Why no more road triples?

[User16625]

Why have road bikes with 3 chainrings become so much less common? Everything is a 10 or 11 speed double. Im not a fan of 11 speeds due to the potential for wider chain angles aswell as having a narrower chain to begin with. But even with wider range cassettes, triples offer so much more range. The weight of an extra cog is negligible.

 

[Ian H]

I use a triple on the tourer/audax machine because I hate wide ratio gears that destroy the rhythm and force big cadence changes.

 

[User32269]

I fitted triple to my old Quinns road bike. Gives a great range of gearing with 7 SPD cassette, and always has a bale out cog to hit...been needed on a few occasions!

 

[Sharky]

Just noticing the rise of the 1x single chainwheels, coupled with some mega cassettes 10-42!
Could be the start of the end for compacts as well?

 

[Ian H]

Triple chainsets are still made, so you can always convert your knee-trembler to nice gearing.

 

[HertzvanRental]

I fitted triple to my old Quinns road bike. Gives a great range of gearing with 7 SPD cassette, and always has a bale out cog to hit...been needed on a few occasions!

Ditto. Fitted a triple to my Claud Butler tourer. Only have a 5 speed cassette, but the extra wheel "up front" makes life much more comfortable!!

 

[winjim]

Just in the process of converting my commuter to a triple for super low gearing when it gets icy.

 

[User32269]

Ditto. Fitted a triple to my Claud Butler tourer. Only have a 5 speed cassette, but the extra wheel "up front" makes life much more comfortable!!

I once achieved Chris Froomes cadence for 10 minutes on a hill in the granny ring, but never actually moved forward!

 

[Ian H]

I do have both (non-compact) doubles and a fixed. #horsesforcourses

 

[HertzvanRental]

I once achieved Chris Froomes cadence for 10 minutes on a hill in the granny ring, but never actually moved forward!

You have to choose! You can pedal comfortably or you can move. You can't do both!!

 

[Caskman]

Yeah, been riding my Merida triple road bike for last 8 years and have been toying with getting a shiny new triple road bike but very limited for choices. Feel like I'm being pushed down the 10/11 speed compact route. Got nothing against compact set ups but I'd rather stick with what I'm used to.

 

[MichaelW2]

I once achieved Chris Froomes cadence for 10 minutes on a hill in the granny ring, but never actually moved forward!

The secret to achieving Froomoid cadence on a gradient is to wait till you are going downhill.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I like my triple. It's there in case it's needed on the knackering hills, or for the lesser hills when you're knackered.

 

[slowmotion]

I reserve the bike with the triple for steep hills. Without any doubt at all, I would be walking if I used the bike with the 50/34 compact. I have to be realistic.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Anyone using a 'quiche crankset' by any chance?