I'm new here, so go easy on me. I just got back into cycling after 20 years off.
I recently bought a 2011 Madone 4.7, and had it made into a triple (I know, I know). I wanted the low-gear, because I do plan to cycle in Vermont, the hills of California & possibly Europe.
My bike has the new 105 components, which I love. I didn't like the SRAM shifters when I tried them (on another bike), even after 50 miles.

Now, after about 600 miles on the new bike, I find that I rarely use the 30-28 gear (but when I do, I'm glad that it's there). I now spend most of my time in the 50t or the 39t, I don't use the 30t much. But i know that there will be a time when I'll be really glad that the low gear is there, but I don't like dealing with the front shifting of a triple.

I've thought of changing back to a 50-34, but with a SRAM 11-32 cassette (10-speed), which would give me my low gear and eliminate some overlap. I'd change the crank & cassette, and keep everything else. I know that I can change the shifters to a double (is there a link on how to do this?), and leave the long-cage RD.
If I ever wanted to, I could switch back to the triple easily.
Also, I like to tinker with mechanical things.
Could I just remove the 30t, change the 39t to a 34t and run it like that with the 11-32?
One more thing. Can a SRAM Rival mid-cage RD be shifted by 105 controls? It's just a pull or release of the cable, right?

Does this sound like a good idea?
Does anyone have better ideas?
Thanks,

Peter

If you have a 105 triple the smallest middle chainring you can use is a 38. This is because of the 130 BCD (bolt circle diameter). Compact cranksets and touring cranksets have 110 BCD and can accept chainrings down to a 34, maybe a 33.
There is no shame to using a triple. If you need it you need it, and on many mountain climbs we need it.
Mountain cassettes like the 11-32 have large ratio jumps from cog to cog. These big ratio changes cause be changes in cadence rpm which are detrimental to efficiency, especially on flat group rides when trying to match speeds with others or when riding into a stiff headwind and one gear is too low and the next one is too high. A triple crank with a closer ratio cassette will help you find the ideal cadence.

nothing wrong with a triple other than looks. i had 9 speed 105 triple setup and the shifting was more precise than my shimano 600 8 speed double.

Given that you've already got a triple, I'd stick with it rather than trying to convert it into a double and then make it back again into a low ratio climbing setup.

Like Al1943 said, very wide ratio cassettes like you might choose to use with a double are fine for climbing, but the big steps between ratios are a pain on the flat. If you only have a moderate amount of climbing and a large amount of flat riding to do then I would stick with the triple. Ironically a double and very wide ratio cassette is probably more suited to lots of climbing than to a little climbing and a lot of flat riding.

I've got a compact with a 11-28 on the back. I upgraded to it for the mountains, and already have issues matching cadence in the flats on group training rides. 11-23 was much better in the rear in that regard. =/

Even though that 28tooth has been a life safer climbing the Appalachians... which I do on a lot of weekend excursions. A MTB cassette would make all other riding miserable, IMO. Don't do it.

Dunno about mixing shimano/SRAM shifters/derailleurs. Indexing distances might be different, the pull ratio for how much each shifter moves the cables vs. how far the derailleur moves... i wouldn't try it.

If you're not racing, you can switch to an MTB 42-32-22 crankset and an MTB alpine 11-34 cog for the hills. The differences in terminology are marketing and you can run a triple and ultra wide gearing on a road bike.

I'd keep the triple.

You can use the triple shifters on a double. The cable throw for the outer two rings is the same on the triple as on a double. You'd need a new crank and a double front derailleur.

You can't mix and match Sram and Shimano rear derailleurs and shifters. SRAM uses a longer cable throw. You can mix front derailleurs (except the new 7900/6700 ones which use a different cable throw from older Shimano parts).

But if you want the low gears I'd keep the triple. It's ok to not use the small ring most of the time. If you don't like the shifting, try tuning it. Cables stretch on new bikes and often need adjustment. Most shops offer a free post-purchase tuneup. You can get your wheels trued then too, and that will make them live longer.

i have the new sram apex, its very good, many here have said wide range this and that....even tho the jump is notisable, you get used to it, i like it.

now you, should ride your group to the ground! plus sram shimano mix wont work properly.