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Have a question re triple vs. double front derailleurs - is there really any difference?
I've just bought a SRAM X0 double chainset - will a Shimano XTR conventional top-pull triple front derailleur work with a double chainset, or should I buy a Double type front derailleur?
cant see why not 🙂
Are you running 9 or 10 speed? Which is the mech designed for, as 10 speed will have a narrower cage, but otherwise you just set up as normal and set the stops so the shifter allows only 2 positions (1 click)
My experience (converted three bikes to 2x9) is that a triple FD works just fine, but the double FD has a smaller cage so certainly looks much neater, and [i]may[/i] prevent chain drop a bit better (but I've no peer reviewed scientific evidence to back up that assertion).
What rings have you got on the double?
Will a triple mech be able to get the chain from a 27t ring to a 42t? I didn't think it would.
Yep it will, just fine.
Some, like the SLX double have a 'tighter' curve on the cage to deal with the smaller 22/36 type rings. Many, like the SRAM offerings, and the new XTR ones don't.
I've used plenty of 2x9 bikes with a triple (and a road double) front mech with no ill effects, always with reasonably large rings though (no smaller than 28/42).
On the 2x10 groups the cable pull is optimised to work with double front mechs, but I've heard numerous people saying triple ones work (not tried it myself).
So... long story short is that a triple one will be fine, 10 speed double one may be slightly smoother.
It's SRAM 2 x 10 chainset with 28/42 rings.