ShredSkelton

I have a 2004 Trek 5000 with a 53/39 in the front. Considering riding the ride the rockies tour this summer and think I may want to consider swapping in a triple because there is a good deal of climbing on this tour. So my question is: Can I just buy a new triple for the front and swap it in? It is an option on the bike when new, but I am not sure if there are any other components I need to change.

I like to climb and seek out the biggest hills around during my rides, but I don't have anything nearby that could compare with what I might find in Colorado. Anybody have any thoughts on whether I should consider a swap like this?

Grasschopper

At a min you will need a new BB (wider) the cranks (duh) and a front derailluer made for a triple. Depending on the shifters you have you may need new shifters as well (well the left one). You also need a bit of extra chain so a new chain is in order and with the new chain you may need a new rear derailluer to take up the slack of the extra chain. Simple.

sydney

Ya don't need a longer chain just because of a triple.

sydney

Consider a compact double. You could get by with just a crankset change. You could also hook that up with a shimano custom 13x30 cassette from sheldon brown, if a 27 cog isn't big enough. Otherwise, you need crank,BB FD and the RD for triple is optional.

cale

Well actually...if you want to maintain proper rear derailleur position, and you'll probably need a long cage rear derailleur to take up the slack when you're on that little chainring, you'll need more chain to accommodate the long cage rear derailleur.

Retro Grouch 

Nope, derailleur cage length isn't a factor in determining chain length. When you're in the big/big the derailleur arm extends horizontally and thkes the same amount of chain whether long or short cage.

You do need a long cage rear derailleur to take up the chain slack in the little/little combination but, if you're like me, you only use the granny chainring with the biggest 2 or 3 cogs anyway so I don't ever use that much slack take up capability.

If you also change to a bigger cassette, you'll need a longer chain to accommodate that. If you're only switching cranksets, you're probably going from a 53 big ring to a 52 big ring so you obviously don't need a longer chain for that.

ShredSkelton

Thanks for the information. This looks like it may be a little more involved/expensive than I had hoped for. Think I will probably stick with the double. Never walked yet....

Everest

Ive got the exact opposite question ive got a triple bike and in iowa we dont have many hills so i want to go double what would i need for that

ShredSkelton: If you still want to go triple maybe we could trade parts i pmed you as well so let me know

LordOpie

unless you're in great shape, used to climbing -and- have good knees... well, you better do something to help you climb.

sydney

Not really, and it all depends on how the chain is sized. if it's done big big without going thru the derailer and the big cog doesn't change then chain length doesn't change either.Doesn't matter is if it's long or short caage. One doesn't have to use a long cage with a triple either. If one does use a long cage and sizes the chain small/small going thru the derailer,then the chain probably does need to be longer.Point is it doesn't have to be.

sydney

To make it like a factory setup,you need crankset,BB FD and RD.

sydney

It does if you size the chain small/small going thru the derailer and cut chain so it doesn't doesn't drag on the cage.The C-40 method, that allows any casette the derailer is SPECED for to be used,assuming the correct RD for the application, without worrying about chain length. I would always check the big/big just to be sure tho.

ShredSkelton

I am probably going to keep my double. I don't need the triple normally....