides, since I seldom use my granny. But I'm a tourer so I always will have one bike with a good, low gear ratio. The granny on my LHT has 24 teeth, and I'd get a 22 except they won't fit on my crankset.

But I could care less what someone else uses, and to insult them or consider myself superior because of my choices, well that's just plain childish.

I just laugh at childish posing like this. Who cares! I'll ride whatever the heck I want with whatever the heck components I choose and if someone wants to categorize me because of it....what an idiot!

Hmm, I ride my Specialized Stumpy full suspension bike with a set of road wheels when I'm not off road. I also use my mountain shoes, Have a visor on my helmet and use a camelback. So What....

Had to fight my bike shop to put on a triple - and every time I climb up some huge hills I remember those conversations and am incredibly glad I stuck up for myself.

Hi dude, I'm in Longwood FL... I use the 2 biggest rings 99% of the time but there are a few hills where I use the third. Especially that I-4 bike overpass... it's a killer. Granted, sometimes I just get up the saddle and go up flying, it's doable. But at 205 pounds and after 20 years of sitting on the couch I don't always have the will.

Not to mention that I often climb the same hills with a 50 pounds trailer, a 30 ponds baby girl and a good 20 extra pounds of baby gear. All that plus bike and myself is a total of 325 pounds. Therefore I approve the ownership of triple cranksets.

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)


:lol:Even though I don't like triples, I think that I can at least match the above. All my bikes have double-sided SPD pedals, I ride with mountain SPD shoes, I have trunk-rack on the back of all of my bikes and commonly carry a BIG bag that is full of repair equipment (and my clothes for work), I have reflective tape plastered on lots of my gear (ankle and wrist bracelets, helmet, trunk bag, backs-of-shoes, etc.), 2-3 pairs of bike shorts and a couple of jerseys that I regularly wear that are well over 5 years old and look it (old logos, big holes, etc.), a little flashing red led light on the back of my helmet, another red and flashing 5-led light on my trunk bag (or jersey pocket if using a seat bag), a 1-watt light that points at automobile driver's faces instead of the road, and my standard took kit sounds like something out of a damn boyscout manual (first aid stuff, 3 ft of duct tape, 1-2 spare road tubes, 1 spair mtb tube in case someone else has a flat that I pass, a well-stocked patch-kit, mini-multi-tool with chain-breaker, tire levers, 1-2 spare chain end-links, and an extra set of batteries for my lights). Oh, and I always carry my cell phone and id and insurance information in my jersey. Fred enough for ya?

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)I have only one ring and can't coast. My bike is unknown steel. Oh the humanity.

It gets worse...

My tires and bar tape are black and red.

I wear mtb shoes and have cheap inexpensive spds. I wear sleeveless jerseys (weather permitting) and blue bike shorts and black socks -- just to piss off the roadies who think tape and shorts must be black; all socks must be white; and jerseys must have sleeves... stupid tan lines be damned.

Tho I still lend them my Road Morph when they're stuck with flats on the roadside.

Okay, so who's the biggest d-bag?

I ride with a triple, mountain SPDs, polypro running shirt, an eyeglass mirror, and a CamelBak. Who can top that? :)

OK, I'm in. I ride with a triple, flat bars. a slightly more upright position than most folks, platform pedals, MTB shoes, bike shoes that look like 'skate' or BMX shoes, or athletic shoes, a rack, lights front and back, panniers, a pink zip-tie holding a rear blinker in place, and an elevated right shoulder. Sometimes I carry a small backpack or pull a trailer. And, I commute by bike - the ultimate evil in some eyes.

EDITED: I forgot the big, big bell. It rings without prompting when I ride over rough pavement or gravel. (Thanks for reminding me, 10 Wheels.)

OK, I'm in. I ride with a triple, flat bars. a slightly more upright position than most folks, platform pedals, MTB shoes, bike shoes that look like 'skate' or BMX shoes, or athletic shoes, a rack, lights front and back, panniers, a pink zip-tie holding a rear blinker in place, and an elevated right shoulder. Sometimes I carry a small backpack or pull a trailer. And, I commute by bike - the ultimate evil in some eyes.

You left off your Ding Dong Bell.

Hmm, I think I'm pretty close on this one. I ride a mountain bike on the road, though I do use slicks. I have a mountain bike helmet complete with visor. My sweatband almost always clashes with my full Performance/Nashbar kit.

When the temperature is below 60F, I wear an older version of these with black socks.
http://bluecollarmtb.com/images/1551.jpg



When it is above 60F, I wear these.
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/acc/shoe/lake.gif

I stopped caring what other people thought a long time ago. Anyone who is out there riding deserves admiration in my opinion.

You left off your Ding Dong Bell.

Thanks for reminding me. And I do smile while I ride. I hope your dad would approve.

Here's where being 'over 50' gets nice.
I stopped worrying about impressing anyone but myself about 2 decades ago (I'm 65 now)
I run a 46/34 x 12-28 on the Paramount PDG.
Yeah, I run out of 'gear' long before the A group does but I'd have run out of 'gas' if the gearing had been different.
And, you'll find that they're usually still getting off their bikes as you roll into the lot behind them.
Decades back when preparing to do the RAAM I asked a seasoned rider for his advice.
"Where you finish is not important..only that you Finish"

:lol:Even though I don't like triples, I think that I can at least match the above. All my bikes have double-sided SPD pedals, I ride with mountain SPD shoes, I have trunk-rack on the back of all of my bikes and commonly carry a BIG bag that is full of repair equipment (and my clothes for work), I have reflective tape plastered on lots of my gear (ankle and wrist bracelets, helmet, trunk bag, backs-of-shoes, etc.), 2-3 pairs of bike shorts and a couple of jerseys that I regularly wear that are well over 5 years old and look it (old logos, big holes, etc.), a little flashing red led light on the back of my helmet, another red and flashing 5-led light on my trunk bag (or jersey pocket if using a seat bag), a 1-watt light that points at automobile driver's faces instead of the road, and my standard took kit sounds like something out of a damn boyscout manual (first aid stuff, 3 ft of duct tape, 1-2 spare road tubes, 1 spair mtb tube in case someone else has a flat that I pass, a well-stocked patch-kit, mini-multi-tool with chain-breaker, tire levers, 1-2 spare chain end-links, and an extra set of batteries for my lights). Oh, and I always carry my cell phone and id and insurance information in my jersey. Fred enough for ya?

Nothing wrong with that...in fact I'd recommend that for any cyclist. If you go any length of distance I'd go so far as to recommend the Boy Scout Ten Essentials:

http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0403/d-outs.html

I bet most of those ten items many cyclists have in their gear already.

and this is its place too.
The road bike forum seems to have many threads that basically say "you are a ******bag because you ride with a triple crankset, I am a beast because I ride with a double"
If I had stopped growing in the 6th grade and weighed 150lbs like them I might be OK with a double, but I can't charge the steep hills of florida like them with their lightweight compact crankset with its 48-34, 12-28 gearing.
whiz on it! I'm glad I go in phases that keep me off of this forum for months at a time unless I have a technical question.

I stopped reading the road bike forum completely because they're so pompus over there. I'm 135lbs and have triples on several of my bikes. I don't think weight has anything to do with it. Good luck


Tim