looking to upgrade...

[ZenSojourner]

Actually I just went and calculated my triple/cassette combination and my upper gear is actually 115.1".

Not bad for a triple.

And I went further and compared it to a double with Ultegra components, 10 speed 12/27 cassette and 34/50 double chainring, and that bike has a range of from 33 to 110 gear inches (bigger is faster, that's the small sprocket big chain ring combination)

20 to 115 for my bike and it's granny gears compared to 33 to 110 - I've got 'em coming AND going

[ZenSojourner]

BTW, if all you want is your gear range, you don't actually have to count the teeth on each and every sprocket in the rear cassette, just the smallest and the largest. Then pick anything from the dropdown on the calculator that matches the big and little sprockets on your bike, and plug in your chain rings. Or just fill out the first two spaces in the custom cassette with the smallest and biggest sprocket.

Ignore everything in between the biggest and smallest number this spits out.

You only need to know every single sprocket if you want to use the shift pattern table this generates.

[anablanco]

Thanks for all your advice

The bike I'm looking at is a '08 Trek Madone 5.1 WSD.
Crank: Shimano Ultegra 50/34 or 52/39/30
Cassette: Shimano 105 11-25 or 12-27 (triple), 10 speed

My current bike is a '07 Fuji Professional 2.0.
Crank: FSA Gossamer Mega Exo, 30/39/53 teeth
Cassette: 10-speed, 12 - 25 teeth

I was happy with my Fuji until I got up off the seat the other day as I was going up a steep hill and almost lost it. I was in low gear and the crank just gave up. My husband fixed it and has ordered me a new crank set because the one I have is marginal.

I think staying with a triple is probably a good idea!

[andtckrtoo]

I have two bikes - one with a triple and one with a compact double. If I had to do it over again, the Surly with the compact double would have a triple. I'm getting used to the gearing, and I don't really mind riding the hills with the compact double, but it's more the spread between gears. With a triple I can always find that perfect gear, with my double, I end up shifting more often trying to get it just right - and sometimes I just can't. Weight is not a concern to me (well, at least weight on the bike ).

One thing I do love about the double, though, is the larger gearing. I can get going much faster on the flats because of the larger gearing and I enjoy that. But, I live in California and flat is not what I usually ride.

[Grog]

No weight to lose here, in decent shape, but I don't plan to ever buy a road bike without a triple crank unless I move to, say, Florida (which is unlikely as I like the mountains). I have a 52X11 which allows me to stay on a 50 km/h paceline on the flats if needed, and a 30X25 to go up a 20 km-long, 7% hill on the same day.

I also do not think triples should be "outgrown." I don't know how many times I have passed people on hills (men especially) who went on to say things like: "You could pass me because you have a triple!"

My father-in-law - an avid cyclist - could never get used to a triple. It does imply some different constraints with regards to shifting. But if you're accustomed to it already, embrace it!

Really, if there are substantial hills anywhere near you, do not feel like you have to change to a double. Unless you can climb any of those hills comfortably and enjoyably in your triple's middle chainring and NEVER use the 30-teether.

[ttaylor508]

I wouldn't give up my triple for anything. I tried a compact double, but found I was gearing out on my top gears. I don't use my granny gear much, but I am really thankful it is there when I need it. DH has a triple too and is a heck of a climber. He can spin an incredible cadence and rarely gets passed even on the steepest hills. My knees just can't take mashing especially on a hilly century ride. The only thing I would suggest if you do go with a triple is to make sure it is higher end. Lower end triples won't shift as nice. I have Ultegra and it shifts beautifully.

[ny biker]

The only thing I would suggest if you do go with a triple is to make sure it is higher end. Lower end triples won't shift as nice. I have Ultegra and it shifts beautifully.

Agreed. My bike came with a Tiagra derailleur on the front, and I had shifting problems that needed regular adjustments. It broke last year (while the LBS mechanic was adjusting it yet again) and he replaced it with an Ultegra, which is working much better.

[anablanco]

The bike I'm looking at is high end... an '08 Trek Madone 5.1 WSD. It has an Ultegra. The crank on my Fuji Professional 2.0 is not so good.

From what I'm hearing, it sounds like a triple would be a good choice. Has anyone tried the 5.1 Madone WSD? How did you like it?

I love the advice from a woman's perspective. Keep it coming
Thanks!

[sundial]

The only thing I would suggest if you do go with a triple is to make sure it is higher end. Lower end triples won't shift as nice. I have Ultegra and it shifts beautifully.

I agree also! I had a triple with Tiagra and experienced ghost shifting from the middle to small front sprocket. I vowed to go with better components next time.

Funny thing....my riding partner has a triple and she vowed to never give up her triple.

And yes, I am an enabler. But one should *always* have a back up bike.

[ZenSojourner]

I agree also! I had a triple with Tiagra and experienced ghost shifting from the middle to small front sprocket. I vowed to go with better components next time.

Can you elaborate a little bit? I have a Tiagra derailleur on the front also, and I've had trouble adjusting it as well as a strange dropping-the-chain problem.

What's ghost shifting?

I can't remember now, but it will drop the chain when I'm climbing, but I can't remember if it's when I'm shifting UP or when I'm shifting DOWN. I was told by the SAG mechanic that it was the opposite of what he would have expected under the circumstances.

They finally replaced the chain thinking it might be a flaw in the chain somehow, and I've not been healthy enough to ride the bike for distance since. It wasn't dropping while I was commuting back and forth to campus, but that's not exactly a demanding ride with many (or any) hills on the way.