OMG, double post.
Bike Forum
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Darkside - Triple or Compact - opening a can of worms!
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I'm reasonably fit
Erm, with all due respect, and unless you're planning on riding up walls, there shouldn't be much you shouldn't be able to ride up using 34x25 if you're even slightly fit.
Most really good riders I know aren't anything like so snobbish
Most really good riders I know would suggest that if you need to resort to 30x25 to ride up long draggy climbs, then perhaps you'd be better suited to fishing or playing darts.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like triples. Rode Cycle Oregon for the last two years. Climbs can be 15 - 20 miles long is searing heat. I was more than happy to sit and spin past folks struggling on compacts. There was no way I could ride up Mt Ventoux on a 39-53 double, I doubt I could have ridden it with a compact either.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thank you for all of the posts, has been very useful.
One that did really strike me was getting the triple and then if I don't get on with it the change to compact would be relativley straightforward (new chain set) and cheaper than the other way round.
Think I'm going to go that way.
Cheers all!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I never felt comfortable using a standard double - always felt as if I was in the wrong gear. The bike feels much better with a compact double, I wouldn't fit a triple but each to their own.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Erm, with all due respect, and unless you're planning on riding up walls, there shouldn't be much you shouldn't be able to ride up using 34x25 if you're even slightly fit.
Since you're going there, I don't think there's much you can't ride up with 39x23, but I reckon there are certainly climbs I'd feel a lot better after climbing on a lower gear, and probably do just as fast.
If 34x25 is your preferred ratio, you could use a 12-23 triple, so have a 30x23, which is a pretty similar low gear, but with a nice high gear for downhills, and very small gaps between gears so you can always get exactly the gear you want. It isn't always just about getting a lower gear. Looking at it, people saying not to be a triple wuss, but to fit a 27 cog to a compact, actually have a lower low gear than my 30 x 23 insanely low gear (and surely you spin out quicker on any decent descent?).
Joe
Posted 2 years ago # -
I never felt comfortable using a standard double - always felt as if I was in the wrong gear. The bike feels much better with a compact double, I wouldn't fit a triple but each to their own.
I'm the other way round - I can't stand a compact double. I always end up trying to ride up stuff in the big ring cos it's *almost* right. It's probably just what I'm used to. All the road riding I've done since I first got a road bike 15 years ago has been with 39/53 and a 12-23 cassette.
The only time I've ever gone compact was when I used my CX bike for the Fred Whitton Challenge, that has 34/48 on it which was a pain for most of the ride but quite nice to be able to ride Hardknott and Wrynose with no problems.
Edit: having said that, the next time I buy a cassette it might well be a 12-25!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Erm, with all due respect, and unless you're planning on riding up walls, there shouldn't be much you shouldn't be able to ride up using 34x25 if you're even slightly fit.
its nice to be able to ride up a 25% after 200k with some tough climbs in with 100k and further climbs still to go.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The only time I've ever gone compact was when I used my CX bike for the Fred Whitton Challenge, that has 34/48 on it which was a pain for most of the ride but quite nice to be able to ride Hardknott and Wrynose with no problems.
That really sums up the point of a triple - rather than having two bikes with different gearing, and then finding out that the lower geared one is great for half a ride, and the higher geared one best for the other half, you can have both, with just a simple click of the gear shifter to go from one to the other.
Plus it means if you unexpectedly find yourself taking 10kg of stuff home from work or the shops or whatever, you don't have to worry about getting it over the hills.
Joe
Posted 2 years ago # -
That's my point though, the *only* time I would ever use a gear that low on the road would be for the FWC. There is no other climb that I have ever done where I've thought "hmm, wish I had a compact" because 39:23 has always been sufficient.
My CX bike is an "all rounder", in fact I got it specifically so I could do the Three Peaks and the gearing on it (34/48 with 12-27) was chosen for all round ability (most proper racing CX bikes are much closer ratio 36/46). As it happens the CX is great for most things.
Posted 2 years ago # -
No way!Never seen a fit roadie push-ever!
There were a few pushing up the Talla climb on the Radar Ride and quite a few more pushing up the Bealach na ba on the Bealach Mor.
Posted 2 years ago # -
No way!Never seen a fit roadie push-ever!
There were a few pushing up the Talla climb on the Radar Ride and quite a few more pushing up the Bealach na ba on the Bealach Mor.
he said fit ... there is no excuse for pushing up bealach its a speedbump for a fit cyclist- its just long
Posted 2 years ago # -
its a speedbump for a fit cyclist-
Thats a load of bollox, its hardly an easy climb. Of the two Talla is much easier.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Both are a piece of piss.
To the OP - you can get 29T cassettes, I have one on my bike and use it with a compact. Gives me a nice spread of gears and lets me keep spinning.
Just use what you want to use and stop giving a **** what other people think.
There is an expert level mtb xc punter not too far from here uses a triple and he can very easily wipe the floor with me...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Both are a piece of piss.
