Road Cycling - Third chainring?

Hello,

How many of you have a triple chainring and how often do you use the smallest one? Are there any disadvantages to having one? I ask because I'm getting a LeMond poprad and have asked to shop to put a triple chainring on. I'm waiting for the parts to come in but I'm starting to wonder how much I'll use it and if it's worth the extra $100 they'll charge or if there are any disadvantages to consider?

Thanks.

Much debate has been had on this subject. Here's a recent thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=48152) regarding the contraversy of doubles vs. triples.

My LBS told me a standard shimano double with a 12/27 on the rear gets you close enough to a triple and said it would shift nicer. My other (new) bike has 12/25. As far as use, contrary to what some here think, we really DO have hills in Ohio.. lol, and personally I feel the more you ride the less you will need the granny gear. BTW,,congrats on your new ride!!!

the only 2 arguments I have heard against triple chainring are:
a) weighs more
b) Not cool....
some ppl say that real men don't use a triple.. I have one, and my new bike will a triple as well. I use it as a bailout gear, when I am tired or if I climb a hill I'm not familiar with and spend all my energy upfront.. It is good to know it is there...

Real men have 4 chainrings.

Real men have 4 chainrings.

I thought real men have no chainrings and ride unicycles. Oh wait... those are clowns. :D

the only 2 arguments I have heard against triple chainring are:
a) weighs more
b) Not cool....


There are more arguments against a triple chainring on some bikes. Did you read the other thread?

I use a triple because Heras did ;)

I use that small chainring whenever I'm climbing a serious hill, and sometimes when I'm against a heavy wind. I would never ride a bicycle without one.

I personally like my triple. $100 sounds a little steep when buying a new bike. I got mine for $45. And that was replacing a 105 front der and bottom bracket with Ultegra.

I ride in the base of the mountains every week. And all the way in the mountains fairly often. So I use mine every week.
Disadvantages are: It weighs a little more (racing consideration), it costs a little more, some people think it is not cool (racing consideration).

Advantages: pleanty of gears to choose from, your middle ring has a whole range of really usable gears, you can spin past people as they tear their knees up (not cool), you don't have to stop on that really nasty climb to puke (now, THAT'S what is not cool).

The poor shifting thing I have read about......not on my bike. I am sure that there is some compromise with the longer cage though. If you have hills in your area you may not need it. If you have mountains, that is a different story.

I have a triple, but NEVER use it as I am in Florida and its very flat here. BUT I do plan using it when I move back to NM where there are some Mountains and not hills...

you don't have to stop on that really nasty climb to puke (now, THAT'S what is not cool)

It's too bad we can't be like cats. When cats puke up a hairball, they instantly feel better... not us humans. Wouldn't it be great to just puke a little before hitting the hills and drop some of that excess weight? :D

I've had a triple for years, and I can't remember using it on purpose. I don't think my next ride will have it.

I thought real men have no chainrings and ride unicycles. Oh wait... those are clowns. :D


I passed the same guy on a unicycle twice this weekend on the way to Austin (MS 150). Both days I passed him after traveling through some particularly hilly terrain. Whether or not he actually rode that thing up the hills I'm not sure, but it sure looked like a manly thing to be doing. I wouldn't want to be doing it, for sure.

I passed the same guy on a unicycle twice this weekend on the way to Austin (MS 150). Both days I passed him after traveling through some particularly hilly terrain. Whether or not he actually rode that thing up the hills I'm not sure, but it sure looked like a manly thing to be doing. I wouldn't want to be doing it, for sure.

Yeah... I passed the unicycle guy several times during the STP (200 miles). I couldn't do it either. He actually finished not too far behind me... only like 15 mins or so. We all cheered him on everytime we saw him. "You rule, unicycle dood!" :)

On some of the local trails here, the unicycle MTB riders put us attempting all the obstacles on our dual-suspension rigs to shame. They just hop and pop right over those things while we're crashing in the bushes. :D

Hello,

How many of you have a triple chainring and how often do you use the smallest one? Are there any disadvantages to having one? I ask because I'm getting a LeMond poprad and have asked to shop to put a triple chainring on. I'm waiting for the parts to come in but I'm starting to wonder how much I'll use it and if it's worth the extra $100 they'll charge or if there are any disadvantages to consider?

Thanks.

This is one of the eternal arguments. I struggled with it for over a year, and didn't decide until I was ordering. I opted for the triple from the factory. First, it was only $30 then, and $200+ later. Second, it shifts just as well and just as smoothly as a double. Third it is a "bail out" gear. When you are struggling up a hill and think you aren't going to make it, pop it on the small ring and up you go.

On my previous bike, a Trek Navigator, I had a triple, but rarely used the smallest ring because I had an absolute MONSTER large cog.

