StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Shimano don't have any 11 speed triple groups, but Tiagra's still available as a triple. Campagnolo have a triple version of Athena. SRAM seem to have given up on triples.
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
With the advent of 8,9,10 and 11 speed cassettes there's little technical justification for triples any more. As a consequence people have largely stopped buying them, and by and large manufacturers are matching the lack of demand by not selling them.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
There are still plenty of triples to be bought just not specifically aimed at 'roadie' groupsets.
TA, Stronglight, Deore etc.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I'd speculate that the manufacturers and retailers are trying to cut costs and simplify inventories. They can deliver a particular gearing range of X"-Y" more cheaply with a compact than a triple and only have to manufacture and stock one kind of front shifter.
On the other hand there's not a specific desire in the market for triples as opposed to doubles, so the industry is pushing against an open door as they try to cut costs.
SRAM are looking to go further with their 1x groupset with its slightly bonkers 42T largest sprocket.
I expect triples will continue to be available in the after-market and also on specialist touring bikes. But the shifters may become a problem as the triple option gets dropped from groupsets, so maybe more bar-end shifters. And maybe the downtube shifter will make a comeback. Hurrah!!
On the other hand there's not a specific desire in the market for triples as opposed to doubles, so the industry is pushing against an open door as they try to cut costs.
SRAM are looking to go further with their 1x groupset with its slightly bonkers 42T largest sprocket.
I expect triples will continue to be available in the after-market and also on specialist touring bikes. But the shifters may become a problem as the triple option gets dropped from groupsets, so maybe more bar-end shifters. And maybe the downtube shifter will make a comeback. Hurrah!!
mpre53
Regular
- Location
- Cape Cod, MA USA
Compact cranks, and long cage RDs with wide range cassettes, caused the death of the triple. It's common to find a compact and an 11-32 cassette on many "endurance" model road bikes now. No need for a triple if you can run a 34/32 gear combo.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
People talk about compact chainsets as if they are for wimps, but all my racing was done with a top gear of 52x13, which is 108 inches and was the standard set up for both amateurs and professionals for years. Even using a 48t outer ring (For those who don't like the jump between 50 and 34) will give you a top gear of 117 inches when used with an eleven tooth sprocket. As has been said, the move to 10 and 11 speed cassettes with the vast range of ratios available has killed off the triple setup on new bikes.
