Commuting - Third chainring for commuting?

Hello,

How important do you think a third (smaller) chainring is for commuting? I've got a LeMond Poprad on order and was considering getting a third chainring put on but am starting to wonder how much I'd use it and if it's worth the money.

Thanks.

How many hills/how steep do you encounter? If not many, then I wouldn't think it would be neccesary.

It also depends on the state of your legs and knees. If they are both good you probably dont need a third ring

It seems like I am always going up or down a hill but most of them aren't that steep. I'm kind of worried about coming home from the St. Paul farmer's market with a load of goodies though. It's uphill almost the whole way (about 10 miles).

If you're going to be carying weight you may want a triple depending on the hills in your area. The poprad comes stock 12-25 cassette which is not really a big hill climbing set

One more thing, do you do other types of cycling like racing for instance? If so, make commuting a training ride!That's what I do and it works!

If your in dought, get the triple. Its better to have it and not use it, than to need it and not have it.

I would add the granny if you had to walk it up any of your hills during a commute.

If your problem is that intense burning sensation in your thighs, I haven't found a cure for that yet. The price you pay for that sweet downhill that follows ...

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!

I have two thoughts. First, evaluate your route. If its flat, you probably don't need the granny ring. If it is hilly, you will probably appreciate having it. However, a compramize may be to swap cassettes on the new bike. Your LBS may do that for free on a new bike and you could get a bit more spread in the gears on the cassette. See the following link for a chart of Shimano cassettes---obviously you want to stick with 9 speed:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

Hello,

How important do you think a third (smaller) chainring is for commuting? I've got a LeMond Poprad on order and was considering getting a third chainring put on but am starting to wonder how much I'd use it and if it's worth the money.

Thanks.
Funny you should ask. My commuting bike has three rings and my commute several "good" hills. I'm going to be trying a double.

How important do you think a third (smaller) chainring is for commuting?

Let's get real here...53 is more than enough for normal commuting. Why would you want anything larger? :D

ttfn,
Tom

my bike has only a 39 and 52 up front.. and it's several sizes too small for me (the real commuter is in the shop) and i've been doin fine for a few weeks... my but is sore though... damn seat! :mad:

The older you get, the more you appreciate a triple on steep grades but some of my older double crank bikes have 14-34 freewheel cogs & they are pretty good at climbing hills so you might be able to get by with a 38-48 double & a 13-29 casette.

Ride the bike. If you can't find a low enough gear on your current setup. or you find you often have to get off and walk, consider a triple or a wider range cassette in back.

The advice of people who don't know you, your bike, your route, your riding, your loads, etc. is of little value.

The advice of people who don't know you, your bike, your route, your riding, your loads, etc. is of little value.

You never know, maybe some of us know nothings gave some food for thought. Seemed like a reasonable question to me and some good answers to think about.

Hello,

How important do you think a third (smaller) chainring is for commuting? I've got a LeMond Poprad on order and was considering getting a third chainring put on but am starting to wonder how much I'd use it and if it's worth the money.

Thanks.

Golly...did you edit your post to include (smaller) above? I was enticed with the idea of getting a triple for my Trek 5200, and then I thought...but why? The 38/53 with a 21-12 seems to take hills fairly easily, but you do stand if you don't drop it down in to the small/big combo. GRANTED, I don't ride the alps with this set-up, but I have two largish hills (8-10%) on my commute, and they are easily taken, even if not always in the big ring... ;)

If you're going to tour, go for the triple...maybe I'm just a retrogrouch... :rolleyes:

Good luck,
Tom