Age... Compact or triple?

[Dekonick]

Knees are getting older... The time has come.

Triple or compact? Change crank arm length? Just curious what everyone else has done with success. At present, I run 172.5 52/36 with 13/29 or 12/25 Campy 10.

[jtakeda]

Personally I’d go compact but if you go triple for the lower gears I have a chorus 10 triple crank I’m ready to list

[Dekonick]

Personally I’d go compact but if you go triple for the lower gears I have a chorus 10 triple crank I’m ready to list

PM me:) I am looking for a triple. Square taper?

[ultraman6970]

I have an edco triple moving around with the edco triple sealed BB (italian)

[Dave]

Triples are no longer made by Campy and their shifters no longer support a triple FD. Consider that latest Chorus 12 with a 48/32 and 11-34 cassette. I switched both of my bikes recently and it works great. Having a low gear of 32/34 is lower than the triples I used in the past.

I've had a triple with a 28/29 low, but the new compact is just a bit lower.

[buddybikes]

What's your chainstay length? 410 would be bit too much angle, longer chainstay will help that issue.

Of course what riding type, kind of roads you ride etc all affect the decision
It's not just the crankset of course if going down that road. Compact double will probably slam on their without other investments.

[redir]

Triples can be very fussy with shifting. I think they are a thing of the past now. With 11-speed, long cage RD, you can get just about all the gears that a triple can. And if you come to the worlds steepest climb then just walk ;)

[Dekonick]

Just one of those old farts who rides mostly solo. Hills all around my house. :banana:

[jtakeda]

Triples can be very fussy with shifting. I think they are a thing of the past now. With 11-speed, long cage RD, you can get just about all the gears that a triple can. And if you come to the worlds steepest climb then just walk ;)

I never had any issues with setting up a triple. Everything worked perfect.

My only gripe was I had a 3rd bottle cage and the smallest ring would interfere with water bottles

[Ken Robb]

I've never had a problem shifting triples from Campy or Shimano. The only compact I had was 50-34 Ritchey cranks with 9 speed Veloce/Chorus/Record mix with 12-26 9 speed Campy cassette and it worked fine too. I also enjoyed a 48-38-28 TA Zephyr with 10 speed Chorus and 13-29 cogs. I still have the 24 tooth cog in the original package because I didn't need to go that low. Most of my bikes with triples had longish chainstays and they probably helped by reducing chain angles.

My last remaining road bike is my Riv. Rambouillet with 6503 Ultegra triple 52-42-30 and 12-27 cassette. I spend a lot of time spinning along in the 42 ring and the middle of the cassette saving the 52 for downhills and tailwinds and the 30 for steeper hills than I can manage in the 42.

With 50-34 and 11-26 9 speed I found some gaps and/or slightly awkward shift points but I wasn't racing so that didn't really matter. Maybe a compact with 11 or 12 cogs would eliminate those gaps but I haven't tried any of that new-fangled stuff. :)

[thwart]

What's your chainstay length? 410 would be bit too much angle, longer chainstay will help that issue.


400 mm chainstays. Couldn't fit anything larger than a 23 mm tire without rubbing the FD band. And yet that Record triple worked great.

The upturned stem, not so much. ;)

With 10 spd Campy, I thought the front shifting was actually very good and surprisingly easy to master. We've all become accustomed to a 16 tooth chainring difference in the typical compact drivetrain... a 10 or even 13 tooth difference makes for better shifting performance.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697877661&stc=1&d=1395586797

[zmudshark]

Old guy here. If you are sticking with 10s, go triple, if 11-12, compact.

I do not like the double shifting on a compact that I seem to have to do.

[Dekonick]

My last experience with a compact was a long time ago - I think it was Campy 9 speed with a FSA compact. It sucked.

[Dekonick]

400 mm chainstays. Couldn't fit anything larger than a 23 mm tire without rubbing the FD band. And yet that Record triple worked great.

The upturned stem, not so much. ;)

With 10 spd Campy, I thought the front shifting was actually very good and surprisingly easy to master. We've all become accustomed to a 16 tooth chainring difference in the typical compact drivetrain... a 10 or even 13 tooth difference makes for better shifting performance.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697877661&stc=1&d=1395586797

Sharp looking bike.

