jharte

I'm certain everyone has an opinion on this subject. This weekend I rode my trusty converted '88 Specialized Rockhopper Comp from Clinton, MO to Rocheport, MO. Two days, 90 mi each way. Not a long trip. Still, since I was riding solo I had plenty of time to think!

I'm saving for a new touring bike and was running over the components I'd like to have. I started thinking about the last time I used the large chainring. I've had this bike since '89 and have commuted and toured with it since I bought it. I think I've used the large chainring less than a dozen times.

I was thinking with the right double, I could use an 8sp or 9sp freewheel and forget the large chainring. I'm more of a commuter/tourist. I usually enjoy coasting rather than 'bombing' down hills. Especially loaded touring. I even considered some type of chainring guard (saving the grease for the chain and not my pants!).

Anyone tour with a double chainring instead of a tripple?

bradw

I think it depends on the rings you have on the triple crank.

My bike came with a 52/42/30 crank and an 11-32 9 spd cassette. Almost never used the 52 chainring.

Switched over to a 44/32/22 crank. Use the 44 most of the time, 32 some of the time, and the 22 only when I need it. Much better setup and a great range of gears. I can go faster when I need it and climb any hill when I have to.

So I say plan for using a triple (it's pretty much standard for loaded touring) and make the chainrings and cassette fit your needs.

seattlecyclist

I have a 26" setup with a triple 44/34/22. I like having the big ring for tailwind flats (and like you, I don't need to bomb down the hills.) On the other hand, a 44 isn't that big, esp. on the smaller wheels.

RainmanP

I have a bike set up something like what you seem to be describing. It is actually a triple crank with two chainrings, a 42 and a 28. The large ring position has a chainring guard. If I feel especially paranoid I may put on a 24. With a hand rolled cassette of 34-28-23-19-18-17-16-15-14. With the 24 this combination gives a low gear of 19 inches which should certainly take me just about anywhere I can conceive of going. I seldom use anything larger than 71 or 72 inches so the 76 and 81 on the top are sufficient.

jamawani 

I have run a 48-38-28 front with a 14-34 back for years. What I like about it is that I rarely have to "fish" for the right gear when I am riding a stretch with an even grade - whether flat, slightly uphill, or slightly downhill. I can also double shift to keep an even cadence. As for the 28 - many long climbs have uneven grades - so I can run up higher on the back without switching the front. And the 48? I don't crunch it, but I sure like to pedal easily in a higher gear on those Nevada airport runway downgrades.
Pedalling actually gives you more control and keeps you from stiffening up.
Best - J

late

Step One) Decide what ya want for the new cranks. Calculate the gear inches for the new low gear.
Step Two) Figure out the closest gear to that on your current set up. It's gotta be close, or go up a gear.
Step Three) Go find the biggest climb you can drive to. It's gotta be BIG...
Step Four) Make it up that climb, in that gear, and you're ready for a double.

Rogerinchrist

What kind of weight are you all taking along?

jharte

It isn't uncommon for me to add an additional 70lbs to my bike on a long tour. Front and rear panniers full of clothes and cooking stuff, WATER, single person tent, sleeping bag. Probably about 70lbs or so. In a couple of weeks I'll know for sure. Another short trip coming up.

RainmanP

It's pretty simple.
What is the likelihood you will be climbing a hill/mountain, cursing, thinking "If only I had a little lower gear!"
vs
"Gee, sure wish I had that 53-11 I took off!"

With me, the former happens regularly, the latter never.

Nomad

I stuck with the 48-38-28 and 11-34 my tourer came with. I used the bike for 6 weeks loaded touring in France (front & rear panniers, tent etc.). This included Raid Pyrenees which climbs 28 passes from the Mediterranean to the Altlantic. I found the gearing perfect FOR ME. What I mean by that is that we climbed grades generally up to 10% and occasionally higher, and never wished for a lower gear. Made good use of the 28-34 combination though. How often was 48-11 used? Not very often! However I also use this bike unloaded and when I do it is useful. So if you intend to use your bike for only loaded touring you wouldn't need to go so high.

funbun

Double or triple? Small potatoes, man. Small potatoes. You need Quad or Quintuple chainrings. I'm building a Greenspeed for touring I plan to use a Quad chainring 22, 30, 42, 52. Hardcore babiiieeee!!!

https://www.abundantadventures.com/mt_plus.html

zonatandem

Greenspeed offers triple with 9 speed PLUS internal 3-speed for a total of - - - -gulp! - - - - 72 gears!

saddlesores

i read somewhere of a japanese bicycle with a quad, 3 internal gears in the bb,
derailleur with 8-speed, plus a 5-speed rear hub. i think there was also some sort
of secondary derailleur system halfway between crank and hub.

the result was 960 gears.

back to the subject. for loaded touring, you will want a triple. you might put
together a double with the same high/low gears, but you will lose many of the
small incremental gears in-between. you could wind up in a situation of long
distances without a proper gear - either a little too large or a little too small.

jharte

I remember years ago someone came out with a small chainring w/adaptor called a "spider" that was really low. The quad or quint is really cool! I doubt I'll do it but it would be a great conversation piece! I like extreme stuff like that! Thanks for all the input!

Biketo120

When I was loaded, climbing a long steep grade with head wind, I was grateful that my loaded tourer has less than a 1 to 1 gear ratio. I would never tour with a double. In fact, I replaced my 30 tooth chain ring with a 24.

53-11 alltheway

Blasphemy

sakarias

Trippples (I mean triples) are sure nice. I use one now. But, before I bought my new bike a couple years ago, I rode plenty of touring miles (loaded, in mountain country) with a double and a 5-speed freewheel (45-41 with 15-18-22-28-34 for a range of 81" down to 33")(I bought this bike back in 1972)(It's retired from touring).

The first triple I rode was on our tandem where our four year old daughter was the stoker. That gearing was 45-40-34 w/15-18-22-28-34 for a range of 81" down to 27"

With a range of 108 to 21 on my current bike, I feel a bit like I have wimped out -- except I haven't needed to use the 21" gear.

Mike