decision...to get a triple or compact double

[Jiffer]

Triples tend to have more shifting trouble than a double or compact double.

[Grog]

Triples tend to have more shifting trouble than a double or compact double.

I don't think that's universally true, but it seems to be so in the lower range of the spectrum. I've got an Ultegra triple and I've had no issues worth mentioning over the last 4 years. But I think it would be different with Tiagra, and as other posters mentioned I would definitely avoid Sora... Sad but true.

[ttaylor508]

My Ultegra triple shifts beautifully and I have probably 4,000+ miles on it with very little adjustments. DH was so impressed with how well mine shifted that he just put a Dura Ace crankset on his bike and can't believe the difference in shifting. So, unless you have a lower end triple components, I wouldn't worry about trouble shifting.

[Aggie_Ama]

Sora isn't great but I rode 6,000 miles on mine before switching to 105. That is awful isn't necessarily true. With proper maintenance mine served me VERY well but I wanted a carbon frame. I am finding the same is true of my 105 gruppo, with maintenance it runs like a dream. The only thing I have a problem with is the 105 front deraileaur is a bit finicky but I take it to my shop and the usually trim it in for free if nothing else is needed. This is only once every 2-3 months not weekly. I regularly lube my chain with a good quality lube and my bike runs well.

If you are going to the hill country or even Dripping springs you might want the triple but for MOST of Austin I find with a little TITS (time in the saddle) you will probably be okay with the compact. I am a weak climber but I rarely use my granny gear whihc if you go compact I think you only lose that. I do ride a triple with a 12-28 back cassette but am thinking of switching to compact because I just don't use the smallest gear and I want to upgrade my bike to complete Ultegra one day.

[SadieKate]

I don't think that's universally true, but it seems to be so in the lower range of the spectrum. I've got an Ultegra triple and I've had no issues worth mentioning over the last 4 years. But I think it would be different with Tiagra, and as other posters mentioned I would definitely avoid Sora... Sad but true.

+1

If triples truly had more problems, why would mtb come with triples? A sport that involves infinitely more shifting, and more precision, than road biking would weed triples out pretty fast if that were the case.

[Cataboo]

Mountain bike derailleurs have a lot stronger springs than road bikes... I've also seen a lot of mountain bikes with a bash guard for the big chain ring, so they're not really triples. I don't go into my big chain ring usually mountain biking, just stay in the middle or the granny.

For avoiding sora - I'm more saying avoid 8 speed with a double, I've never tried sora or tiagra. I can't see not wanting to upgrade that soon.

I haven't noticed any difference in the shifting abilities of my bikes that are ultegra or full 105, also haven't had any difficulties with the front derailleur needing trimmed regularly on the 105. I have one bike that's a 105 level triple & 2 bikes that are ultegra doubles.

[papaver]

I'm happy with my campagnola compact veloce. It's smooth and it works the best for me. The steepest hill i've ever done was 19% and I didn't run out of gears...

[Crankin]

I would never give up my triple. I don't think I could get up the 12-20% grades without it. I use it!
I have had 2 bikes with an Ultegra triple. Never had any problems shifting. I did have issues shifting my first road bike into the big or little ring, with 105 (on a Cannondale R700).

[OakLeaf]

The only problems I've had with my 105 triple FD relate to the clamp rotating on the frame. (Yes, it was the clamp, not the L screw.) It's a bizarre occurrence, I don't know anyone else it's happened to, and no one seems to believe that it happened to me but it did.

When the derailleur is positioned correctly, I have no trouble whatever.