3 rings or 2

[Nigelnaturist]

Many thanks for the input - just ordered a Stronlight 50/34 crank from Spa cycles, very pleasant to deal with.

Looking forward to this weekends hill training

All the best

Their own rings and sets are basically the same just re badged. Which is what I have on the middle and outer rings, the inner ring being used less often is one I had on their cheaper 26/38/48 chainset I got back in 2012 and one I bought about the same time 28th to fit my 130BCD prolite crankset problem was it had a really odd inner BCD normally 74mm (though it does come in different flavours) but I couldn't find a size to fit, so I got the chainset i mentioned its wasn't' great quality at £35 or so and the BB with plastic shells were a bitch to remove, but it served a purpose. It was coupled up to a 8sp 12-24 ( I think) giving it fairly good ratios and a range of 28.7-106" or so, I think it went 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24 which I made up from 8 and 9 sp cassettes.
The inner ring double or triple can just be a plain ring it doesn't need ramps ect. 34th is as low as you can go on a 110mm BCD, though I did read a 33 could be fitted but I have never come across such a thing.

 

[sneaky beaky]

New compact crank arrived and will be fitted tonight - looks a fine piece of engineering

Some folks who did The Beastie in the last couple of years, said how glad of the 50/34 gearing they had

 

[sneaky beaky]

Wooosh...hill destroyer...well - much improved on the new crank gearing and far less strain on the knees...

just bought a Merlin....today....felt a bit wrong hammering the Raleigh - it is what it is and thats a beatiful bike to ride when the heart takes a fancy...

Got to say its been a good training bike for a novice, also learn't tons building from a bare frame too.

So now it's on with the Merlin...

cheers

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Wooosh...hill destroyer...well - much improved on the new crank gearing and far less strain on the knees...

just bought a Merlin....today....felt a bit wrong hammering the Raleigh - it is what it is and thats a beatiful bike to ride when the heart takes a fancy...

Got to say its been a good training bike for a novice, also learn't tons building from a bare frame too.

So now it's on with the Merlin...

cheers

Imagine going down to a 26th inner, then close up the rear ratios a little and still have that low gear, ah the beauty of a triple. Nice to see it working for you.

 

[sneaky beaky]

Imagine going down to a 26th inner, then close up the rear ratios a little and still have that low gear, ah the beauty of a triple. Nice to see it working for you.

I noticed on Ebay a Raleigh lightweight with a modified tri colour crank - yep triple ring...the bike sold for a good £250 plus -

maybe I wont be able to resist messin over the winter months

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@sneaky beaky the problem is not many really understand gearing, and triples are out of vogue, then people struggle for a low gear

I am looking at a CX bike but very few offer a triple, as it would be more a commuter than my current Viking, so looking for something with a low gear and range, i have been looking at a 48/36/26 with a 11-23 cassette on a 10sp triple it would have a range of 30-115" and the middle ring a greater range than the 38x12-23 setup I sometimes ride, with the 60" range being in the same position as my current setup, I could possibly drop a 24th inner ring in and go down to a 28" gear, but I am not sure if either the 105 or Tiagra FD can go that low, I know it does the range of 24th as my current setup is that.
I have found on a 50/34 setup I would be either end of the cassette for most riding and constantly changing the front, wheres on my current set 38x12-27 i have a range of 37-84" good for 9.3-21.2mph at a cad of 85, so it does me for most circumstances.