chainring: triple vs. compact double

[mimitabby]

OK, thanks for this thread you guys. I was just having this argument with hubby the other day. He says "Road bikes don't have triples", rolling his eyes...

KelownaGirl,
lots of roadbikes have triples!! why would your husband say THAT??

So bottom line, all why would anyone want to get a compact double?
are they a lot cheaper? a lot lighter? what is the benefit??

Thanks

[Triskeliongirl]

You asked why would anyone get a compact double? I am not putting down triples by any means, but I have compact doubles on both of my bikes. I switched from triples because they are mechanically simpler, which means they are easier to keep in tune. They are also lighter. In my case I had to switch because I needed a custom crank set to correct a 3 cm leg length discrepancy, and it was easier to build a double than triple to the specs I needed to correct my biomechanical problem. On my go fast bike I paired my 50/34 compact double with a 12/27 casette for a range of ~32-110, and on my touring bike I paired it with a 11/34 casette for a range of ~26-117, which both work well for me.

[kelownagirl]

OK, maybe not so dumb since I am a relative newbie, but can someone explain exactly how the whole number thing works? I think it has something to do with the number of cogs (is that the right word?) on the ring. Not sure how all the various numbers relate though. I have three rings on the front of my bike and 8 or 9 on the back. Do they have different names or are they both chain rings? What is a cassette? I want to go down and count all the thingies on my various rings and find out what I have but I don't know where to start. OK, that was more than one question... Thanks a bunch.

Oh, and I am now constantly spouting off the stuff I read here and can actually converse with dh about bikes and sound like I know something. He is also beginning to realize that lots of people have triples, thanks to you girls... TE is awesome...

[jobob]

Sheldon Brown's website ( www.sheldonbrown.com ) has a lot of really good articles and is a really great resource. Here's an article on gears and shifting that might help make some sense of it all.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html