trek 1.2 double or triple

[kingy_88]

i think i have decided on buying a trek 1.2 but dont know wether the double or triple would be best for me, i will be using it for my commute of 11 miles each way or should i spent a little more as i will be using the bike to work scheme and go for the Trek 1.5 ??

 

[upsidedown]

Go for the best you can afford, don't see why you would got for a double instead of a triple unless you're a serious racer who wants to save a few grammes.

 

[Downward]

It depends where your gonna be riding your bike and how fit you are.
I have the 1.5C, I wanted the 1.2C but no stock in my size.

To be honest as soon as I rode the 1.5 I knew I wanted it but had to borrow the extra ££ from the wife so the decision was hers !

 

[jamesxyz]

Agree with the posts above in terms of bike - get the best you can afford. Last year I got the 1.5 and almost immediately wished I'd stretched myself to get at least the 1.7 or 1.9. The spec is much better - some of the parts on the 1.2 / 1.5 are of questionable quality i.e. unbranded calipers. The QR on both mine broke within a month as they were part plastic - I went back to Evans (sorry I know but I was a beginner!) to see if they could replace the plastic washers but instead upgraded to 105s for free!

Regarding triple or double half depends on how fit / old you are and half depends on where you live / ride most. I got a triple as I live on the edge of the peninnes and there's very little flat around and I'm nearly always climbing or descending but if you live in say Norfolk, a compact is much better, lighter, smoother. After a year on a triple I got a second bike to upgrade and got a compact but I know I would have struggled on this in the beginning until my fitness / bike handling got better.

Good luck

 

[rich p]

Bear in mind that although your riding now may be flattish, you may want to go to try your hand at Alpe d'Huez one day!

 

[Garz]

It depends where your gonna be riding your bike and how fit you are.!

+1

If your fit a compact will be perfect, if your not or its (very) hilly around your area then play safe and go triple.

 

[Downward]

I have been riding for 1 year about 100 miles per month. Average speed is 12-15mph. Steepest hill is a 10% which is 3/4-1 mile long which I can achieve on the 1.5 Compact.
However the 16.7% 3/4 mile hill is a struggle on compact but this is a leisure ride so it's not like i need to go up it everyday.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

+1

If your fit a compact will be perfect, if your not or its (very) hilly around your area then play safe and go triple.

compacts are just a compromise, and are used by people who want the low gears that a triple offers, but who think tripes "uncool". a triple gives the best spread of gears. compact users often find that the 'drop' between chainrings on a triple is a little too much.

 

[Garz]

I don't think a triple is "uncool" as I didn't get a choice when I bought my boardman! Like many on here, after reading a few posts it seems there's a divide between the two setups but quite frankly I think its childish to argue over it.

As my previous bike was a cross between a MTB and a hybrid which too had awesome granny gears but not a triple, I cant compare it directly. What I have experienced is around where I live that I am able to scale all the hills so far. My only test of endurance was on a charity ride from Lancaster to York which did have two monstrous hills which I barely got up, something if I was in any less condition would have been unable to do.

So again, agreeing with downward, if you dont have access to big hills or are quite fit then theres nothing wrong with a compact..

 

[MacB]

I've hummed and hawed over this, I have a triple and got to the lowest gear frequently when first riding, It's a 52/42/30 with a 9 speed 12-26 cassette. Using the Sheldon gear calculator, and selecting gear inches as a result, this gives:-

30 ring - 30.3 to 65.7 inches
42 ring - 42.5 to 92 inches
52 ring - 52.6 to 113.9 inches

I've only once used the large ring and that was gear 7 so 97.6 inches. Majority is middle ring and from 65 to 85 inches, beyond that I find that downhills I can often go faster just by tucking down, rather than trying to pedal. The small ring, though rarely used now, is a nice security factor. I'd rather lose the 52 ring than the 30, I can get all the speed I need from a 42x12 combo, this gives 33mph at 120rpm, 27.4mph at 100rpm and 24.6mph at 90rpm. The 52 ring gives only 3 gears higher and I've only used one of them once in 2500 miles.

I originally wanted to get a bike that did everything but have accepted that more than one bike is a better solution. But when I've looked at compact and double setups all my calcs indicate I'd end up with a lot more front shifting than with a triple. Most advice I've received is to go triple, ride the majority in the middle and treat inner and outer as extras to be used as needed. Chainsets where you can replace the rings seperately make sense, ie you'd wear the middle ring before the others.

 

[jimboalee]

Ring Sprocket Inches Step "
30 25 32
30 23 35 3
30 21 38 3
30 19 42 4
30 17 47 5
42 21 53 6
42 19 59 6
42 17 65 6
42 16 70 5
42 15 74 4
42 14 78 4
52 17 81 3
52 16 86 5
52 15 92 6
52 14 98 6
52 13 106 8

 

[kingy_88]

i live in nottinghamshire so its quite flat around me but i would eventually like to travel and ride elsewhere. fitness levels, i would say im reasonably fit but nothing i couldn't improve on alot. so i think a triple would be better for me.

 

[MacB]

i live in nottinghamshire so its quite flat around me but i would eventually like to travel and ride elsewhere. fitness levels, i would say im reasonably fit but nothing i couldn't improve on alot. so i think a triple would be better for me.

wise, having a granny ring doesn't mean using it but it does give peace of mind. Being able to cycle on up when others have had to get off and walk is also nice

 

[Fab Foodie]

compacts are just a compromise, and are used by people who want the low gears that a triple offers, but who think tripes "uncool". a triple gives the best spread of gears. compact users often find that the 'drop' between chainrings on a triple is a little too much.

But I think you meant Compact...
+1

 

[kingy_88]

triple it is thank for the advice