Do I really need a triple???

[punkypossum]

Reason I'm asking is that I'm still compiling my shortlist of possible contenders that I will hopefully testride this weekend...

The Giant Defy (2.5, i.e with a triple) has been joined by the Specialized Allez, which comes with a triple, but then only with sora shifters... I'd prefer tiagra, but that then leaves me with the allez sport which comes with an 11-25t cassette and 50x34t chainrings...

I know I asked a similar question ages ago, but it is all very confusing...

Would the Allez get me up somewhere like Beacon Fell? If I went for a double and decided later that I did need a triple, how expensive would it be to change?

Will testride pretty much anything I can get my hands on, apart from the two above, but just would prefer to have a rough idea what will work and what won't.... I asked the triple / double question at Buy-a-bike and was informed by the grumpy sales assistant that only fat, old, unfit men need a triple, but I doubt he was a very reliable source looking as if he fit those criteria himself!

Thanks!!!!

 

[Landslide]

Get a triple. There's a real "triples are for wimps" mentality among cyclists that I've never fathomed. If you need it, great. If you don't need it, then the extra weight can be offset by going to the loo before you go out riding.

 

[Landslide]

ps: It'll cost you loads (both money and faffing) to change from a double to a triple later down the line.

 

[Ravenz]

There's a real "triples are for wimps" mentality among cyclists that I've never fathomed.

yeah!!!
TA (Triples Annonymous)
"My name is Rav, and I ride a triple!"

 

[Landslide]

yeah!!!
TA (Triples Annonymous)
"My name is Rav, and I ride a triple!"

I'm not sure we're anonymous anymore!

 

[RSV_Ecosse]

I had no idea what the difference between a double compact and a triple was when I bought my bike. To be honest, I didn't even know the two types existed.

Don't want to hijack the OP's thread, but what exactly is the difference between the two?.

I'm talking from a newcomers point of view of course, but if I hit a big hill I drop down to the wee ring on the front and adjust gears if need be. Or I pedal with more effort if that's not enough.

That might sound ridiculous to you guys who have been riding for years, but when I read threads concerning doubles and triples I genuinely wonder "Hmmm......should I have bought a triple?".

 

[Cranky]

Get a triple. There's a real "triples are for wimps" mentality among cyclists that I've never fathomed. If you need it, great. If you don't need it, then the extra weight can be offset by going to the loo before you go out riding.

Absolutely agree with this. I have no time for all that macho crap. A triple will get you up any hill with a lot less shoving and grunting than I see on many rides!

 

[yello]

was informed by the grumpy sales assistant that only fat, old, unfit men need a triple

Speaking from personal experience, i.e. I fit that description, he's right!

Tough call though. A triple doesn't need to used and obviously you can climb on a compact. It's your call really - what sort of riding do you like and want to do? How often are you likely to climb something like Beacon Fell and the like?

Personally, I don't find heaving and grinding up climbs particularly enjoyable and like having a granny ring to fall back on. Doesn't mean I have to use it.

That said, you can get a decent compact set up that gives a good spread of gears and, for most peoples uses and the riding they do, quite suitable.

 

[a_n_t]

depends how well you climb I guess?

I run a compact on the wilier 50/34 and a 13/26 cassette and it gets me up anything i've tried so far [upto 30% inclines]. Some people could do it on a 53/39? others might need a triple? Horses for courses!

 

[punkypossum]

No idea how well I climb - probably not very well. Would like to get more into hillier rides, but as beacon fell was done on my mountain bike (although I never had to leave the middle ring), I can't really say, as I have never ridden a road bike with road bike gearing...

 

[ajb]

Get the triple, dont take any notice of people that dont like them.
Riding with my mates, if I,m in the same gear as them ie:- 39x25 going up hill I will be dumped straight away, If I drop to the "granny" ring and and spin my legs I can certainly stay a lot closer.
Better to have and not use than to need and not have.

Alan.

 

[Landslide]

(In response to Lee's point about bottom gears)
But, a triple allows the same spread of gears, but with more closely spaced ratios. My 46/36/24 chainset lets me run a 12-23 cassette and still get up some seriously steep climbs in the Peak District.

 

[marinyork]

Have a play with Sheldon's Gear Calculator for anyone who doubts the overlap you get on any system. Punkypossum might find it useful for bikes she's going to try out. If I didn't have a triple I'd still be able to do some of the hills but it'd be a right old grind.

 

[Over The Hill]

Triple all the way.

I even fitted a smaller granny ring to mine!

I cant see any point in not having one.

Mostly I am on the middle ring which gives a nice range for 90% of my cycling. My concern with a double is that the big ring will be too big and the small to small so I will want to keep double changing from big to small and then compensating on the back.

I like my front gears to be basically stepped to be about equal to a couple of back gears so I can go over easily. Double seem to have too big a jump.

 

[Blue]

was informed by the grumpy sales assistant that only fat, old, unfit men need a triple,

That is total crap.

The gears you need are determined by you and the type of riding you do.