Triple recommendation please

[veloduffer]

I'm looking to change my Campy triple crank for my touring bike. I'm not thrilled about the gearing (53/42/30) and would like something with a 48/34/24 or 48/36/24. It's hard to find and expensive to replace the Campy rings. So I was thinking of the Velo-Orange Grand Cru (kind of Rene Herse knockoffs?) or the VO Triple. I think this route would be cheaper than buying new Campy/TA rings (if I could find those sizes).

Anyone have experience with the VO cranks or another recommendation?

Thanks

[Pete Serotta]

Are you using a 9 or a.ten speed casette? That will influence some choices. I have 10 speed campy on my ti with a ultegra last generation triple. Before that I had a TA triple until it met its demise from the Parlee van at RTR.

Both serve or served well. I have no experience with VO,


Please let us know what you pick and how it works out. pete

[veloduffer]

I'm running 10-spd Campy. The VO stuff has all the requisites: Looks good in silver, affordable at less than $250, has ramps& pins for modern shifting and no real weight penalty.

I was hoping some of our randonneuring friends would chime in with some opinions before I pull the trigger. :beer:

[pavel]

Velo Orange stuff is cheap and has a lot of negative reviews.



Before ditching campy, you might want to try replacing your 53 with something smaller. Maybe try a 48t TA Vento, and a cheap 28 or 26t granny. I think 48/42/28 might be an ideal step+granny gearing. Do you feel that you REALLY need a 36 or 35 middle?

And face it, there's not going to be a lot of modern triples out their that will look as nice as your campy.


If you don't like it, you could always resell it - TA rings hold their value quite well.

[Ahneida Ride]

Did it twice ! :hello:
1.) my bike ... TA Zephyr 48/36/22 rings

Zephyr is discontinued ... go to Peter White and click on Carmina.

My bike is a Serotta with Campy Record 10

2.) Velo orange Grand Cru ... 46/36/24 rings
Nice crank ! did NOT seem cheapo

This friends bike is a Bedford with Ultegra 10


Send me a PM if you want to chat more.

OEM gearing sucks. Tired of OEM telling me what to ride. :crap:

[veloduffer]

Velo Orange stuff is cheap and has a lot of negative reviews.

Before ditching campy, you might want to try replacing your 53 with something smaller. Maybe try a 48t TA Vento, and a cheap 28 or 26t granny. I think 48/42/28 might be an ideal step+granny gearing. Do you feel that you REALLY need a 36 or 35 middle?

And face it, there's not going to be a lot of modern triples out their that will look as nice as your campy.


If you don't like it, you could always resell it - TA rings hold their value quite well.


Good idea on the 48. I've gotten used to riding with compacts and being a spinner, I use the 34T ring for most riding (I only start spinning out around 19-20mph). I'm not sure what the lowest middle ring that can be used on the Campy - 39T?

[palincss]

It's hard to beat the Sugino XD-2 even without considering the price.

[Don49]

Any possibility that a 29t cassette would give you low enough gearing? That's almost 1:1 in the small ring. Far less expensive than changing out the crankset or chainrings.

[sg8357]

Until TA brings back the Zephyr, a Sugino Mighty Tour with the IRD triplizer
is the best I can come up with.

http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Sugino_MightyTour_3

$300, 48/36/24

[veloduffer]

Any possibility that a 29t cassette would give you low enough gearing? That's almost 1:1 in the small ring. Far less expensive than changing out the crankset or chainrings.

Actually, it isn't getting low enough gearing for climbing. It's finding a good gear for rolling terrain. I should run my gearing through a gear-inch calculator and make some comparisons.

[chismog]

Pretty sure Campy (135BCD) doesn't make/fit lower than a 30 for the inner Campy ring, and a 38 or 39 is the smallest middle ring.

One thing you might want to look for is the elusive Campy 30/40/50 combo. They made some of these in addition to the regular 30/42/53s.

Hope this helps,
C

[malcolm]

Did it twice ! :hello:
1.) my bike ... TA Zephyr 48/36/22 rings

Zephyr is discontinued ... go to Peter White and click on Carmina.

My bike is a Serotta with Campy Record 10

2.) Velo orange Grand Cru ... 46/36/24 rings
Nice crank ! did NOT seem cheapo

This friends bike is a Bedford with Ultegra 10


Send me a PM if you want to chat more.

OEM gearing sucks. Tired of OEM telling me what to ride. :crap:

Call Peter White, he'll hook you up and make sure you get what you need

[bfd]

Good idea on the 48. I've gotten used to riding with compacts and being a spinner, I use the 34T ring for most riding (I only start spinning out around 19-20mph). I'm not sure what the lowest middle ring that can be used on the Campy - 39T?

Yup, 39t is the smallest middle ring that can be used on a Campy triple as the bcd is 135mm. So if you need a 34t or 36t middle, you'll need a new crank.

But, if you can live with a 39t middle ring, there is another option outside of Campy or TA for chainrings. Check out Vuelta rings. They rings from 39t to 55t and priced from $20 to $33.50:

http://www.vueltausa.com/components/chainrings/se-chain-ring-135mm-39-55t.html

They also have 74mmbcd rings for your inner granny ring that range from 24t to 32t starting at only $15:

http://www.vueltausa.com/components/chainrings/se-flat-chainrings/se-chain-ring-74mm-24-32t.html

Made in the USA, very reasonably priced (at least when compared to TA and Campy) and a good selection of rings, what's not to like?! Good Luck!

