Hendo252 

I've been contemplating a new bike, and the Specialized Roubaix is at the top of the list.

I've perused the Specialized site numerous times and could have sworn they sold them in a couple varieties of Triple front gearing.

Looking again today, and they only show "Compact" versions on their site.

A quick visit to the local Specialized dealer, and they don't show any Triple versions in their book; only compacts.

SO -- did they recently delete them from their lineup? Or am I wrong about seeing them previously?

This is a bummer for me... I really want the wider range of a triple. And converting from a 2x10 to 3x10 is likely an expensive upgrade...

-Tom in SoCal

fstshrk

If you get the Tiagra 12-30 or the SRAM 1*-32 version, I don't think you are going to need to a triple with a compact crank.
I ride a Triple setup on my touring bike, and my roubaix sl2 has an ultegra compact with an 11-28 ultegra rear. With the reduced weight of the Roubaix, it climbs a whole lot better than the touring bike (Jamis Aurora).

Unless you care about the aesthetics, I would recommend going with the externally cabled SL2 version of the Roubaix while you still can. Next year, they are going all internal.

echotraveler

get the roubaix with apex, 11-32 and a compact, no need for a triple.

Beaker

I bought a Roubaix comp triple at the end of '07. It came spec'd with 50/39/30 chainrings with a 12-27 cassette. I later switched it to a 50/34 and ran it with cassettes ranging from 12-25 to 11-28. Honestly I only sacrificed 1 gear vs the 30T granny gear. If you get a compact with a 32T cog, you'll have a lower gear than a 30x27.

HokuLoa

Stick with the double unless you have an overwhelming need for the triple. You don't miss much at all with a compact and a 28or30 rear.

avance

I have this bike, and was told they are going to a compact because rears are getting larger. With the triple you have around a 68% of overlapping versus they double which is around 17%. This is info is from my LBS.

Hendo252 

Thanks for your input everybody -- but I really do want a triple, so I'm disappointed by the change.

Assuming I wasn't imagining things... or was looking at a site for a non-USA market, etc.

-Tom in SoCal

echotraveler

avance: yeah i guess, but you also add big gaps between gears...

id say its a very versatile cassette, does everything. BUT, once you start getting stronger and faster you start to notice the jumps and NEVER get to use the 32.

i already changed to a standard crankset and haven't touched the 32...but im mostly doing plains and not many mountains. If i were to do randonee or touring this cassette would be awesome!

OP: any specific reason you want a triple? cause i bet theres MANY that would exchange you a triple for a double

Igo

but be prepared for some very wide gear spacing. I ride a 11-32 Apex.

fstshrk

That's why I went with the 11-28 Ultegra cassette.

oldbobcat

I'm usually in the shop so I just build the bikes and put 'em on the floor without thinking too much about the spec. I was showing an old guy some Madones the other day. "Where are the triples?" he asked. I didn't know. It looks like Trek is giving up on higher end triples, too.

Shoot, Madones with 105 and Ultegra triples for old guys (and gals) has been our bread and butter. And don't tell them to try Apex, double tap just feels too weird when you're 60 and you've been flipping STI for 15 years. You'll have to pry that 3-speed STI lever out of their cold, dead fingers.

Igo

Ultegra is showing a 12-30 on their web site. It's got this old guy's attention. I seldom use the 11 and even more seldom use the 32 on my Apex. I'm positive I'd get more use out of the 12 and certainly the 30 and bring the gears much closer.

fstshrk

Good to know. I also have a 12-30 cassette on my other (and much heavier) wheelset. There are two things that I am not happy about the 2012 Roubaix bikes: 1) The stock seatpost is some cheap aluminum piece, 2) The stock DT Axis 2.0 wheels are quite heavy. OTOH, these two are easily rectified. My wife's 2011 Ruby came with a nice carbon fiber seatpost.

curiouskid55

You can buy all the obsolete technolgy you want just dont epect to doit in a mass market package

a1penguin

I have a triple and a compact double. I honestly can't tell the difference. The gear range is nearly identical. The spacing of the gears is not so large to make me unhappy. Chainrings and cassettes come in a wide variety of sizes. It will depend on what set up the bike has. The advantage of the triple is that I do most of my riding on the middle ring. My hybrid has a 50/35 front and 11-34 cassette and I absolutely hate it :-(

https://www.gear-calculator.com/#KB=3...5&UF=2099&SL=2

Igo

and that is exactly what I was talking about when I was talking about very wide gear spacing.

Hendo252 

Well... I'm a "100-watt wonder" (sounds better than "wimp"). Also an old geezer (57) who is taking up cycling after a 20-year layoff.

My current ride has a triple and I find I use the lower gears (28/28) a lot. So I'd like to keep that capability.

Younger/stronger/better riders probably wouldn't miss it, but when I'm honest with myself I realize the compact isn't a good fit for me.

I'm not knocking Compacts -- for most folks they are probably perfect. I just don't have the legs to make them work for me!

I hope this doesn't digress into a triple-vs-compact thread.. what is good for one rider won't be for another. But it is all good!

-Tom in SoCal

Hendo252 

The problem is nobody has seen one. My LBS says they aren't available (at least through whatever supply chain he works through) and his contacts say they aren't expecting them any time soon.

But who knows what the real story is...

IANative

I really don't think you'll be sacrificing much in a 10-spd compact double. IMO, you gain over the triple, due to less chainring shifting and less cross-chaining. Such has been my experience, anyway. My first bike was a triple- I'll never go back.

You could get a Secteur in a triple.

ColinL

You can, but it is low trims of the Secteur. Quite a lot of difference between that and a Roubaix.

I would just buy the Roubaix frame and build your own. It won't be cost effective replacing the shifters and front deraiileur along with the crankset to convert a new bike into a triple.

Igo

Somebody here said they will be released later this year. There is a 12-30 in a Tiagra. I ran Tiagra and there isn't a thing wrong with them.

TnDiamondback

The Op said he wanted a triple and how could he get one, he didn't ask if it a good idea or not to the rest of us, personally I too like a triple, I have a tiagra triple set up correctly and am very happy.
OP, check around some shops and see if you can find a take off from a new bike that got upgradrd, that's how I got mine.

hammond9705

+1. With a little bit of looking you can probably find someone who wants to switch from compact to triple

Odin99

Q: do you want a triple because that is what you've "always" had? have you tried a compact w/large gear rear cassette? (as everyone here is recommending). on the other hand - I have a triple crankset i'll sell cheap (and a long cage rear derailleur and front derailleur). i'm looking to swap it for a double set up

Trsnrtr

You can buy a Roubaix as a frame set and put anything on it that you want. My Roubaix Pro is all Campy but they don't sell one that way.