In Praise Of A Triple!

[Slow But Determined]

December sees the winter bike coming out of the garage and after riding compacts all year it really is great to ride a triple (which is what a lot of us grew up with)

Really enjoyed getting the chain onto the 53 and just crusing with what seems a lot less effort.

 

[MikeG]

Well, that's what I thought. But my triple has lost the power to shift into the big ring, and I didn't need the little one, so my ride today was with 7 gears.

Of course, there is absolutely no reason at all why you can't have the same range of gears with a compact as with a triple, so if they aren't, then don't blame the compact..............just do something about it.

 

[Globalti]

A triple is great for touring where the closer ratios allow you to choose the perfect gear.

 

[Dave 123]

Mrs Dave has stolen my triple.
She likes it!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I like triples too - they seem to fit the terrain better than compacts and doubles. Flat - middle, downhill - outer, uphill - deep sigh and inner.

 

[Ian H]

The great thing about a triple is having close ratios with a minimum of double changes, but still that emergency-I'm-knackered-it's-20% granny ring.

 

[HLaB]

My Triban is a tripple but its that flat down here the small ring is never used but in hillier terrain it'd be vital.

 

[Cycleops]

I've got a triple because it sort of suits the bike but it's constantly on the front middle and I only use three of the back cogs.
I'm going to look at obscure American bike tomorrow called a Monocog , kind of single speed MTB. Should be interesting.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Triple with Tannus tyres. #bringonwinter.

 

[Ian H]

Anyone know anything about this bike and what its owner has achieved on it?

 

[Globalti]

Somebody lent me a Scott road bike in South Africa to do a very hilly ride. The frame was stiff and dull and it had a 64 big ring (!) then a 50 and a 34. The FD wouldn't shift it down to the small ring so I got knackered climbing everything in the 50. The downhills were fast though.

 

[Ian H]

Somebody lent me a Scott road bike in South Africa to do a very hilly ride. The frame was stiff and dull and it had a 64 big ring (!) then a 50 and a 34. The FD wouldn't shift it down to the small ring so I got knackered climbing everything in the 50. The downhills were fast though.

Many years ago, when I was Tandem Club technical advisor, a man rang me to ask about fitting a bigger chainring to his tandem. 60 wasn't big enough. It was some time before I got a handle on his whereabouts. Turned out he was from the Transvaal, where you could go from horizon to horizon without either hill or habitation.
Off-topic: he mentioned that he'd visited Devon, and was disappointed. He'd been told it was countryside, but there were houses everywhere.

 

[Slow But Determined]

My Triban is a tripple but its that flat down here the small ring is never used but in hillier terrain it'd be vital.

I'm jealous, you have 27 options, I only have 24!!!!

 

[Ajax Bay]

Triple with Tannus tyres. #bringonwinter.

Need to get some mudguards on that for the winter, or are you not going out when the roads are wet and muddy? The few unguarded yesterday had an unsightly stripe from a**e to the small of their back. And your teeny weeny 'Arsesaver'(TM) isn't going to cut it.

it really is great to ride a triple

My triple saw me comfortably up all the Welsh border hills west of Ludlow yesterday (with a 30" gear) and, after 9 hours, speeding along down gentle downhills across to the Severn with a welcome tailwind (on 117"). Respect to the three fixed riders who rode round in company.

 

[ColinJ]

Anyone know anything about this bike and what its owner has achieved on it?
View attachment 441260

If we are only allowed one guess ... mine is THIS!