[donevwil]

I put a triple on my wife's bike (Campy 10). It has the same range as her previous 2x did, but with much smaller jumps (obviously). She is now more likely to have the right gear which has enabled her to more consistently hold a pace.

I love triples, unfortunately my bum knee can't tolerate the increased Q factor.

[eddief]

3 bikes 3 triples, 11-36 cassette. I'm oldish and never have been a strong climber no matter how svelte. But then the old thumbs start give out and wanted to try e-shifting. No e-shift triples. Now down to 2 bikes one with Di2 and the other with E-tap red. Both running 48-32 in front and 11-36 in back. Both shift perfect and almost as low as the triples were.

I would not hesitate to go to 46-30 in the front when I need lower gears. Don't care about spinning out, care about making it up the hill.


Thought I would not like how the big jump in the front always forces catch up on the cassette. But with e-shifting changing gears is so fast it has turned into a non-issue.

[eddief]

,

[Dekonick]

3 bikes 3 triples, 11-36 cassette. I'm oldish and never have been a strong climber no matter how svelte. But then the old thumbs start give out and wanted to try e-shifting. No e-shift triples. Now down to 2 bikes one with Di2 and the other with E-tap red. Both running 48-32 in front and 11-36 in back. Both shift perfect and almost as low as the triples were.

I would not hesitate to go to 46-30 in the front when I need lower gears. Don't care about spinning out, care about making it up the hill.


Thought I would not like how the big jump in the front always forces catch up on the cassette. But with e-shifting changing gears is so fast it has turned into a non-issue.

Interesting. I haven't even considered e-shifting. What, if any, changes to an older frame does one need to make?

[jtakeda]

Interesting. I haven't even considered e-shifting. What, if any, changes to an older frame does one need to make?

You have to use sram or drill holes for the wiring.

[palincss]

Knees are getting older... The time has come.

Triple or compact? Change crank arm length? Just curious what everyone else has done with success. At present, I run 172.5 52/36 with 13/29 or 12/25 Campy 10.

What range do you want?

I've had some very serious issues going on for the past 10 or 11 months, and when I built up the new JP Weigle I knew I was going to need some really low gears. I like bar end shifters, so the limitations of integrated shift/brake levers with respect to triples weren't a factor for me.

I have a 24/34/46 Rene Herse triple mated to a 10 speed SRAM PG-1070 12-32 cassette. With 650Bx38 wheels, I have a gear range of 19.5 - 99.7" with a 27.6" as the low gear on the middle ring, and reasonable spacing between adjacent gears throughout the entire range.

12 52.0 73.7 99.7
13 48.0 68.0 92.0
14 44.6 63.1 85.4
15 41.6 58.9 79.7
17 36.7 52.0 70.4
19 32.8 46.5 62.9
22 28.4 40.2 54.4
25 25.0 35.4 47.8
28 22.3 31.6 42.7
32 19.5 27.6 37.4

As for "triples being a thing of the past" - untrue. Triples with 11 speed, probably not. Triples with STI, probably not (although I do have friends running triples with 9 speed cassettes and 9spd STI). Range like this with spacing like this and a cross-over like this with a double? Probably not.

[paredown]

I'm experimenting with Campy 10 triples--this year especially, I'm having to 'postman' on the steep sections with a 39-26 or 39-29 on my go-(fairly)-fast bike. I started hoarding components last year, and will swap as I rebuild.

(Full disclosure: I turned 67 (How is that possible?) this year--but the loss of power was pretty directly attributable to some health issues (now cleared up) and a little weight gain (I've dropped 10 pounds since the spring. so going the right direction...)

I rode a lot with conventional gearing (39, 40 or 42 front (in the olden days)) so I like that range of gears across the cassette--compact doesn't appeal for that reason. With a triple, I get ratios that feel right, then I can use the small front as a dump gear for when I'm struggling, and the big ring for those few occasions were I'm ripping down hill, or trying to hold pace on a gentle downhill. I inadvertently became a spinner back in the day, so I tend to ride a fairly high cadence (still) in a lower gear than the mashers.

Currently working with a 50/40/30 front and a 13-26 or 13-29 rear. I'm still experimenting a little--I've got a 12-26 to try in case I need a little higher gear. I've also got a 53-42-30 stockpiled, in case i want an old school triple...