I've had my new bike for two weeks and have used the smallest ring on almost every ride. Of course, I am taking on hills I avoided before. I couldn't do that were it not for the extra ring.

I live in the mountains of eastern Arizona. I use and wouldn't be without a triple.

Last weekend I took a 100 km ride from my home in Pinetop to Greer Junction. Total elevation difference from my house to the summit 2,000+ feet, then down about 600 feet to Greer Junction, I turned around and climbed the 600 feet back to the summit and had a fast ride home.

By the way, I used the granny a lot while climbing some of the monster grades. Every direction I ride from here, it's either up or down.

For what it's worth, this is my experience:

my used Miyata 914 came with a 7 speed cassette that ranges from 12 or 13 (i forget) to 28t. the front chainrings are 53/38. it has a 105 rear derailleur.

anyways, this bike isn't the lightest around, nor am I as light as I could/should be for my height, umm, and I'm just a girl after all, so I probably am not that buff (or at least i have a less favorable "power/weight" ratio).

but I like to climb (my regular ride includes a 4.5mi, 1500+feet climb, avg grade 8%, brief gradients up to 11%) and do centuries, and I do it all on my 14 speed quasi-clunker. luckily it came with the aforementioned gear ratio, and I have found it to be absolutely adequate for my needs.

that being said, though, my feelings on triples are like, well, why not? and the only reason I wouldn't use it if I had a good opportunity to upgrade is just that I feel like I would spend more time and mental energy fiddling and futzing around, trimming to minimize chain rub, yaddayadda. I guess what I mean is I feel like the double setup I have is just really simplified. a triple would be a little more convoluted.

thats all

I'm building a new bike with a compact crankset, 48/34 with a 12x25 cogs, is that low enough?

I'm building a new bike with a compact crankset, 48/34 with a 12x25 cogs, is that low enough?

That sounds like a good set to me
Depends what your 'fitness level' is
34 might be a little high for me, but probably just right for most Roadies. ;)

I'm building a new bike with a compact crankset, 48/34 with a 12x25 cogs, is that low enough?

Low enough for what?? 34 is pretty low for a road bike. On a road rig I'd think you'd spend a large majority of your time on the big ring.

Low enough for what?? 34 is pretty low for a road bike. On a road rig I'd think you'd spend a large majority of your time on the big ring.Fogrider lives in San Francisco. Maybe he's planning on doing hill repeats on this street:

Fogrider lives in San Francisco. Maybe he's planning on doing hill repeats on this street:

In that case it's perfect!! :lol:

I have a triple on my bike because entry level road bikes all seems to come with them and thats all i could afford. Ive only used the smallest ring two or three times but i feel if the middle ring was a 39 not a 42 i may not have had to use them those times. the best thing to do is ride a bike that has a double and one with a triple setup...if you are planning on buying from your lbs maybe they'll let you give it a shot....

Hello,

How many of you have a triple chainring and how often do you use the smallest one? Are there any disadvantages to having one? I ask because I'm getting a LeMond poprad and have asked to shop to put a triple chainring on. I'm waiting for the parts to come in but I'm starting to wonder how much I'll use it and if it's worth the extra $100 they'll charge or if there are any disadvantages to consider?

Thanks.

I recently went to a triple on my new bike. I find that I don't use the smallest ring very oftern even though all of my riding is in the hills of the East Bay across from San Francisco. However, I like it very much for two reasons. First, using a standard 12-25 cassette with the 42 middle ring gives me a very useful range of gears. I find myself frequently in that ring and into the larger ring only when going downhill, downwind, or on what passes for flat riding around here. Second, I know I have the smaller ring if I need it. That means I more oftern use the other low gears. Before my lowest gear was a 39-26. Not only did I save that for the 3 worst hills I know, but I very seldom used the 39-23 because I would save that as well. Consequently, I was mashing up hills killing my knees. Now that I know I have 3 gears lower than a 42-25, I use both the 42-23 and the 42-25 a lot. That, plus a much lighter carbon bike, has been a real benefit. Forget about weight and cool. However, if that bothers you, get a 50-34 compact crank and pair it with a 12-27 cassette. Your lowest gear will be only slightly higher than the standard 30-25 triple, nobody will know, and you will save on weight. But, you will miss the middle ring.

I got the poprad with the triple chainring installed. I really like the bike and find myself using the small chainring fairly often. It does shift a bit rougher going from the small to the middle but I'm glad I have it because:

It saves me from mashing the pedals going uphill before I'm warmed up.
It's nice when going uphill, against the wind
It helps me conserve energy on longer rides
Sometimes I don't have much energy or just don't want to pedal hard