Originally Posted by
American Euchre
Most 1X road systems are being specced with a 40 something ring. Compared to a 34 or 50, there's no point in comparing the percentage. A 3, 4 or 5 tooth jump is still a large jump, whether on a 34, 42 or 50 chainring. Large gaps in gearing are appropriate and necessary in off road riding with large and swift changes in terrain. When spinning on road, not so much.
One con of triples is that at least for me, a dropped chain off the small ring seems far more likely. Chain tension drops a lot more going to a 22, 24 or even 30 ring than to a 34 or 39 small ring.
Not really. With a 34T chainring, a 5-tooth jump from 35 to 40 is 14% and a 2-tooth jump from 11 to 13 is 18%. If the steps are too small, you end up shifting constantly, and if too large, you may not have the ideal gear at times. Rohloff Speedhub 14 has a 13.6% step between gears across the entire range, and is regarded as "perfect" by many.