[roydyates]

I ride a lot with an Ultegra 52-39-30 triple and I REALLY like the 39-30 shifts. That's the ratio step that feels best to me. On the other hand, I hardly ever need the 52. By the time I spin out in the 39 (which happens only rarely since I ride slow) shifting to the 52 seems like a marginal improvement, and hardly worth the trouble, especially in rolling terrain.

[rain dogs]

Actually, it isn't getting low enough gearing for climbing. It's finding a good gear for rolling terrain. I should run my gearing through a gear-inch calculator and make some comparisons.

You shouldn't be having more of a problem with your gear for rolling terrain with your triple than compact. With a triple you've got many options and a much smoother transition between gears than a compact. You have more redundancies as well.... which actually are rarely the exact same gearing... in effect giving you more options.

You may want to buy individual cogs or customize your 13-29 cassette. I would maybe also run a 50-39-30

But if you've expressed being happy with the compact and spinning, the triple is only giving you one higher ratio (51.3), and one lower (13.0), a 26% and 40% jump between rings.... then you have 28 combinations including all the chain cross-overs you won't want.

A Compact gives you 48.4-14.8 with only 20 possibilities (with chain-cross) and a 47% jump between rings.

I'm not sure how reducing your chainrings tooth count so drastically will do much change for your cruising options on rolling terrain. I guess an 11 speed cassette could help eliminate one of those 2 tooth cassette jumps as well.

Try Sheldon's gear calculator, check Branford for individual rings/cogs, that's a good idea.

[Ralph]

I've run 28 (Sugino)-Campy 40-50, Campy 30-40-50, 32-42-52, and currently 30-42-53 Campy triples with Campy FD and Campy Med RD. All work fine. I really like the 42 in middle. Usually with a 29 largest cog in rear. Sometimes a 26.

But recently purchased a 10's loose cog 14-23, so can now run a 14-29 or 14-26 as well....with proper cog following each cog. I really had no use for a 53-13 top gear. When I get going faster than high 20's down hill, I coast. Top gear of 53-14 about the same as a 49-13.....moving useful cog over one space, so I can ride in big ring with decent chainline a lot now.

I know the trend is for smaller cogs in rear to go with smaller chainrings in front, but larger wears longer and gives same overall ratio.....assuming you can live with a 30 tooth 74 BCD ring.

[swPArider]

the shimano deore 590 crank is available with 48/36/26 chainrings.

[Marcusaurelius]

I've tried the sugino xd crankset and it's okay. I think the carmina would be just a bit nicer. If you could find a used zephyr somewhere you would not look back.

[khjr]

It's hard to beat the Sugino XD-2 even without considering the price.

Agreed. The XDs are sharp looking, good quality, and thoughtfully geared.

[Ahneida Ride]

Call Peter White, he'll hook you up and make sure you get what you need


Amen !

Carmina Cranks (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/carmina.asp)

[Ahneida Ride]

I've tried the sugino xd crankset and it's okay. I think the carmina would be just a bit nicer. If you could find a used zephyr somewhere you would not look back.

Zephyr is OT. I know I was one the lucky ones to get one of the last ones
in Peter White Inventory.

[oldpotatoe]

I'm looking to change my Campy triple crank for my touring bike. I'm not thrilled about the gearing (53/42/30) and would like something with a 48/34/24 or 48/36/24. It's hard to find and expensive to replace the Campy rings. So I was thinking of the Velo-Orange Grand Cru (kind of Rene Herse knockoffs?) or the VO Triple. I think this route would be cheaper than buying new Campy/TA rings (if I could find those sizes).

Anyone have experience with the VO cranks or another recommendation?

Thanks

Lots of 110/74mm BCD triple cranks out there(what you need if you want a smaller than38t middle). Have your LBS check the J&B catalog, I think Origin 8 and others make a less expensive triple crank in that BCD.

[oldpotatoe]

Pretty sure Campy (135BCD) doesn't make/fit lower than a 30 for the inner Campy ring, and a 38 or 39 is the smallest middle ring.

One thing you might want to look for is the elusive Campy 30/40/50 combo. They made some of these in addition to the regular 30/42/53s.

Hope this helps,
C

Inner on Campag triples is 74mm BCD so a 24t(TA makes them, I have them) or so is possible but for it to work well, gotta change the middle and big as well or get a 'deeper' FD.

'Comp' triple is offered in 50/40/30, then add a 26t small and bobs yer uncle.

[d.vader123]

It's hard to beat the Sugino XD-2 even without considering the price.
+1

[Vancouverdave]

Sugino has a newer, slightly prettier crank than an XD2 called the Alpina 2. Looks very similar to the old Specialized triple crank, includes 10 speed compatible rings, your LBS should sell it in the low 200's. Very, very nice crank and a great value; I've sold a couple this year both on bikes with Campag 10.

[dana_e]

the campy triple 52-42-30

I live in a valley, lots of flat, surrounded by hills

the 42 is really nice in the flat, gets me the magic 70 inch with a straight chain line

I tried compact, but was always cross geared inthe flat

I prefer triple over compact

[Ahneida Ride]

I hated the 42 ...

The Zephyr allows one to CHOOSE ones rings !

Imagine that ! I decide not the OEM. :crap:

[veloduffer]

Thanks for the recs - I'll do some research and let you know.