Triple on a road bike - yay or nay

[zacklaws]

Getting a triple was best thing I ever did, I'm a "purist" at heart but I'm not getting younger and pushing a "double" up hills was too much on the steeper hills so I took the plunge after being talked out of buying a "compact" at the LBS and bought a Trek Madone with a triple fitted.

The difference it has made is incredible, I have lower heart rates pushing up the hills, I've more than doubled my speed up some hills, reduced the time climbing some hills by well over 50%, my knees do not hurt so much now pushing the big gears and when I get to top of hills instead of turning my lungs inside out gasping for breath its now a case of getting into the higher gears ASP and race away, in fact I've virtually broke every timing on all my usual routes and rewrote "the books".

 

[zacklaws]

Getting a triple was best thing I ever did, I'm a "purist" at heart but I'm not getting younger and pushing a "double" up hills was too much on the steeper hills so I took the plunge after being talked out of buying a "compact" at the LBS and bought a Trek Madone with a triple fitted.

The difference it has made is incredible, I have lower heart rates pushing up the hills, I've more than doubled my speed up some hills, reduced the time climbing some hills by well over 50%, my knees do not hurt so much now pushing the big gears and when I get to top of hills instead of turning my lungs inside out gasping for breath its now a case of getting into the higher gears ASP and race away, in fact I've virtually broke every timing on all my usual routes and rewrote "the books".

 

[zacklaws]

Getting a triple was best thing I ever did, I'm a "purist" at heart but I'm not getting younger and pushing a "double" up hills was too much on the steeper hills so I took the plunge after being talked out of buying a "compact" at the LBS and bought a Trek Madone with a triple fitted.

The difference it has made is incredible, I have lower heart rates pushing up the hills, I've more than doubled my speed up some hills, reduced the time climbing some hills by well over 50%, my knees do not hurt so much now pushing the big gears and when I get to top of hills instead of turning my lungs inside out gasping for breath its now a case of getting into the higher gears ASP and race away, in fact I've virtually broke every timing on all my usual routes and rewrote "the books".

 

[MacB]

if your reason for not getting a triple is anything other than you genuinely don't need it, then you should get one.

 

[MacB]

if your reason for not getting a triple is anything other than you genuinely don't need it, then you should get one.

 

[MacB]

if your reason for not getting a triple is anything other than you genuinely don't need it, then you should get one.

 

[AlanW]

Look at it this way......I rode the Falling Leaves Audax three years ago. Its only 60km, but it is up and down for the whole duration.

I rode it on a 39/52 and a 10sp 12/25, I got round and finished in a reasonable time, in places it was a bit of struggle and the following day I was knackered!

Then I bought a triple and rode the same event a year on. Completed it in near enough the same time, cannot compare exact as we got lost the second year!

The triple is a 28/39/52, but a 10sp 12/23 instead of the 12/25 before, this keeping a nice tight ratio, perfect for maintaining a steady cadence.

BUT.......the big difference having the triple was that I enjoyed the event so much more. I rode round, rather than mauling the bike round in places.

One of the best things I ever did was going for a triple.

 

[AlanW]

Look at it this way......I rode the Falling Leaves Audax three years ago. Its only 60km, but it is up and down for the whole duration.

I rode it on a 39/52 and a 10sp 12/25, I got round and finished in a reasonable time, in places it was a bit of struggle and the following day I was knackered!

Then I bought a triple and rode the same event a year on. Completed it in near enough the same time, cannot compare exact as we got lost the second year!

The triple is a 28/39/52, but a 10sp 12/23 instead of the 12/25 before, this keeping a nice tight ratio, perfect for maintaining a steady cadence.

BUT.......the big difference having the triple was that I enjoyed the event so much more. I rode round, rather than mauling the bike round in places.

One of the best things I ever did was going for a triple.

 

[AlanW]

Look at it this way......I rode the Falling Leaves Audax three years ago. Its only 60km, but it is up and down for the whole duration.

I rode it on a 39/52 and a 10sp 12/25, I got round and finished in a reasonable time, in places it was a bit of struggle and the following day I was knackered!

Then I bought a triple and rode the same event a year on. Completed it in near enough the same time, cannot compare exact as we got lost the second year!

The triple is a 28/39/52, but a 10sp 12/23 instead of the 12/25 before, this keeping a nice tight ratio, perfect for maintaining a steady cadence.

BUT.......the big difference having the triple was that I enjoyed the event so much more. I rode round, rather than mauling the bike round in places.

One of the best things I ever did was going for a triple.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

deffo a yay. when i first joined my local club i found i could not get up the hills on the double chainset. i looked at changing to a compact but went triple after a lot of deliberation.

i've never regretted it, as someone who tends to spin a high cadence rather than grind a high gear up the climbs.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

deffo a yay. when i first joined my local club i found i could not get up the hills on the double chainset. i looked at changing to a compact but went triple after a lot of deliberation.

i've never regretted it, as someone who tends to spin a high cadence rather than grind a high gear up the climbs.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

deffo a yay. when i first joined my local club i found i could not get up the hills on the double chainset. i looked at changing to a compact but went triple after a lot of deliberation.

i've never regretted it, as someone who tends to spin a high cadence rather than grind a high gear up the climbs.

 

[MacB]

or you could say nay to both and go for a Rohloff, rediscover simplicity, straight chainlines and longer wear on parts. Go for one with a carbon belt drive and say goodbye to oil, noise and chain stretch. Sort of traditional combined with modern.

 

[MacB]

or you could say nay to both and go for a Rohloff, rediscover simplicity, straight chainlines and longer wear on parts. Go for one with a carbon belt drive and say goodbye to oil, noise and chain stretch. Sort of traditional combined with modern.

 

[MacB]

or you could say nay to both and go for a Rohloff, rediscover simplicity, straight chainlines and longer wear on parts. Go for one with a carbon belt drive and say goodbye to oil, noise and chain stretch. Sort of traditional combined with modern.