Gerry221

I currently have as one of my bikes, a Ridley Aedon 605A. I love this bike. It has a triple on the front and 8spd cassette. My friend, who owned a bike shop for many years - and who tried, in vain, to get me to take up cycling for years, wish I had listened!!.....says that my bike could take a 10spd cassette and do away with the triple at the front. Fit a 2 ring. He has all the parts in his garage to do it. Shifters etc.


As a complete novice, will this be any real change to how my bike performs - or how I perform?


I have a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 which has 2 rings and 10 spd cassette. But only bought it 2nd hand as the winter was about to hit, so not really been on it much to tell any difference.


So, what is the thinking? He will do work for free, I just need to pay for parts......he is an excellent bike mechanic. I have no issues there.


I am a heavy guy, 290lbs.

02Giant 

Why?

Where and how you ride, is the triple beneficial? Loaded touring, mountain or steep hill riding, now or in your future?

andrewclaus

Ditto, why change it? Sometimes shifting a triple can be touchy, but it typically doesn't happen very often. In this case, it sounds like change for the sake of change. Also, you'll be putting on a slightly thinner chain, perhaps not the best idea with a (ahem) heavy load.

cny-bikeman

I also have a triple with an 8 speed. I have not had a single problem with the front derailleur, nor have millions of other riders. If you use the small chainring much at all here is what you will lose by switching to a "compact double", which is the only way to retain any low gears:

• You will experience a jarring difference in gear ratio when shifting between chainrings, unless you simultaneously shift 2-3 cogs in the rear.
• You will likely be riding large-large cross chain more often.
• You will lose the ability to have an easy shifting double at times you are not doing hills.
• Your front derailleur will have to cope with a 16 tooth difference when shifting, instead of around 10 teeth.
• Your lowest gear ratio will be gone, replaced by one approximately equal to your current 2nd gear.

...but you will no longer have one of those old-fashioned, sissy triples.

zacster

Before you do anything, use that Bianchi. This way you can get a sense of what works for you and what doesn't. It isn't about the number of gears as much as about the range. At 290 pounds you may need that triple for steep uphills. There have been times that I've wished I had a triple myself. OTOH, if you do mostly flat riding, the 2x10 would work better, with finer differences between the gears.

The other thing to consider though is that the Bianchi looks to be a better bike to begin with, and putting a 2x10 on the other one won't make it better than the Bianchi, so why bother?

JohnDThompson 

What benefit do you hope to gain by doing away with the triple ring in front?

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

L134 

Not to pile on, but agree it is a bad idea. What is he thinking? Easy sale of some parts sitting around in his garage.

ptempel

I also agree with the others in that there's not much point in doing the drivetrain swap. Especially since you have the Binachi Via Narone 7 which is a nice bike in its own right. Ride the Bianchi more then compare the two. Then you can decide if you like/need the triple or not.

Edit: Before you consider the swap, you need a little more research on the freehub type. If the rear hub is not Hyperglide C, then you are looking at replacing the freehub, the hub (rebuild) or the rear wheel as well. I saw this in another thread here:

10 speed cassette on 8 speed hub?

Otherwise the Ridley looks like a nice bike:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/u.../rp-prod104893

I approve of the brand choice.

SkyDog75

Yes, you'd find a significant difference. The triple crankset almost certainly has a smaller chainring than the inner ring on the double, which will give you lower gear ratios. If you make the swap and you ever find yourself struggling and straining to get up a hill, you're gonna wish you still had the triple.

The benefit of the 10-speed cassette is that it gives you more gearing choices, closer together, within your gearing range. You'd have two more gears between your top and bottom, giving you two more options to fine-tune your gearing to get your cadence exactly as fast as you feel like spinning.

Ride it! See if you prefer the gearing to the triple. But also keep in mind there can be different gearing ranges. Is it a standard double crankset (e.g. 52/39) or a compact double (e.g. 50/34), which would give you somewhat lower gearing? Are the cogs on the cassette the same size as you'd be running on the Ridley?

Personally, I've made a point to keep at least one bike with a triple in the garage. I live in a hilly area and the low gearing comes in handy sometimes.

fietsbob

#1 learn the Math of Gear ratios.. it has more significance than a 'speeds' count..










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