Do I really need a triple???

[Fab Foodie]

That be speedy, and surely it isn't flat where you are so that's not bad at all. I think after 100 miler you deserve a faster bike and can probably get a bit more out of it than some of us other folk.

100 miles on an MTB deserves some respect... you deserve to be a fully fledged roadie... still get a triple though.

 

[peanut]

it was an MTB blimeyolriley possum thats a fantastic achievement. I'm not sure I could have done that even when I was fit

 

[Crackle]

But I AM a roadbike beginner!!! Plus there wasn't really anywhere else to stick the question... And at least it tends to be busy in beginners, so there is a better chance of getting loads of (conflicting) answers and advice!!!

I'll make sure I stick my questions in P&L in the future!!!

However, if it helps, the mtb has a 11-32 8 speed cassette and a 42/34/24 Crankset....I spent most of my live on the middle chainring and vary between gears 8-5 on flattish territory, the lowest I ever had to drop was middle ring at the front and 2 at the back - but that was on the hill from hell. I tend to spin rather than grind...

Not sure what the above really means, but it somehow sounds a lot lower than what I will get on a road bike... Argh!!!

I'll bung it in me spreadsheet tomorrow and let you know which gears you're using and what the equivalent roadbike gears would be. So, always middle ring, the 34 and 5 to 8, with 8 being the smallest. I'm definitely thinking triple with those kind of gears though.

 

[Crackle]

Actually I just put it into Sheldon. In road bike terms a triple with a 42 (30-42-50) middle and rear 11-25 would give you the range you use most or a double with a 48 outer and 12-27 rear cassette. The middle triple is better, it gives you closer ratios in the range you use most which is 42" to 70". Any double is likely to be at least 50 and will mean buying a smaller chain ring or you will struggle with the higher gears, especially if you are a spinner. Any chainwheel higher than 50 is likely to be useless to you.

One thing to bear in mind is that changing chainwheels on a triple is more limiting and expensive as you have to both maintain a certain gap betwee chainwheels (8ish teeth jump) and buy special middle rings. You can do it though, I have on mine.

 

[punkypossum]

Thanks for working that out crackle - it all goes a bit over my head I have to admit, but it has at least confirmed that I'm definitely going to be better off with a triple!!!

I'll really have to sit down at some point and get my head round those gear ratios...

 

[pwh91]

Just one more data point to add confusion...

Although I have a triple on my mountain bike, I went for a compact double on my new Ribble road bike - and if you go for Campy kit you can get a 50/34 chainset and 10-speed 13-29 cassette, which seems to work out for me (average speed ~16mph on a morning out) . Not sure what it is, but I feel more at home with a double on the road and this range seems to do everything I need it to even on some seriously steep stuff south of Bristol.

No reason in particular not to get a triple but I guess I'm saying there are other ways of getting pretty low gearing if you feel you need it.

HTH
Pete

 

[punkypossum]

Bought the bike now, so I'm tripled out!!