compact double v triple? (my new bike!)

[RussianHillGal]

After an all-day bike shopping trip with a very patient girlfriend/TNT cycling coach and 3 weeks of peppering my cycling friend with questions and spending countless hours online, I was convinced I had caviar tastes on a filet mignon budget, so I decided to take a break from active bike shopping and tagged along today on another gal's bikeshopping expedition to a boutique LBS. I was just there to watch/look/listen, and of course, as we were getting ready to walk out the door, the sale tag on a pink and silver flash caught my eye. Three minutes later, I was in love!!!

Giant TCRw 2006, Shimano 105, aluminum with carbon fork. About $300 more than the Dolce I looked at last week, but this bike has better components - and it is SEXY!

There is a reason this LBS (Bike Nuts in the Marina district of SF) is so highly recommended - the service is impeccable! This place doesn't advertise, and the only pressure to buy came from my girfriends who could tell I was in LOVE!

The TCRw comes with a compact double. The LBS guys said they could swap it out for a triple and install it for almost an even swap. So the decision really comes down to preference, not price.

I am 33, haven't been on a bike in 20 years (yeesh!), and would say I am average fit (just finished a 25k xc ski marathon with Team in Training, as a total beginner Dec 06 - but I am slooooow - and not terribly coordinated). Short legs. 5'1. Have probably 15 pounds that need converting from fat to muscle.

Plan on riding with my cycling girlfriends in the crazy hills of Marin County - Sausalito/Tiberon/Larkspur - the goal is to train for the Marin Century. Apparently 30-50 miles/day is the norm with "the girls", so that will be my training target.

Would appreciate your thoughts on whether to keep the compact double or swap it out for the triple. If triple, are there any things I should keep in mind so I can discuss this intelligently with the LBS guys?

I'm going back next Saturday for my first hour-long fitting (I get another fitting for FREE with these guys after I've spent some time on the bike and my fitness level has improved - how's that for awesome service?) Am so excited!!

[aicabsolut]

Know what the grades you'll be riding tend to be?

What's your easiest cog in the cassette? Is this a 50/36 compact or 50/34?

[sarahlou]

I have a triple crank set on my bike and love having gear options. If the store is willing to change them over for no real charge then I would do it. If you choose to do it down the track it will definately cost. Are they going to give you the same level of components- front derailleur, shifter & crank set? Check on that before you decide. Triple is ideal for the hilly country you want to ride in.

[RussianHillGal]

The Giant site says the cranks are : FSA Gossamer Mega Exo, 34/50 T. So I'd basically be missing the biggest & the smallest gears.

Grade : It looks like an average of 5.5% - up to 6.7% for the hard parts. Not quite sure what this means, but that's what google gave me. Also, the Marin Century has 6250 feet of hills.

I'm far more concerned about finishing than about finishing fast. But it would be nice to be able to keep up with the rest of the girls.

[traveller_62]

RussianHill,

I just had this conversation with my brother in law last night about gearing for his bike!

I've been riding an FSA 50/34 compact double for over a year now. My training partner rides with a triple. I must admit that while I like the compact double there are times when I wish I had one more gear to go to on a long steep climb at the end of a 4 or 5 hour ride!

Since you are just getting into cycling after some time off I guess I would recommend the triple to start with. The weight difference isn't probably going to be a big factor and having more gearing options on hilly terrain could make your ride more enjoyable.

Whatever you choose, enjoy that beautiful bike!

-traveller

[Veronica]

Which version of the Marin Century do you plan on doing, the new one with Mount Tam or the old one? There are sections of Tam that are more than 6%. I'd guess more like 12% and the last bit is even steeper.

V.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

I'm with the other ladies on this... and I can personally attest a triple is really nice to have in hilly terrain! (yep, NE Oklahoma is hilly!) I'm not too proud to admit its nice to have when others are grinding up in their double! :P

When you get stronger, you COULD decide not to drop down into the 'granny'...but somethin tells me it'd STILL be nice to have on occasion!


P.S. That is one beautiful bike!!!

