53-11 alltheway

What are you're experiences with a triple? I have never owned one.

How is the front shifting? I don't need low gearing, but would like some extra versatility in my bike. Right now I have a 53-39 double with 11-23 gears. I was thinking of a triple with 11-21 cassette. That should let me keep my beloved top gear without sacrificing versatilty.

What do you think I'll notice when I get the triple.? What suprises...as far as maintence. It seems like a win-win situation.

The only thing I don't like about the triple is the looks!!!!

LordOpie

I'd rather sacrafice the shifting of a triple for a tighter cassette.

Why don't you just get a compact double with the 11-21?

pgreene

i have one (until i get my new bike, anyway). i've never been really crazy about it, because i don't like to use the granny ring. it's too complicated for me to downshift in the back while upshifting the front to avoid that inevitable spinout that occurs when dropping from the middle to the granny. that, and the middle ring being bigger than the "little" ring on a double means i'm always pushing a bigger gear than everyone i'm riding with. that, and it looks bad, i.m.o. but it's totally a personal preference thing, and even more, a personality thing. i'm too vain to have a triple any more. many here scoff at that, which is, of course, their constitutional (ok, not constitutional, but you get the point) right so to do. but if it seems like a win-win to you, it is. buy away! i would suggest getting the standard gearing, just with a 30 granny, though. 53/39/30 or so, rather than the 52/40someodd/30 that comes with most triples.

Trek Rider

I'm thinking he wants the 53-11.

53-11 alltheway

THe granny gear is too small to be useful with a standard cassette. that's why I'm either going to beef mine up to 34 and/or shorten my biggest cassette gear to 21.

Besides that is there anything really wrong with the triple mechanism? I'm having a hard time understanding why people hate triples except for the fact that 30 granny gear is way too low.

Yes I really want to keep my top end gears.....but after 80 miles or so of "ambitious" riding my legs get a little tired and I hate climbing with a 39-23 as my only option after I've been fighting a headwind off and on.

Haven't you guys ever gotten carried away with one of your rides only to realize you are 40 miles away from your car and starting to feel some fatigue come about?

My sin is I like to go very fast!!!!!!!!!!! I just love doing it!!!!!!

LordOpie

what about just swapping the 39 for a 34 on the current cranks?

Trek Rider

The smallest 130 BCD ring I've seen has 38 teeth, Not much of a change.

53-11 alltheway

I've got a standard shimano 105 130mm BCD crankset....smallest I can go is 38. If I had a 110mm BCD double I could go to 33 as my smallest!!!

rj987652003

I don't own a triple....I've got an old 116 BCD camp double. I'll agree that the shifts from 36 to 52 seem too big sometimes. The downshifts can be tricky too.

I've also got a 42 ring that I don't use because I need the lower gearing for my 6 speed 13-22 freewheel. It would be nice to have a triple with all three rings!!!!

16 tooth difference between chainrings is not good for shifting. I would imagine a triple would shift better as tooth jump isn't so big.

sydney

37 for a 130 BCD. www.chainrings.com

bmph8ter

My experience has been that when I've needed it, it's been there. It may mean I'm a wuss, but that's OK. I believe my wife says "I'd rather pedal and puke than walk a bike". I've noticed no additional maintence and when I swing the lever(s) it shifts. This is on a 2004 Felt F50 if it matters.

SteveE

Hey 53-11,

I've got a Campy Racing-T (30/42/52 x 13-26) setup on my bike and haven't had any issues with it. Oh, I may have dropped the chain off the inside a handful of times over the4 past 4 years but that's about it. From what I've heard, I woudn't recommend a Shimano triple because the shifter for the front der. doesn't give enough positions to tweak the cage to prevent chain rub. I'm thinking about going to possibly a 12-23 or 11-21 on the back to get closer steps.

roadfix

The only thing I can add is that triple ring shifting is so much more pleasurable and precise with conventional friction shifters. You'll rarely drop your chain.

George

53-11 alltheway

That's exactly what I'm worried about...something goofy like not being able to tweak the STI or the front derailler with Shimano to prevent chain rub!!!!

