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Triple crankset as a double?

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Old 07-25-09, 02:38 PM
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Triple crankset as a double?

So i currently have a compact crankset, but want different gearing for touring. Have 105 FD, ultegra short cage RD, 10sp cassette.... Is it possible to buy a triple road, and just take off the biggest ring, and use the middle and inner... As to not have to buy a triple FD and a long cage RD?
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Old 07-25-09, 03:32 PM
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Triple road cranks are free?
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Old 07-25-09, 09:09 PM
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In order to change from a double to a triple crankset, you will also nee to change the bottom bracket as the axle length will be too short for a triple.

Why not just change the chain rings on your double to the ones you want?

The reason you would need a long cage RD is not because you have a triple crankset, but because of the smallest chain ring. The long cage takes up the slack when you are on the small ring. As a double does not have such a small chainring, you do not need a long cage derailleur.
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Old 07-25-09, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by w98seeng
Why not just change the chain rings on your double to the ones you want?
+1, a very simple solution, and probably the only real adjustments would be the FD. Two chainrings would run you only about 50-60 bucks.
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Old 07-25-09, 10:43 PM
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reason to not change the rings is cuz the smallest you can get in 110bcd is 34, and i was thinking about getting a old trekkin/touring crankset that comes with a 26 or so.....

I understand the need for the long cage to take up slack, thats why i was wondering if i rocked only the two rings, i could use the short cuz i would just use a shorter chain, as i wouldn't need the extra slack for the largest ring.

As to the BB i figured that, though how much of a difference would i need from the recomended BB if i were to only use the middle and inner?
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Old 07-26-09, 05:08 AM
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You won't need to change your BB if it is an external bearing BB - just get a brand of crankset that works with the BB.

I run a triple as a double on two bikes. On my road/racing bike I have 28/46 rings, and on my tourer/commuter I have 26/42. On the second bike, I mounted a chainguard (by Salsa) in the outside position, but on the first bike the outer position is empty. If you want to leave the outer position empty then you will need to get a set of shorter chainring mounting bolts or use the stock one with some (possibly modified) washers as spacers.

I call this a "super compact" crankset. It yields excellent gearing combinations; I can stay in the larger ring most of the time and not worry about front shifts until I get to a decent incline. The gear combos are very similar to the old 'half-step-plus-granny' gearing that a lot of people used to use when they only had 5 or 6 speeds on the rear cassette. Having 10 cogs back there now negates the need for the extra half-step chainring.
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