What happened to 3 chainring setups

[Dogtrousers]

I don't think this is cost driven. More that wider ratio cassettes with more sprockets make triples less attractive - if you can get the same range and sprocket spacing with a double, why wouldn't you?

Probably a bit of both - manufacturer cost reduction and lack of consumer demand.

On the one hand, triples having lower consumer demand and being a bit niche, and on the other hand the manufacturers' unwillingness to cater for a small sector, when they can keep many of that sector happy with an alternative (2x) product.

 

[Jameshow]

For me singles are ideal for commuting/ leisure bikes

Doubles are great for road bikes when I'm either up a hill or powering down the other side...

Triples are great for touring as the middle ring is ideal for riding on the flat. A double means your hunting between rings imho.

 

[mickle]

For me singles are ideal for commuting/ leisure bikes

Doubles are great for road bikes when I'm either up a hill or powering down the other side...

Triples are great for touring as the middle ring is ideal for riding on the flat. A double means your hunting between rings imho.

Exactly right. I have a 9 speed, an 18 speed and a 27 speed bike in each of these three categories. Plus an 18 speed XC mountain bike (30/40 x 11-34)

 

[PaulSB]

For me singles are ideal for commuting/ leisure bikes

Doubles are great for road bikes when I'm either up a hill or powering down the other side...

Triples are great for touring as the middle ring is ideal for riding on the flat. A double means your hunting between rings imho.

I've seen variations on this comment in this and the 12 speed thread. It's something I don't understand at all. I find it very easy to settle into a gear that's appropriate for the conditions I'm riding under. I might move up and down one gear either side as the road changes but nothing I'd describe as "hunting."

On a flat ride examples would be canal and motorway bridges. On both of these I might need to drop a gear, sometimes two on a motorway bridge, to ease the push up the incline. Surely if one doesn't need to do this the chosen gear for the flat surface is too low?

 

[Mo1959]

One of my favourite bikes is my old Cube Peloton with a triple Sora set up. It has changed flawlessly from the day I got it and the 30 inner ring is handy for the hills.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Triples have always been a pita for me, and impossible to get all gears available without rubbing on some gears.
Singles aren't really my cup of tea either, the gaps are enormous, I prefer a much closer set of ratios.
I do have a Boardman hybrid with a single, but it's just a town bike usually, though I have been forced to use it on a commute a few times, it was manageable, but not that enjoyable.

A well setup double, for me is a joy.

I have doubles in 48/31, 50/34, 52/36 and 53/36, ranging from 10-12 speed.

 

[matticus]

Triples have always been a pita for me, and impossible to get all gears available without rubbing on some gears.

Indexed front shifter?

 

[Dan Lotus]

Indexed front shifter?

Yes indexed - I'm guessing a non indexed one would give much more flexibility on where the cage sits.

The only need I can personally see for a triple, is for a tourer with a decent amount of luggage, my bro tours with a quite heavenly laden bike and uses a triple.

Personally, I think a 48/31 with a 12-36 would be fine for bike packing etc, but an 11-34 would be more than fine for normal riding.

 

[matticus]

Yes indexed - I'm guessing a non indexed one would give much more flexibility on where the cage sits.

Yeah, exactly. Since moving "forward" to Brifters, I've always had Campag Ergos that are not indexed at the front (or rather it's "micro-indexing". Or something). For me, this works perfectly on Triples.

I *suspect* that part of the modern anti-triple sentiment/movement is that Shimano (and SRAM) went for full front indexing. This is never going to work quite as well as on a Double.

Forza friction shifting!!! :P

 

[albion]

Triples are great on ebikes. The bigger jump of the front mech allows for far less gear changing whilst providing a bail out granny/flat battery gearing.

 

[mustang1]

I don't think this is cost driven. More that wider ratio cassettes with more sprockets make triples less attractive - if you can get the same range and sprocket spacing with a double, why wouldn't you? And that's possible with the range any reasonable day rider on road would like.

MTBs have simply had the top end of gears removed. My old '90s MTB had a triple with pretty high top gears. Modern MTBs just don't bother with those, and as the comments above suggest, it's a gap for "gravel" setups too.

The gap it leaves is for setups where you want a really large gear range, which doubles, at least as currently constituted, can't deliver.

Spa cover this gap in a similar way to my own setup with 9 speed Sora; the double options either require big cassette steps (11-40 9 speed) or low top gears (40 tooth), which is why a triple is attractive. "Gravel" groupsets just don't have low enough gears, unless the gravel isn't too steep IMO.

View attachment 790749

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s225p4912/SPA-CYCLES-DTour-725-Disc-Tourer-9spd

But what came first: the cost saving initiative or the wide range cassette. I still think The Board said "you gotta cut costs! And the engineers came up with wide range cassette.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

But what came first: the cost saving initiative or the wide range cassette. I still think The Board said "you gotta cut costs! And the engineers came up with wide range cassette.

Ah, I think it was more "let's make things simpler". Who knows? I'm not even sure it is cheaper given more cogs and larger on the cassette.

I do think a double is better for a lightweight road bike.

 

[Jameshow]

I've seen variations on this comment in this and the 12 speed thread. It's something I don't understand at all. I find it very easy to settle into a gear that's appropriate for the conditions I'm riding under. I might move up and down one gear either side as the road changes but nothing I'd describe as "hunting."

On a flat ride examples would be canal and motorway bridges. On both of these I might need to drop a gear, sometimes two on a motorway bridge, to ease the push up the incline. Surely if one doesn't need to do this the chosen gear for the flat surface is too low?

What I meant is your cross chaining top on small ring and big on little ring neither of which is ideal ..

 

[PaulSB]

What I meant is your cross chaining top on small ring and big on little ring neither of which is ideal ..

I can't say I find this necessary.

 

[Psamathe]

Thinking about this out today on my Croix de Fer (with a triple) and the triple is very useful eg approaching a junction and you just drop one on the front. Riding today in Flatlandia but eg longish slight incline and the narrower rear allows drop a rear gear just to ease the effort a bit.

Not a massive requirement for my ride today but on a longer tour in hillier places carrying full camping gear and it's much more important (to me anyway).