Road Cycling - How hard to switch from triple to double?

I'm looking at some bikes on bikesdirect and talking to a few people about gently used bikes, and almost all of these bikes have triples in front. If I switched to a double, would I have to change shifters, or would I merely have a ghost click in the shifter, or would the shifter spacing be inadequate to work with a double? We're generally talking 105 or Ultegra parts.

A few years back I changed my RSX triple to a 100 double, and have ever since used a downtube on the left side because the spacing on the RSX left STI was too narrow - I'd only get three of my seven gears without grinding.

So would this be the problem again? i have a feeling I just need to buy a double . . .

Any help appreciated

I'm looking at some bikes on bikesdirect and talking to a few people about gently used bikes, and almost all of these bikes have triples in front. If I switched to a double, would I have to change shifters, or would I merely have a ghost click in the shifter, or would the shifter spacing be inadequate to work with a double? We're generally talking 105 or Ultegra parts.

A few years back I changed my RSX triple to a 100 double, and have ever since used a downtube on the left side because the spacing on the RSX left STI was too narrow - I'd only get three of my seven gears without grinding.

So would this be the problem again? i have a feeling I just need to buy a double . . .

Any help appreciated

Buy the double. I have switched a triple...but it was with downtube shifters...STI is another game

Your asking about buying a triple and then doing the change over to double for Shimano parts then no you do not have to change the brakes/shift levers. They will work with either set-up. However along with the crank, you will also have to swap out the BB, the front and rear derailluers. I've said this before and speaking strictly from experience, no amount of tinkering in the world will get it to work properly without changing over all of those components. There are other threads on this topic do a search and you'll find them.

why change the triple to a double?

Because, depending on where you live and your riding style, a tripple is useless.
I find that the extra ring tends to create more noise/run on the front deraileur. Doubles also tend to shift smoother.

My second bike is a triple, and I would like to change it to a double. If you're concerned about hills, get a 12-26 cassette. Unless you're doing double digit grades for miles at a time, I can't imagine why you would need anything more.

can't somebody with a triple just do that thing where they lock out the little ring? i heard folks at my LBS talking about that like it was a simple adjustment.

can't somebody with a triple just do that thing where they lock out the little ring? i heard folks at my LBS talking about that like it was a simple adjustment.

Or you could just not use it but then you wont look like a pro jock. :D

It is. You just turn the limit screw on the front derailluer until it no longer drops into the granny. Easy. However, your chainline isn't that great especially when in some cases some cross chaining occurs, big ring big cog (don't rag on me for that I saw LA do it a couple times in the tour!). I ran my old triple set up last year like that. However the idea of having something there that I wasn't using plus the inefficiency of the set up made me want to switch. So I did and I'm happy with it. It's a matter of personal preference. I don't see the big deal about the arguement for either really, run a triple or double. I'm not here to judge anyone.

...big ring big cog...I saw LA do it a couple times in the tour!
Yeah, but he did that when he was preparing for the stage-end sprint. I'm not really sure why the other riders don't do that.

My point about this thread and swapping to a double is simple... unless you really love the frame, why not just keep looking until you find the double you want. Seems like it's more expensive and time consuming to buy a triple and convert it. It's not like he already has the bike.

I switched a sora triple to some cheap campy double a couple of months ago with no problems.