Edit: I just found this page with a great explanation of gearing (and lots of other items related to choosing a road bike). After reading your initial post, it got me wondering about how to understand MY components. Thanks! Hope this link helps you too!
http://chainwheel.com/page.cfm?PageID=85

[ehirsch83]

I'm interested on everyone's thoughts of compact v. triple.

I have always thought of the triple as the granny gear...
but I am moving from Fl to New Mexico next month and will probably need to change out of my double. My SO has already moved there, and he is still climbing away in his double, but he has those long lean climbing legs(he is also a masher with his gears and i am much more of a spinner).

my thoughts on this is to go with the compact, but i am used to the flats....

[madisongrrl]

The TCRw comes with a compact double. The LBS guys said they could swap it out for a triple and install it for almost an even swap. So the decision really comes down to preference, not price.

I am 33, haven't been on a bike in 20 years (yeesh!), and would say I am average fit (just finished a 25k xc ski marathon with Team in Training, as a total beginner Dec 06 - but I am slooooow - and not terribly coordinated). Short legs. 5'1. Have probably 15 pounds that need converting from fat to muscle.

Since you haven't been currently cycling, go for the triple. There is no shame in it. When you get to be a stronger cyclist you can always upgrade to a double. What size is the rear casette and also the chainrings up front, and what would they change it out to?

[Veronica]

Where does this shame idea come from in having triple?

V.

[jobob]

Darned if I know ! I don't feel "shamed" in the least for having a triple.

I used to use the small ring a lot to get me up hills.

I've gotten a lot stronger, and I use my granny a lot less now, mostly if the grade kicks up to around 10% (oh, who the heck am I kidding, 8%, or on a yuck day like today, 6% ) or if I'm really tired. It's nice to have.

[Eden]

There is no shame in riding with a triple!

The only drawback to having one is that you are kind of stuck with it. Yes you can convert a triple to a double (and vice/versa), but by the time that you buy a new bottom bracket, new derailleurs, new cranks, etc. you usually have spent enough to nearly buy a new bike....

If you think you might outgrow a triple then go with the compact double, - its drawback is slightly less of a gear range as compared to the triple (especially at the top end).

btw - I think a lot of people who have triples don't think they could get by without the granny gears, but - a triple is often a 30-42-52, so if you don't use the granny ring you are climbing in the 42! a standard double is a 39-53, so its not really like climbing in your middle ring at all. With a compact double you are usually going down to a 36 or a 34 for the small ring.

[Triskeliongirl]

Congrats on the beautiful bike! From where you live and ride, and given your current level of fitness, I would recommend the triple. I have ridden both, and while I currently have compact doubles on both my bikes, I have had to pair them with a mountain cassette and derailleur in back to get up everything I want. and then I feel at times the gears are further apart than I'd like. A compact double is easier to keep in tune, but if I had it to do over I would get a triple. As you get stronger, you can always go to a tighter casette in back and/or just use the granny for emergencies.

p.s. I agree with the recommendation to do it now while the cost is minimal. Doing it later will cost you a lot!

[7rider]

I had a triple on my bike for 5 years. I recently rebuilt the bike and put a compact (50/34) on it. The bike lost a lot of weight in the process (the rebuild shaved over 2 pounds off the bike - not insignificant when it was already just a 20 pound bike.) and the drivetrain is much less complicated. Although I opted to keep a 12-25 spread in the back, you can play with the cassette to an extent and not lose any of the low-end gearing you would get with a triple.
Frankly, I'd rather haul a lighter bike with slightly less low-end gearing up a hill, than a heavier bike up a hill with a granny. But that's me. If you are reasonably fit, and the hills are moderate in your area, I think a compact crank should be fine. Have them put a 12-27 on the back, and you'll never miss the gearing over a triple.
My $0.02.

[Veronica]

Have them put a 12-27 on the back, and you'll never miss the gearing over a triple.
My $0.02.

I have a compact double and I have a triple. I miss that very lowest gear when I am riding the mountains around here.

V.