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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2014 15:22:11 GMT
Owned my Triban 500 for 5 weeks and truly bitten by the cycling bug. Had my first proper ride out yesterday with a local group of cyclists which went well. The one question I have is on compact v triple chain sets. When I bought the Triban I hadn't realised that most bikes now have only 2 rings which seems to be described as a compact. While riding out yesterday I was wondering if the lowest gear on a compact provides as low a gear as on the smallest of the 3 front rings on my bike? Presumably the largest ring on the compact rear cassette is bigger than mine to provide a similar low gearing? I guess the fewer gears available on the compact provides a similar high and low but with less gears in between? Grateful for a quick explanation or confirmation.
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Post by lowey on Jun 22, 2014 15:56:47 GMT
Pretty much as you have said. I went from a triple (30/39/50) with a 12-26 cassette on my T3 to a compact (34/50) with a 12-30 cassette. The the high and low ratios are almost identical. You just lose a few gears in the middle range, but a lot of ratios on the triple are duplicated anyway so you don't really lose out.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2014 17:10:19 GMT
Same flexibility with fewer gears. Win win.
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Post by chas on Jun 22, 2014 19:04:41 GMT
Pretty much as you have said. I went from a triple (30/39/50) with a 12-26 cassette on my T3 to a compact (34/50) with a 12-30 cassette. The the high and low ratios are almost identical. You just lose a few gears in the middle range, but a lot of ratios on the triple are duplicated anyway so you don't really lose out. You lose out by the steps between the gears being wider, crossing your chain more and having a much bigger jump when you change rings at the front. IMO it's just that they're not cool because the pro's don't use triples. I'll concede they're not so bad with more gears at the back, but with 8 speed I think a triple is a much better option if you want low gears.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2014 19:48:39 GMT
Thanks for the feedback. Without having much experience I'm happy with the triple, the only problem I've faced is accidently dropping from the top ring to the smallest ring and spinning wildly as a consequence. I suspect that when I upgrade I'll end up with a compact but I'll have more confidence by then as to what gearing I require. As a beginner having the small front ring is reassuring which I think makes it a good choice for the Triban.
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Post by ianmoss on Jun 22, 2014 21:21:11 GMT
Triples seem to be the fashion for budget bikes (which we all love here) at the moment. This allows the 'new to road bikes' or 'have a previous MTB or hybrid' the ability to have lots of really easy gears.
you will find as you ride more, become fitter, challenge yourself on some hills, you will eventually stop using the small (granny) chairing. then that's the point to upgrade to a compact to give you that all round flexibility. Unless of course you have legs like tree trunks and can push a big gear all day, than you should go for a more standard chainset like a 52/39 or 53/42.
Enjoy the triple and the emergency low gears until you wear it out and then get something new and shiny.
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Post by Rocket on Jun 22, 2014 22:43:11 GMT
I wish I was as fit as you lot and could ditch my triple I've been hammering the granny ring all weekend and would have had to get off and walk without it at times. Point being if you do really prolonged steep stuff then you need the granny ring. No matter how big your back sprocket you can always turn it with a 30 tooth front and it will always give you a lower ratio than a 34 tooth front. I'm real tempted to move onto a triple 10 speed when I wear mine ( ianmoss 's) out. I really like having a 39 middle ring for semi hilly work but I can't use a standard double or compact double for real hill work. Decisions, decisions...
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 22, 2014 22:56:44 GMT
The double is as easy to climb with, it's the intermediate gear changes that are smoother, the centre ring is folly for anyone with your skills as you simply won't miss it at all. When you switch, you'll either be in the 'I'm definitely climbing a hill now' or 'reckon I can hold the pace on the dawg up this incline / rise' state of mind. I've read a few internet debates on this subject but simply don't believe that anyone who rides a lot and can push some power and ride fast would opt to stick to a triple, unless they are coming at the debate from a standpoint where they haven't actually tried one properly but say they have. When folk are not as fit / strong / still developing / touring rather than pushing it etc - the triple makes more sense but not IMO for where you're at really.
