Originally Posted by
BTinNYC
Enter some of the drivetrain options into Sheldon's gear calculator. It helps visualize the details of gaps/overlaps of different gearing options.
It's no road test, but a big step up from feelings or guesses.
This!
When I went looking for a new bike in 2018 I wanted a gear inch range of about 30 to 90 for a hybrid or comfort bike. I also wanted to keep increments between gears of 10 - 20% depending on the range with the smaller increments on the higher gears. Ideally with a single chainring. I like the cleaner look and lower maintenance. As it turned out the bike I wanted came with a triple chainring.
It doesn't matter to me whether I have 1, 2, or 3 chainrings if they meet the criteria above, I can make them all work. Each has advantages. Once you discover them, you will appreciate what each setup has to offer. I love my 28/38/48 triple crankset, And would probably be just as happy with a single chaining that meets my needs.