I tend to get a little clinking on the inside of the big ring when on middle front/small in back on my CSi (shortish chainstays); other than that, the triple works pretty nice and setup is not too difficult. All of the older Campy 10 levers will shift a triple--except last gen Centaur/Veloce was triple OR double front, IIRC.

[eddief]

if you already have a bike you like, you need a subcompact crank, sram 11 speed 11-36 cassette, etap front d, etap wifli rear d, and shifters that match your type of brakes. no wires...and the shift logic is cool and works like a champ. Di2 does shift a bit more snapily but etap is a radically simpler system.

i just did this to my 7 year old coupled Curtlo with mid-reach calipers. what a revelation of an upgrade.

the basic etap kit with derailleurs and shifters is about $1500 new.

https://glorycycles.com/sram-red-etap-rim-brake-11-spd-kit/

Interesting. I haven't even considered e-shifting. What, if any, changes to an older frame does one need to make?

[Dave]

SRAM's 11 speed e-tap is now obsolete. Might not be smart to buy into it now. It's been replaced by 12 speed AXS. Just the shifters, and two derailleurs cost over $1600. You still need a cassette and that requires an XDR hub. You're also stuck with a large cog of no more than 33T.

I bought two Chorus 12 groups for less than the cost of one complete Force 12 AXS group.

[thwart]

When you read through a thread like this, you realize that part of the attraction of e-shifting is that we're now shifting a 16 tooth difference in the front and some pretty wide gaps on the cassette (11-36, anyone?) in the back.

Amazing how fast, quiet and smooth modern indexed shifting is when you run a 50/40/30 crank and a tight 12/25 (or even 12/26) cassette.

And yes, that 30/25 is lower gearing than a compact's 34/29...

[Plum Hill]

Rode a Serotta CRT for a number of years with a Racing Triple 30-40-50 and 13-26. Personally, I just don’t like a triple. If there was a way to lock out the granny until I needed it I might reconsider.
Colorado travel bike now uses 34-50 and 12-32. So far so good.

[bigbill]

I've got a compact on my BLE with a 12-25 so it's really nice on the flats, I can find just the right gear. 34-25 is pretty low for climbing. I'm really digging the Ultegra 8000 52/36 with an 11-28. I'd rather have a 12-28 but it's still a great setup. I had a campy racing triple in the past and it shifted well, but with 11 or 12 speed, a double will cover 90% of what a triple will do.

[Dekonick]

I've got a compact on my BLE with a 12-25 so it's really nice on the flats, I can find just the right gear. 34-25 is pretty low for climbing. I'm really digging the Ultegra 8000 52/36 with an 11-28. I'd rather have a 12-28 but it's still a great setup. I had a campy racing triple in the past and it shifted well, but with 11 or 12 speed, a double will cover 90% of what a triple will do.

90% - but the knees HATE that 10%... That is the whole point here.

[eddief]

age, genetics, riding style, and terrain you generally ride in. If you're 30 years old, in great shape, genetically predisposed to being a good climber then this conversation is moot. if the variables are more negative than positive then you need to think about sub compacts and fat cassettes. install what you need to enjoy the riding you like to do.

[Dave]

When you read through a thread like this, you realize that part of the attraction of e-shifting is that we're now shifting a 16 tooth difference in the front and some pretty wide gaps on the cassette (11-36, anyone?) in the back.

Amazing how fast, quiet and smooth modern indexed shifting is when you run a 50/40/30 crank and a tight 12/25 (or even 12/26) cassette.

And yes, that 30/25 is lower gearing than a compact's 34/29...

SRAM now only offers a 13T difference at the crank, giving up some range.

The new 11-34 Campy9 12 speed is a straight block through the 17, then it's 19-22-25-29-34.

With Campy's new 48/32 sub-compact crank, the 32/29 and 32/34 are both lower than a 30/25. At the low end, the new cog spacing works great.

The 16T shift at the crank is no problem.

[thunderworks]

My preference is for a double, 46 X 30 crankset, with a 12 X 32 cassette. High gear is around 102", low gear around 25". If I need more than 102 gear inches, I'll glad coast and watch the scenery. If you need lower gears to climb, I believe it's more than likely that a 102" high gear is plenty.

Just my opinion of course . . .

