COMAPCT VS TRIPLE CHAIN SETS

[lenandsons]

Hi all

Looking at getting a new MADONE 5.1 as the prices are coming down here nicely at the moment. So the question is my current bike has a triple chain set which I really enjoy especially on long hard climbs, however I have been told that Trek no longer do them ( 2010 onwards ) and that a compact set up will give me all the benefits of a triple with none of the drawbacks. I am as yet unconvinced so this is a plea for help and understanding ... will the compact be as good as a triple or will I hit hills that I will end up walking ???

[RRS_Staffs]

I have a compact and its fine even for days out in the Peak District (brief 20 or 25% climbs)

In fact Id even go as far as to say that Id have a standard double next time

You totally dont need a triple

(Sits down to await flak)

Edited by RRS_Staffs on Monday 23 November 16:06

[anonymous-user]

totally agree, the boardman has a 53/39 and thats not caused me any problems so far.... i think triples will be pahsed out on most bikes >£1000 in the coming years....

[AyBee]

I have a triple and see it as a sign of weakness to use the smallest ring at the front, just get a double

[smifffymoto]

I have a double and need a triple

[mr pg]

I have a Spesh Sirrus with a compact, and am about to pick a new road bike through the ride2work scheme. I've gone for a Campag triple! On steeper stuff I struggle, and with my peddaling style, I know that not only will I find hills more comfortable, but will also get up them quicker. Don't give 2 hoots for the 'I must struggle up hills in a big gear' point of view, and it will also be better for my knees. I'm a beleiver in the Lance Armstrong, rather than Jan Ulrich method of getting up hills. Just wish I was as good!
Don't understand what the 'downside' is with a triple (except for a few more grams), as it gives me a greater range of gears.
Go for what suits your style/strength/area you live in.

[Gooby]

If I were speccing a new bike I would put a hammerschmidt on the front and a rohloff on the back....

[b2hbm]

lenandsons said:

Hi all

Looking at getting a new MADONE 5.1 as the prices are coming down here nicely at the moment. So the question is my current bike has a triple chain set which I really enjoy especially on long hard climbs, however I have been told that Trek no longer do them ( 2010 onwards ) and that a compact set up will give me all the benefits of a triple with none of the drawbacks. I am as yet unconvinced so this is a plea for help and understanding ... will the compact be as good as a triple or will I hit hills that I will end up walking ???

If you find that you use your bottom 2 gears on the triple then I doubt a compact would suit you, simply because the triple will offer not only more gear ratios but ultimately a lower set of ratios than a compact set will do. Generally speaking a triple will have a 30t granny ring and most compacts have 34t as the smaller ring. So, given the same rear cassette, the triple will have at least 2 lower gears on a 12-25 cassette.

I could see triples being phased out on the higher spec bike ranges, probably because the target market is the sporting/racing rider. But triples are quite common on the continent and I'm sure they'll be around for a long time on medium range and touring bikes.

[Gooby]

Unless I was changing to a rohloff and hammerschmidt set up (not for a while), I would not switch to ma double ring set up but I do tackle some serious hills.
Interestingly, if you look at the ratios of the 3 ring set up, on an average 27gear set up, 13-14 of the gear ratios are replicated...
In theory a double with carefull selected gears would do the job.

[Roman]

Gooby said:

Unless I was changing to a rohloff and hammerschmidt set up (not for a while), I would not switch to ma double ring set up but I do tackle some serious hills.
Interestingly, if you look at the ratios of the 3 ring set up, on an average 27gear set up, 13-14 of the gear ratios are replicated...
In theory a double with carefull selected gears would do the job.

Exactly. 18 gears should be plenty. You can always lower your climbing gear ratios by fitting a 12-29 or even 12-32 cassette anyway (providing your rear mech has the capacity to handle the gear range).

The only dissadvantage with compacts is that unless you have a cassette with 11 & 12 sprockets, some find the gearing can be just a little low for cruising at around 20+mph which can mean more frequent changes between big & small chain rings than with a 53/39 or 50/40/30 set up.

[georgezippy]

A compact double is a good choice for a road bike if you ride up hills a lot.
Remember that each time you use the granny ring on a triple whilst riding on road - a kitten is slaughtered.

[mk1fan]

Gooby said:

If I were speccing a new bike I would put a hammerschmidt on the front and a rohloff on the back....

Not to sound uncaring (think more black comedy) but it would appear that you now have such an opportunity.

[Gooby]

mk1fan said:

Gooby said:

If I were speccing a new bike I would put a hammerschmidt on the front and a rohloff on the back....

Not to sound uncaring (think more black comedy) but it would appear that you now have such an opportunity.

funnily enough I have been talking to an ex race team mechanic who has done it. He has explained that for a full sus MTB it just doesn't work. The rohloff hub is far too heavy and ruins the reaction of the suspension and unbalanced the bike. The hammer schmidt only has 2 gears, the equilivent of granny and middle ring. That is fine for jump bikes and some DH machines but for XC /AM it doesn't work.

Oh well. It was a nice idea to get rid of high maintenance mechs but I have yet to find it. The Alfine doesn't have enough gears and is too delicate.

[rocksteadyeddie]

I use a compact and can't see myself switching back to a standard double. Unless you are racing then a compact should be far more appropriate for road riding.