Double vs Triple and Wrench Science
#1
Spinmeister
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tempe,AZ
Posts: 623
Bikes: Scattante Carbon, Full Ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Double vs Triple and Wrench Science
I might be looking to get a new bike and am wondering whether a double or a triple would be appropriate. I ride a triple right now, 32/42/52 I think, havent gone into the small ring once and Ive had it since feb. Not even on the hills around here in N. Va. I go to school out in AZ so dont have to worry about hills period there really. Even if I do encounter hills, wont a 39 ring be easier than the 42 I push up hills? Also, I did the wrench science measurement program. I was just wondering if anyone has found that to be pretty good in terms of measurements or if it is way off? good starting point? Im going to test ride the bike, if I seriously consider it, but I would like a starting point for frame size.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,652
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The wrench science is a good starting point, but not the end all of getting the correct size for a bike. It uses common formulas to figure out the bike sizing, but this does not work for everyone. Go for a double if you don't use the granny Honestly the weight savings is very little when going double, and then you dont' have that granny gear if you ever need it in the future, but does provide a bit smoother shifting. Basicaly a trade off you have to figure out what is more important to you, ability to use it in the future (which you might never need), or smoother shifting and a slight weight savings.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,601
Bikes: Mercier Corvus (commuter), Fila Taos (MTB), Trek 660(Got frame for free and put my LeMans Centurian components on it)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I regularly use my small ring climbing the hills in the east valley (Arizona). I also understand that fountain hills has some pretty brutal hills. Try climbing to the radio towers on south mountain before you decide to drop the little ring! My knees can't take the stress of mashing the big gears up that hill (and last time I climbed it I passed several people with two chainrings who had to stop). Just a thought. I for one prefer the versatility of three.
__________________
Sunrise saturday,
I was biking the backroads,
lost in the moment.
Sunrise saturday,
I was biking the backroads,
lost in the moment.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,049
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can just unbolt the Inner ring and you've got a double without spending any money on a new BB. Reset the stop on your derailleur. You might also be able to buy a 39 or 40 tooth CR to replace your 42. Any LBS can get a replacement ring if they don't have one in stock.
BTW, I like the poem. Yours?
BTW, I like the poem. Yours?
__________________
ljbike
ljbike
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,794
Bikes: litespeed, cannondale
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have been on tours in the rockies that involve climbing passes with miles of pretty steep grades. A lot of the riders gut it out in double chain rings. I suppose they get by in 39X28.
Personally, I much prefer to sit and spin so I find a triple to be very nice in that situation. The amusing thing is that I can be in a really low gear and keep up with the guys in the doubles because my RPMS are much higher.
I don't know if they do that because they like climbing that way or if it is just an affectation.
I think triples have a slight disadvantage over doubles. I think doubles have slightly better shifting. But the difference is not that big.
Personally, I much prefer to sit and spin so I find a triple to be very nice in that situation. The amusing thing is that I can be in a really low gear and keep up with the guys in the doubles because my RPMS are much higher.
I don't know if they do that because they like climbing that way or if it is just an affectation.
I think triples have a slight disadvantage over doubles. I think doubles have slightly better shifting. But the difference is not that big.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 7,481
Bikes: Too many to list!
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally posted by Pat
Personally, I much prefer to sit and spin so I find a triple to be very nice in that situation.
Personally, I much prefer to sit and spin so I find a triple to be very nice in that situation.
#7
Banned.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: western Washington
Posts: 293
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If your bike is Shimano equipped you can use a mountain bike cassette and rear derailleur with ANY of their 9-speed road groups--something like 38/48 chainrings and a 12-34 cassette is quieter running and better shifting than a triple for those of us who need the low gears.
#8
Raptobike Rider
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Woodinville, WA
Posts: 399
Bikes: Raptobike Lowracer, Redline Conquest CX, Cruzbike Vendetta
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I use the configuration that oscaregg mentions. 38/48 front and 11-34 in the rear. It is brand new (3 days) but it has been working great. I will let you know after I try it out on the local big hills.
I do prefer the double for the clean shifting. I have had problems with my triples.
-Duncan
I do prefer the double for the clean shifting. I have had problems with my triples.
-Duncan
__________________
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
#9
0^0
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 4,056
Bikes: Redline Monocog,Surly Crosscheck, Lemond Reno
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The problem with Wrench Science is that they have such cool ads at various websites, but when you go the the actual wrenchscience website, you are left hanging(hehe)..Very frustrating.
I've got a triple and I hate it. It's a freakin pain in the booty to get the front der adjusted so that there is no rubbing in any gear, and then, because of the extra width, you get more severe cross-chaining. I say go double and get a cassette to compensate.
Also, weight savings. With triple, you have an extra ring, extra lugs on the crank set, and a long cage rear der.
I've got a triple and I hate it. It's a freakin pain in the booty to get the front der adjusted so that there is no rubbing in any gear, and then, because of the extra width, you get more severe cross-chaining. I say go double and get a cassette to compensate.
Also, weight savings. With triple, you have an extra ring, extra lugs on the crank set, and a long cage rear der.
__________________
Booyah!!
Booyah!!
#10
Spinmeister
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tempe,AZ
Posts: 623
Bikes: Scattante Carbon, Full Ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, the quote isnt mine, its scott martins, whoever that is. I found it on some website. I dont plan on tackling the rockies any time soon and Ive been 'gutting' it out in my triple but staying in my middle ring. Has anyone gone from a triple setup like I have to a double, like 39/52? Im just trying to figure out how much of a difference between a 42 tooth ring and a 39 tooth is.
#11
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,798
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,325 Times
in
837 Posts
Changing from a 42 to a 39 tooth chainring is about equivalent to shifting from a 26T to a 28T freewheel cog.
I know this is unusual, but I really like the close-ratio half-step-and-grannie setup I put on my Peugeot: 48-45-34 / 13-15-17-19-21-23. This gives me a 40-inch low gear (close to 39/26) with a short-cage SunTour Cyclone II derailleur. If I were using a modern 9-speed cassette, I would consider something like 46-38 / 12-26 or 48-38 / 13-26.
I regeared my 21-speed mountain bike with 48-40-24 / 13-26 and use the outer and middle rings on-road and the middle and inner rings off-road. Because of the smaller wheel diameter, this also provides a 40-inch bottom gear, excluding the grannie ring.
The big secret to getting both low gears and close ratios is to avoid wasting valuable combinations on gears over 100 gear-inches, which are suitable only for 60mph descents in the TdF. For the average cyclist, the traditional "Alpine" touring gear range of about 40 to 100 inches works very well.
I know this is unusual, but I really like the close-ratio half-step-and-grannie setup I put on my Peugeot: 48-45-34 / 13-15-17-19-21-23. This gives me a 40-inch low gear (close to 39/26) with a short-cage SunTour Cyclone II derailleur. If I were using a modern 9-speed cassette, I would consider something like 46-38 / 12-26 or 48-38 / 13-26.
I regeared my 21-speed mountain bike with 48-40-24 / 13-26 and use the outer and middle rings on-road and the middle and inner rings off-road. Because of the smaller wheel diameter, this also provides a 40-inch bottom gear, excluding the grannie ring.
The big secret to getting both low gears and close ratios is to avoid wasting valuable combinations on gears over 100 gear-inches, which are suitable only for 60mph descents in the TdF. For the average cyclist, the traditional "Alpine" touring gear range of about 40 to 100 inches works very well.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#12
Spinmeister
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tempe,AZ
Posts: 623
Bikes: Scattante Carbon, Full Ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think I would stick with a 12-25 casseste. I just dont want to get a triple 'just in case' and just end up hauling it around.