See I like the simplicity of the double, but don't like the fact I can't run a 11-21 cassette in the hilly region I live in (S.F. Bay Area)

Hmm.....maybe I'll have to get campy for a triple (friction front shifting like "fixer" said) to achieve my goals

53-11 alltheway

AS far as chain dropping goes...I think that would be less risky with a 34 instead of 30 ring. Damn this triple idea if it's plagued with mechanical bugs!!!!

outashape

I don't know the technical terms but my bike is smaller so the drive train ? chainstay? whater is smaller and with a triple, I seem to get a "slipping" in my favorite gears. It is not a derailer adjustment or worn cassette, chain or cranks. (They have all be replaced) I've been told by several mechanics that it is the combination of a small bike with a triple.

fujibike

I had a double on an old Moto and went to a triple when my bike was wrecked. If I had it to do over again (and I will someday when finances allow) I will go with a double. My reasoning is I can count the times on one hand that I've used the granny gear on my triple, and a double the standard small ring is usally 39 vs the middle ring of the triple being 43. With a 12/25(?) on the rear the 39 cr will offer me a slightly lower gearing than the 43 offers me now. Having said all this I'll probably end up getting a new bike and moving to the mountains.....

khuon

Triple chainrings on my Shimano equipped MTB shifts like a dream... easpecially with the differential plate front derailleur which is unique to the FD-M952. However, triples on every Shimano equipped roadbike I've ever tried has been rather lackluster. If I ever go to a triple, it will be on Campy because among other things, you can trim with more positions and you can do it in both directions. Roadbikes with their short chainstays and larger chainrings can pose enough of a challenge with a double and large number of rear cogs. Throw a triple in up there and it just gets more difficult to get smooth reliable front shifting.

Bart5657

I have a triple, and like pgreene said you do have to be careful when shifting to the granny or the chain will spinout. This may sound like a stupid question but what exactly do they mean by 52Ax42Sx30S ?

Dave719

I have a triple for the low gears. I actually like big gears, but have learned to spin more for my knees sake and to emphasize aerobic conditioning. If I didn't have the mountains around here (or if I were in better shape?) I would get a double. Chain rub is a pain and shifting the front reminds me of my mountain bike. BTW, I have an Ultegra Triple 52/42/30 (wonder how the DuraAce 53/39/30 is?). The q factor might be something to think about depending on your leg length/biomechanics. I just remember long ago when I had a double how smooth and efficient front shifting was (friction downtube shifters). Some day I might try a compact double.

Dave

JBehrmann

I have over 1k on my triple right now, I have used the granny exactly zero times. My next purchase will definately be a double

cycleprincess

I'm glad I have a tripple. The other day I was on this wicked hill (not a mountain mind you ) and dropped to my granny gear. Holy moly...I was STILL only going 4.5 mph and I kept hitting that shifter hoping another gear would appear!! And I'm in TEXAS...so I can't imagine living somewhere where there are respectable mountains and not having a tripple. I talked to a fella at my LBS about a compact double and he said I'd only loose my two lowest gears, so that's an option. I have heard that if your bike isn't stock with a compact double that the shifting may be less smooth simply because that wasn't the intended configuration on that bike. Whatever that means. Even still, that hill...mercy.

zensuit

I switched to a compact double, but kept the 26-13 on the back...I don't miss the granny gear at all, but there are a few walls that have to be climbed standing up...and here in Chattanooga, we've got plenty o' hills!

pjuarez

I too have a triple (52/42/26) with an 11-30 8-speed cassette. I got one of those Third Eye chain watchers which keep the chain from falling off when shifting to the granny.

boze

i have an Ultegra triple setup on my big steel Viner Comp. i use the granny at least once per ride really - i just always need to spin up hills of any real size and i'm not trying to do anything rough to my knees which are one of the few joints that _hasn't been ****up from overuse.

that said, i'm really not impressed with how well it shifts - front or back. i've been told by the mechanic (who is quite reliable and has begun building custom frames recently) that that's as good as i can expect, but still - the rear der feels like theres just a bit too much time when i downshift and the front seems just a bit too noisy when i'm at either end of my cassette and on the middle ring. the trim shift on the front der makes it quiet when it's on the bike stand but when you're actually out on it you can always here something and i think that's just plain wack for a high end group.

oh, and i do like that because of the triple i can run an 11-21 - there's no frickin way i'd be able to push that on a double no matter where i lived.