Originally Posted by
pacificcyclist
It's interesting when you and some others in this forum made comments that my pattern jumps are huge. But did you guys know that touring bikes with 7 speed system 13-34 with a triple 46/36/24 that were sold many years back with some of the best brand names had 21 gears and the spread is the same as my current 2x10? I toured with that for many years on a Shimano RSX system both on my past Norco Alteres and my past Bike Friday New World Tourist. I'm sure some of you had toured with a 21 speed system yourself. Don't you find those big jumps impeding your touring pleasure?
Go run the chart. A 46/36/24 does nave the same range. No argument. But you seem to keep missing the spread. A 46/36/24 has a 28% difference between the outer and middle ring. It has a 50% jump between the middle and inner ring. That 50% jump is highly noticeable when you shift. I find that I have to speed up my cadence significantly when I change to the inner ring. But, since I usually do it when I'm starting a climb, the bike slows quickly and my cadence comes down to a more comfortable rate.
But for a 45/28, there is a 60% difference between the two rings. You also commented above that
Originally Posted by
pacificcyclist
Yes, I have thought of half stepping with a triple and was something I had done in the past. I found that in order to get 7 more gears, you would have to double shift often using your front derailleur and rear.
With the pattern of the compact double you are using, you have not just a double shift to smooth the transition from ring to ring but you have do a shift off the outer ring
and shift the rear 3 times to get to a gear that isn't 60% different from the one you were in. For example, say you were riding in the 45/24 combination (a 51" gear) and you had to downshift. You could drop straight to the inner ring and you'll be riding in a 31.5" gear. The next gear closest to the 45/24 combination is the 28/17 or 3 upshifts. On the other hand, with the 46/36/24 7 speed, you could be riding along in a similar gear of 46/24 (52" gear). If you shift off the outer ring to the middle ring, you end up in a 41" gear. It might not be the best gear but it's not a 60% change. The change is smoother without double shifting.
I have no problem with you riding whatever you want. But you can't just look at the overall range of the cranks and say that they are just the same. The math just doesn't support that statement.