velocipedio

and have no performance penalties relative to doubles...

why is it that the vast majority of the people who use them are over fifty or overweight?
why don't all road bikes come equipped with them as standard equipment?
why can't you use the standard-equipment [short cage] rear derailleur with them?
why is it news and occasion for amazement on those very rare occasions when a pro uses one?

Smokey

Who said triples were so great??

Rowan

I think I recall seeing TdF riders with triples. I might be wrong. But I think I saw them. Which, if I did, stuffs your questions one through four. You can prove me wrong if you like.

There's a guy called Jobst Brandt who disses anyone, so I am informed, who has a triple. But then, I can track posts of people who have followed the double mantra and have serious knee complaints.

Triples aren't needed by everyone. Neither are doubles. And if you really want to get serious, there are fixed gear riders who would embarrass most by riding up hills that even triple riders would have trouble negotiating (admittedly, most of these FG riders would be from the UK or Europe).

The problem I have with the double-only preachers is that they try to force inexperienced riders into their culture... and their prey ends up with injuries that put them out of cycling possibly forever.

Road cycling is not just race cycling...

Corsaire

Obviously you've never ridden a 9% 7 mile long steep hill.
Ahhh! inmaturity.....
Corsaire

velocipedio

rowan... triples are used on very, very, very rare occasions in pro racing. never in the tour. roberto heras use a triple on the last 4 km of the angliru in the vuelta a few years back, but only to negotiate a 24% slope. phil and paul expressed amazement, prompting the question: "why is it news and occasion for amazement on those very rare occasions when a pro uses one?" that kinda stuffs yer whole post, doesn't it?

not at all. triples are appropriate for old and out of shape people [see question 1]. it is a compromose, a kludge that gets them on the bike. if a 17 year-old kid gets into the sport, the person who points him at a triple should be stranded on a small flat island with a unicycle.

LordOpie

You don't have to insult another product to validate what you ride. You enjoy your bike now, ya hear.

Jakey

You can use a short cage derailer on a triple. With a record crank and (I forget the gear combination).

I've seen it done, and it works just fine.

velocipedio

in fact, i have. in 39x21 and 39x23.
no. i think you mean "ahhh! youth..."

sydney

You can, so no troll points for this one.

sydney

All my triples have a short cage. I also have doubles,compacts and ain't fat or out of shape either.

velocipedio

"vast majority." not all.

55/Rad

A mature youth would know that this is an ongoing, debatable and extemely subjective topic and wouldn't purposely fuel the flame just to get a rise out of people.

55/Rad

Retro Grouch 

Maybe you just have to have lived long enough to have developed your good sense before you can see the wisdom of a triple crankset.

Jakey

Yeah, like being able to spin up steep hills, saving your knees for when your sixty and still want to ride...

Corsaire

...and let me add Rad: post a thread just to make himself feel good, now that's I-N-M-A-T-U-R-I-T-Y.

Retro Grouch 

Uh - Sixty isn't as old as it used to be.

nimmosa

look answer in this link ===> www.sdreal_tripes.e_woble.bikeres.com

velocipedio

cycling is about suffering. triples are about avoiding suffering. if you don't want to suffer, take up darts.

sydney

Especially once you are in the club...EH?

sydney

Maybe if you are a pro.

pacesetter

I do steeper and longer mostly in the 53. if you need a granny gear, ride more.

snowy

Wait a minute, I have a triple on my bike, that is how the bike came. Do I care NO!!! I wouldn't call myself an inexperienced rider either. I have been mountain biking for years and just recently took up road biking. I'm not old either, unless now days 30 is old. Also, I'm not out of shape. So why generalized something like this??

Corsaire

Because this is an "enlarger" post. A thread posted to brag about his double to compensate for other insecurities & most of all defficiencies (right there bro) where lacks it...you know what I mean....

Corsaire

55/Rad

To the Pro racer, cycling is about suffering and using the experience to get better at their craft. To the wannabe poser, cycling is about suffering and using the experience to tell everybody else how things should be.

Go do some more suffering.

55/Rad

velocipedio

interesting analogy...

here's mine: triples are the viagra of cycling. if you need it, you need it.