Lapierre Sensium 100l womens road bike

[oldfatfool]

I actually can't stand compact chainsets - I see no need for a 34T chainring - I can climb hardknott pass in my 39t inner ring standard chianset.

I would be classed a complete and utter wuss by your standards then running a triple with an inner ring of 22 and an 11 x 34 cassette. Still we can't all be iron men eh?

 

[theclaud]

I actually can't stand compact chainsets - I see no need for a 34T chainring - I can climb hardknott pass in my 39t inner ring standard chianset.

Well MTFU and do it in the big ring, FFS.

 

[totallyfixed]

I run a triple and so does dr_pink, it doesn't make us crap climbers, but what it does do is give us nice ratios when it's not too hilly and a get out of jail free card for the real steep stuff - nothing as easy as HardKnott though

 

[Sellyb]

Ok in answer to your question, perhaps someone could tell me if these stats are steep, as I don't know the gradient. However, taken from the garmin graph, here are some climbs from my weekend ride:

162 ft climb in 0.1 miles (this was the worst)
475 ft climb in 4.3 miles, then
312 ft climb in 1.05 miles
299 ft climb in 0.87 miles
163 ft in 0.43 miles
154 ft in 0.32 miles

So do I need a triple, as I certainly didn't cycle all of these? Thanks all for your help.

 

[totallyfixed]

Death to the compact, 'course you need a triple, you can go anywhere in the world with one. Nothing shows the disparity in cycling ability more than hills, we are all different. I've said it many, many times on here, learn to climb properly then learn to love hills, it sounds contrary but master the psychology of getting up a hill and you are more than half way there.

 

[PaulSecteur]

An alternative...

Buy a triple chainset, triple front mech, and triple left hand shifter...get the LBS to fit them if you are not confident.

Then sell your old mech, chainset and shifter to offset the cost.

Obvioulsy , you will have to research the cost of this to see if it worth doing. What bike and groupset do you have?

 

[Sellyb]

Scott speedster 15 as follows:
Shimano 105 5700 Dual Control shifters, Shimano 105 5700 front mech, Shimano 105 5700A Silver rear mech, Shimano 105 5750 Hollowtech II Compact chainset with 50/34 tooth chainrings, Shimano Tiagra 4600 12-30 tooth 10-speed cassette, 20 gears
I don't know what most of it means, but hopefully that answers it!

 

[Sellyb]

Just worked out 'how to do the gradient, and that steepest hill was 30%, so I don't think I'm wimping it as it's over the 25% someone mentioned earlier.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Front mech £25 http://www.parker-international.co.uk/16060/Shimano-105-5703-10-Front-Mech---Triple-.html
chainset £130 http://www.parker-international.co.uk/16067/Shimano-105-5703-10-HollowTech-II-Triple-Chainset-.html
Left shifter £80 (but out of stock) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=50465
Total parts £250 - ish with postage

Labour to fit...??? I would guess 2 hours max, its not a tough or big job.

I would expect you would get about half the new price for your second hand parts if sold on here or ebay.

I guess it really depends if you like your bike enough to want to convert it, of if the new bike bug has bitten hard enough!

EDIT: The above is only a giude for prices, you would need to check compatibility before you buy!!!!

 

[PaulSecteur]

Also, you might need a new rear mech to cope with the extra chain slackness when on the smaller chainwheel, about £40-ish

 

[Sellyb]

I think I would rather change, this one just hasn't felt right since day one. Although it says it's female specific, it feels like a man's bike. Maybe it's too serious for me.

 

[Sellyb]

Thank you all for your advice yesterday, I am learning all the time.