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Post by Rocket on Jun 22, 2014 23:09:58 GMT
I'm actually OK on my 39/28 up to 10% but anything steeper and I need that 30 tooth front. Also due to the open areas I ride I'm quite often confronted with strong headwinds which make things worse. I don't think a 34 front will cut it for me but as you say I've not tried one yet. I do prefer to sit and spin rather than stand as anyone who saw me climb Holme Moss seated all the way will testify. My power comes from RPM not torque so I need those low gears. I have a mate on a 10 speed double with a 32 tooth XTR cassette and the gaps are huge. I would need this and be no better off than my current setup perhaps. Decision day is coming as I've worn the shifters out after 8,000 miles and won't be replacing like for like.
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 22, 2014 23:26:45 GMT
...and by double I mean compact, the point chas makes about having less rear gears is fair; 2 x 10 is flexible enough but I would like 2 x 11 ... 2 x 8 I wouldn't bother with, as that is limiting in cadence terms. You don't choose compact over a standard double for any other reasons than the gradients you ride and whether you're TTing / racing IMHO; I could push a double on the flat lands around here and would opt for this if I was TTing as you need the top end more. I would also be able to push one in a group ride / sportive etc more easily, as you can draft and gain advantage that way, assuming of course that this is all over not so bad terrain but as soon as the steeps kick in, then you're onto needing the compact if you're not a superstar; unless you really do have uber pro ability that is but this is also a bit daft as a theory - I've not looked at what Cancellara or Sagan do but I know Contador will use a compact at times and he rides out the saddle a lot, which should allow a bigger gear. I would of thought this means he could stick to the double more easily than most but he probably uses the compact for the ability to sit and conserve energy for when he pops out the saddle ... what most pros do is select what suits the day, there's too much nonsense talked about it being due to fashion, it's about choosing the right set up to suit your deal, nothing to do with much else. For most of us, the compact is versatile and reliable, allowing reasonable flat land / downhill speeds and good climbing ability - I topped out down hills a fair bit today but it was nice to just coast it; if I wanted to bury myself around the undulating terrain, then the standard double would have been doable but it would also require me to get into a world of hurt to justify riding it as it's supposed to be used.
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 22, 2014 23:29:25 GMT
I'm actually OK on my 39/28 up to 10% but anything steeper and I need that 30 tooth front. Also due to the open areas I ride I'm quite often confronted with strong headwinds which make things worse. I don't think a 34 front will cut it for me but as you say I've not tried one yet. I do prefer to sit and spin rather than stand as anyone who saw me climb Holme Moss seated all the way will testify. My power comes from RPM not torque so I need those low gears. I have a mate on a 10 speed double with a 32 tooth XTR cassette and the gaps are huge. I would need this and be no better off than my current setup perhaps. Decision day is coming as I've worn the shifters out after 8,000 miles and won't be replacing like for like. Quick calc's: 30 / 28 = 1.071 34 / 30 = 1.133 ---- 39 / 28 = 1.393
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 22, 2014 23:34:24 GMT
I think the 2012 onwards (2 x 10) Tiagra groupo comes ready to go as 50/34 front 12-30 rear as the lowest possible in a standard choice - I'd like a 11-26 cassette as well but don't really need it. I think current 105 (2 x 10) comes slightly higher geared at 12-28 at the rear cassette in the choices. Ribble have the options on the pick list.
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Post by Rocket on Jun 22, 2014 23:55:11 GMT
Don't forget that 30 / 30 = 1.0000000000 too. The 30 front will always give lower ratios than a 34 front for the same cassette.
I'd rather not go to a 30 cassette on 10 speed as I'd be back to large gaps in the ratios which I'm wanting to move away from because of my high reving narrow power band. I want a wide range but with close ratios and that's going to mean 3 rings up front for me probably. On one of Saturdays climbs, Caergromlech, I used 30 / 28 standing. Anything higher and I'd be walking. It beat me on a 30 / 25 last year.
I come from a background of racing cars and bikes so I'm used to matching gearing to engine characteristics and track.
11 speed 105 with 30-11 and a 50-34 might cut it....
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 23, 2014 0:07:13 GMT
I honestly don't think you'd have any issues - can you borrow a bike with 2x10 to try it?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 20:09:46 GMT
Many thanks for the comprehensive answers to what I guess is a fairly commonly asked question. My conclusion is that a triple is a sound choice for the Triban 500 positioned, as it is, as an entry level bike..I'm fairly certain when I'm ready to upgrade I'll choose a compact chain set but this will be with the benefit of a seasons worth of cycling behind me.
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