[cgolvin]

PM me:) I am looking for a triple. Square taper?

I have a square taper Chorus BB designed for a triple. No use to me so happy to let it go. PM if interested.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=230996

[jamesdak]

I just got back from a after work climbing ride. I've been using a bike setup with a Dura Ace/Ultegra 10s Triple setup. Right now it's geared 53/39/30 with a 12-30 cassette. I was glad to have that final gear when I hit a 19% grade today.

I've also got a Campy Racing Triple setup as well as several compact doubles. I honestly don't find a properly setup triple FD to be a problem.

On top of the triple/compact decision you might want to consider your actual position on the bike. I find that I like bars a little higher than normal on my climbing bike as well as a saddle that's flat with lots of room to move around on.

[NHAero]

I have both set-ups. On my old Bob Jackson I have a 10s STI 105 triple shifter set with a 12-30 cassette and a 48-36-24 triple. Shifts fine. On my Anderson, I wanted STI hydro, so that's a 2x11. 44-33 front, and for D2R2 it's got a 11-40 cassette (R8000 Ultegra RD with a Wolftooth DM link). Lowest and highest gears similar, larger jumps on the 2x11 cassette. Normally that bike wears a 12-34 cassette, fine for Martha's Vineyard's paltry hills.

My Litespeed Unicoi drop bar conversion usually has the 11-40 and DM link, 11s Shimano hydro shifters just like the Anderson, but a 42-28 front gives a 18.4 inch low gear, because that bike gets both single track and pavement mixed duty. It's set up to get all 11 cogs on the 42T chainring.

[rccardr]

Hmmmmm. Right tool for the job, as my beloved grandpa used to say.

For local rides, which are certainly hilly but not, um, mountainous, a standard 53-52/39-42 with a 12-28 works just fine. So does a compact. Hardly ever have to shift into the small ring.

For more steeply rides, a compact with 12-28 does the trick, Skyline Drive, Thunder Ridge, long relatively steep pitches, the 34-28 combo does the trick with a bailout just in case.

For truly difficult climbs, like in Southern Wisconsin or Eroica, pull out the jams: either a 50-28 ring combo with a 13/28 freewheel, or a 38-36-24 triple with a 13-32/34 cog set.

Oh, and I'm 68, so I understand about the whole age thing.

[bigbill]

90% - but the knees HATE that 10%... That is the whole point here.

I've had three surgeries, on my left knee and two on my right. I've had back surgery as well. I pay close attention to my position and what my knees are telling me.

[Ronsonic]

Just one of those old farts who rides mostly solo. Hills all around my house. :banana:

I have one bike with Campy 46 - 36 which works well enough for my fendered putter around bike. The 50-34 always had me at one end of the cassette or the other.

If I find myself needing a wide range I'd go triple.

Don't know how the 48-38-28 fell out of fashion. Great compromise for everything except serious racing.

[Dave]

The difference between a 50 and 46 big ring is no more than 1 sprocket on the cassette. The difference between a 36 and 34 is even less.

The new 48/32 from Campy works great with the 11-34 12 speed cassette. The low is the same as an old 28/29 on a triple. The 48/11 provides plenty of top gear. If you don't need the 11-12, don't use them. An old 10 speed 13-29 cassette wouldn't have them.

FWIW, I used a 53/39/28 triple with a 12-25 for 5 years, riding in the Colorado mountains. I finally switched to a compact crank when 11 speed came out.

[Spinner]

I switched my Serotta CIII with a DA 39-53 double 8+ years ago to 38-50 TA rings and have never regretted it.

My Chorus equipped Rambouillet has a compact crank with 36-50 rings and it works great too. However, I've known for some time that I could really benefit from a triple as I'm now 65.

In January I picked-up a NOS CIII (same size and color as my original) on this forum that had a 6503 Ultegra triple with 30-42-52 rings, 12-27 in the rear. Because of my experience with 38 and 50 rings, I immediately switched to a 26-38-48 TA configuration (thanks to Peter White Cycles). This new set-up works perfectly and the shifting is as good or better than any that I have ever used. I may switch to a 12-29 cassette before I take CIII No. 2 into the mountains.

[sfscott]

I have an essentially unused Athena triple + PT bottom bracket available (ca. 2015-2016)

Black crank arms, 170mm. PM me if interested.