New beginners bike required - Triple Chain

[Goobs]

I recently dug out my old Raleigh racer and after 4 months have thoroughly enjoyed my time riding around the neighbouring countryside for an hour each evening. With my birthday coming up next month (40 I have decided I would like to get a new bike and have been given a budget of around £400. As the terrain nearby is quite hilly, I have been struggling with a 12 speed and ideally would like to get a triple chainset road bike. The choice seems quite limited and I am concerned that if I got a double compact I may still struggle with the hills and regret not getting a triple.

Been looking for over a month now and whilst I missed out on the Vitus Alios Triple at CRC, the only other bikes I have seen are a Decathlon Twin 1 (£269) or the local LBS has a Merida 880-24 for £400. With the new models coming out shortly I hoped more sales would have been on by now.

Has anyone got a recommendation on the above or offer another choice of triple road bike ?
Would be willing to pay a fraction more but this may leave nothing to buy pedals etc !

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Jonathan M]

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/SpecialEditionBikes.asp

Might be just outside your price range, but you get quite q decent amount of kit for the money.

 

[Goobs]

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/SpecialEditionBikes.asp

Might be just outside your price range, but you get quite q decent amount of kit for the money.

Hi Jonathan.
Thanks for your reply.

I followed your link but only saw doubles - no triples ?
The starter price was £529 which is a little too high for me unfortunately.

 

[MajorMantra]

Have you worked out the gearing on your current bike? You should do so before choosing a new one. Use this to compare gear inches:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

A compact 50/34 with a 12-27 cassette gets you a 33" low gear which is pretty low, and only 4" more than a triple with a 30t granny ring.

Your 12 speed may have a much higher low gear and it may be that a triple is overkill.

Matthew

 

[Goobs]

I am really after a new bike as my current one was second hand 17 years ago and could use new wheels, gears, pedals, seat post and frame !
The seat is good but thats all.

 

[MajorMantra]

I am really after a new bike as my current one was second hand 17 years ago and could use new wheels, gears, pedals, seat post and frame !
The seat is good but thats all.

If you're talking to me then you've misunderstood me. I'm saying that before choosing the gearing on a new bike you should try and figure out your needs based on your experience with your current bike. Gearing depends on a lot more than how many "speeds" you have. There are infinite chainset/cassette combinations that give you great choice in gearing ranges.

Matthew

 

[Goobs]

Hi Matthew

Thanks for that.

I understand what you mean now.

Ultimately what I need is either a triple or possibly a double that has similar high gearing for hill climbing

 

[Muddyfox]

Goobs ... the Carrera Virtuosa got some cracking reviews in cycling plus this year and its currently on sale for £399.99 @ Halfords

I went from a reasonably good quality MTB to a flat bar road bike this year (Cannondale Synapse) and i ended up fitting a triple to it because i struggled with the higher gearing on the hills

Simon

 

[Cubist]

Having now owned a compact for a few months I can say that the trick is to man up and ride the hills. Triples are great, but limit your choice. Look for a compact with a 50-34 or 36 and a MTB cassette, 11 to 32. If anything I now find the 50 tooth top chainring too small!

 

[MajorMantra]

Hi Matthew

Thanks for that.

I understand what you mean now.

Ultimately what I need is either a triple or possibly a double that has similar high gearing for hill climbing

So what is your current gearing? (you may have to count some teeth)

Matthew

 

[Joe24]

Stop being such a girl and get a compact double, it will help to make you fit.

 

[Goobs]

Suppose I should have checked the old Raleigh gears first !

The smallest/largest front gear has 42/52 teeth and the rear has 21/13 if I have counted correctly with a 170mm pedal arm.

Either the Carerra TDF or the Virtuoso seem to have better lower gearing than what I currently have (36/50 and 26/12)

Speaking of the Carerras - whats the difference between the Virtuoso at £319 and the TDF at £259 ?

A whole new world of choice has opened up now!

 

[MajorMantra]

That's a low gear of almost 53" (assuming 700x23 tyres) which is pretty high. A standard 53/39 double with 12-25 gets you around 40-41" and a compact with a wider range cassette gets you in the low 30s as I mentioned above. It may well be that a compact would be sufficient for your needs.

Matthew

 

[bennytheegg]

Wait until this weekend for Bank Holiday saled. Good Luck