Yeh but you're a riding god smee.
And there were also lots of people walking up the final climb on the radar ride.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There are also lots of people that do sportives who you would hardly classify as fit though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the scenes of fit roadies off and walking has more to do with nutrition and pacing than the size of their chainsets. Ive passed riders way better than me that have blown up after being too aggresive too early and hitting the wall, when your that far gone even the best can get caught out.
I'd recommend people get what suits them and not worry about fashion
( though having said that, I have not now, nor have ever had, anything less than a double 53/39 on any of my roadbikes, and if you suggest other, I'll see you in court!!) Posted 2 years ago # -
Before my hip injury woes my roadbike had a triple on it 26/36/48 not sure what cassette was 12-25 I think. Anyway I hardly used the inner ring but it did get used on steep climbs when I'd completely blown every once in a while. This set up was fine for everything from 3min hill climbs to 10 mile TT's in 24 1/2mins to the long route of the Gran Fondo Cymru and 200 mile audax. Cant see the point in 52 chainrings so a triple is fine or if you are a wanabe roadie ponce get a compact.
Posted 2 years ago # -
bealach is a piece of pisss ... i read all this bollox about it being hard , then sat in the pub in the loch carron saw mike cottys repo of it , hes a chap whos opinion i respect and he said it was easy ass far as tough climbs go - rode it the next day and thought my that was a let down .... mike was right ... its NOT steep ... its just long.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ive passed riders way better than me that have blown up after being too aggresive too early and hitting the wall, when your that far gone even the best can get caught out.
Yeh I know someone that happened too, can't remember the name though
So the 2 mile section in the middle of the Bealach, isn't steeo. Yeh right, I suppose it isn't for willy waving heroes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
maybe from the apple cross side itd be steeper ....even the missus found it a pleasent enough climb......n she was craping her self about it .
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm sure all the willy wavers reckon they're far fitter and faster than me, but I've walked up a climb. I wasn't fit for me at the time, but still far from unfit - had been in the top 20% of finishers at a sportive shortly before. Was a fairly sustained 1:5 after 50 miles or so and I just didn't have low enough gears.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have triple on my commuter (with panniers) and on my Carbon race bike. When racing the limit screw is adjusted so only 2 are useable but when I goto the Alps all three there and used. Not that many beat me on hills as I spin up. Have ridden most of the big tour climbs over the past 15 years. Overtaken twice and actually able o enjoy the experience. I could not ride up on a double. Triple all the way.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mike WW
They were definately pushing up Bwlch y Groes (the one they tested spitfires on) and a couple did say that they wanted my triple!Posted 2 years ago # -
Gilly C - MemberMike WW
They were definately pushing up Bwlch y Groes (the one they tested spitfires on) and a couple did say that they wanted my triple!
Don't doubt there were people walking. My point was that they couldn't have been fit roadies. I thought I was reasonably fit until I started riding with some proper roadies and was/still am humbled.
But anyway, I think some people are getting confused between what they think is willy waving and honest experience.
I honestly don't care what people ride or how slow or fast they might be. Its simply that a 34/25(27) ratio gets you up anything I and many others have come across.Want more or touring with panniers or you want to spin get a triple really doesn't make any odds
Although I've mountain biked for a couple of years I've only ridden road bikes for 6 months and raced cyclocross for less. In reality the proper race orientated roadies I ride/train with don't give a stuff about what you wear/what you ride and to a fair extent even how quick you are.I think its easy to confuse these people with all the gear no idea posers perhaps?Posted 2 years ago # -
If you want I can ask an aquaintance of mine (who is a team pro rider) what he thinks of the question?
Posted 2 years ago # -
juan did you used to be in SUMBC?? I know rich farley and tim etc was president year before Rich.
ANy advice greatly recieved!
Posted 2 years ago # -
aracer - im pro triple despite the above. as you state doesnt matter how fit you are ... if your pace is wrong and/or the ride is a long un you will benefit from it ...
all im stating is that bealach isnt as hard(and no i didnt use my triple ..39:23) as the reputation it seems to have gained - there are much harder climbs to ride
Posted 2 years ago # -
its nice to be able to ride up a 25% after 200k with some tough climbs in with 100k and further climbs still to go.
Of course it is. That's what 39x25 is for.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Any climb is hard if you've ridden over 150miles, this question can only be answered by getting to the root of the problem, how far do you expect to ride. Do you expect to keep riding when you have hit the grovel mode, if you dont then a double will be fine.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Andy yes I was in the SUMBC in the golden age of rich tim andy and simon.
Speaking to the lbs they are pro triple all the way (but then I live somewhere where road are all steep) in my opinion I think it's better to have the granny option. Even if you dont use it you'll have it for this moment (you know the one you're going to suffer when you'll be over 3500 m of climb and your leg will be heavy and hard to spin).If I were you I'll go for a triple with a 27. But then I am very pragmatic.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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