Triple Dura-Ace or Ultegra

[KnottedYet]

My double doesn't seem to have a cross-chaining issue. I can adjust the front der almost like a friction shifter, and trim it so even if I do try to crosschain by accident, the der doesn't rub and there doesn't seem to be any problem. (but then I only have an 8 spd cassette, so not as wide a distance to potentially cross-chain?)

[RoadRaven]

When I cross-chain my doubles on either bike, its operator error... not the gearing equipment itself.

[anakiwa]

I've had the exact same problem with my old bike. It had ultegra shifters and a 105 front derailler. I didn't have trouble with dropping the chain- but it was constantly getting getting out of tune- and I would have to push really hard to shift into a bigger ring.

I just bought a custom bike. I live in a really hilly area- and after a lot of thought I realized I just wasn't ready to give up the flexibility of a triple. I put an R700 short reach shifter on the right. For the triple I just wanted the confidence of knowing I'd be able to shift it and I had a bar-end shifter installed.

I've been on one ride on the new bike (it's snowed since I got it and the roads are too messy again for biking). The R700 short reach shifter is AMAZIMG- it's so much easier to fully reach the shifter from the drops. It made me wish I'd put an R700 on both sides- I may still do that but I need to give it some more time. So I'd give the R700 shifters some serious thought (it felt so good it would be worth learning how to adjust the front derailler myself so I can fix it if it gets out of tune).

[SJCzar]

I went for the first ride on my new baby with the Dura Ace Triple tonight. It shifts beautifully. It is so much smoother than my Ultegra / 105 triple. The difference is most noticeable going up to the big ring. My other bike takes a lot more muscle to push the shifter on that side. The Dura Ace shifts just as smoothly and with no extra powering needed for both front and back. I didn't have much time to ride since the sun was beginning to set. Tomorrow is supposed to a nice day around here so I'll put her to the test then.

[Triskeliongirl]

Switching between shimano and campy on your two bikes may drive you crazy. Why not get a campy compact double, with a 50/34 in front and 13-29 back (which can be easily swapped for something tighter if you don't really need to go that low) for your climbing bike?

[Crankin]

OK, I had a 105 triple on my 1st road bike (a Cannondale R600 WSD). I dropped the chain a lot, mostly from inexperience, but i think the crappy components had something to do with it also. Once I got over that, I noticed I could never shift into the big ring. Just couldn't push the lever. I am small, but my hands are average sized. My next bike, a Trek 5200 came with Ultegra, triple. I only remember dropping the chain once, in the beginning of the season; some weird thing happened. But, I still could not easily shift to the big ring. At this point I thought of getting a compact double, but then we moved to a house on a big hill. My husband swapped out the Ultegra for the Dura Ace and voila! I could switch into the big ring at last.
I have had my Kuota for a year. It has a triple, with Ultegra. According to all I spoke with, this Ultegra is pretty much the same as the Dura Ace I had on my Trek because of all of the changes that have been made. I have never dropped my chain or had difficulty switching gears. Maybe it is because I am a much more experienced rider, but I think the quality of the components also has a good deal to do with this. At this point, being 53 years old, I am not going to switch to the compact double. It's not that i couldn't do it, but I like the "thought' of just knowing I have very low gears. In fact, i switched out the rear cassette to a 27 from a 25, a couple of months after I got the bike. So did my husband, who is a very strong rider. He's gone from a double, to a compact double, to a triple. He doesn't use the granny gear as much as I do, but he uses it. If people think this is Fred, well, I guess i can say i don't care!

[tprevost]

I'm doing homework for a new bike and was wondering if anyone can help. I want to ditch the 105 triple on my old bike for a double, keep the aerobars and use it as my flat training bike.

And... I want to get a second bike as my touring and "climbing bike", hence my need for a triple. I'm not finding that in Sram or Campy so I'll have to go with Shimanos... but I really do NOT like the shifting on my 105 triple. It is in constant need of tuning and the levers are a haul for my small hands. I don't know how many times I've crested a hill and dropped my chain if I don't crank hard enough to move up a ring. I don't like to ride hills while not trusting my bike, esp when I'm in a group. Does anyone here have a triple in Dura Ace or Ultegra and have that problem? And does it make a difference between an 11- or 12-cog cassette?

Hey Joy,

I've got a triple Ultegra/Dura-Ace combo on my roubaix and it has worked flawlessly...

If you want an additional review of the full triple in Dura-Ace, you should PM Caligurl, she can give you an excellent review!

Trac'

[Bluetree]

Thanks Gals

I think I am going to go with a Dura-Ace triple. I was thinking a lot about a compact double but on the hills around here I use every one of my gears... big and small. Esp. on descents I like the option of getting into the biggest gear possible, because my weight puts me at such a disadvantage.

Case in point: last week my buddy (170 lbs) and I (110 lbs) crested a moderate hill with a straight descent. We started freewheeling down and he kept pulling farther and farther away. I was maxed out on my big ring just trying to keep from falling too far back. The idea of running out of big gears sooner with a compact double would probably irk me at some point.

So I took Sadie Kate's advice and checked out a bike with the 07 DA. Very nice, I think with shims it may work with my hands. I'll keep ya posted.

Thanks for the wealth of good advice. It's much appreciated!

[SadieKate]

Nothing like putting one's dainty paws on the item before making a decision.

[Bluetree]

Of course. And it applies to my men, as well.

[spokewench]

Thanks Gals

I think I am going to go with a Dura-Ace triple. I was thinking a lot about a compact double but on the hills around here I use every one of my gears... big and small. Esp. on descents I like the option of getting into the biggest gear possible, because my weight puts me at such a disadvantage.

Case in point: last week my buddy (170 lbs) and I (110 lbs) crested a moderate hill with a straight descent. We started freewheeling down and he kept pulling farther and farther away. I was maxed out on my big ring just trying to keep from falling too far back. The idea of running out of big gears sooner with a compact double would probably irk me at some point.

So I took Sadie Kate's advice and checked out a bike with the 07 DA. Very nice, I think with shims it may work with my hands. I'll keep ya posted.

Thanks for the wealth of good advice. It's much appreciated!

Remember Bluetree - you are even lighter than I am so downhilling and staying with people that are heavier than you will always be a problem. The triple over a compact will help you, but won't solve your problem. The best tip I can give you is when you hit the top of the hill make sure you are right on the wheel of the heavier person and follow them down; the draft will make up for the lack of weight. I have to do this all the time or I will get dropped going downhill. And, it has nothing to do with wanting to go fast - I love to go fast downhill!