Sub-Compact Cranks for Touring - The Next Trend?
#51
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the unfortunate thing is that the opinions/comments/reasoning of the last three fellows dont make the manufacturers give a rats patootee.
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
#52
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triples are more useful in a rolling hill terrain.
The cog in the back stays the same gear while you change between the middle ring and outter ring in the front.
You just alternate between them depending if you go up or down hill.
You remain seated on the flats and downhill while standing on the crank when going up the short uphill.
The cog in the back stays the same gear while you change between the middle ring and outter ring in the front.
You just alternate between them depending if you go up or down hill.
You remain seated on the flats and downhill while standing on the crank when going up the short uphill.
#53
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the unfortunate thing is that the opinions/comments/reasoning of the last three fellows dont make the manufacturers give a rats patootee.
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
With a modern 11s indexed drivetrain your choice is either Shimano XT Di2 or Campag Athena last I looked.
#54
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the unfortunate thing is that the opinions/comments/reasoning of the last three fellows dont make the manufacturers give a rats patootee.
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
that said, I figure triple setups are always going to be around on real touring bikes, its just unfortunate that on lots of bikes that could be useful touring bikes will often have gearing that isnt low enough for a lot of folks, but then this has been the case a lot in the past also....
plus this topic tends to come back to the same opinions put out by those of us who find triples very useful and the perfect tool for the job......
Regarding drivetrains, I am not seeing any firm trends. There are more using Rohloff drivetrains, although the high markups for German components clearly limits that transition in USA. (When I bought my Rohloff from a German supplier, if I bought it in USA it would have cost about 50 to 60 percent more.) When cycle touring in Iceland for a month in 2016 I saw more Rohloffs than I have seen in all of my other tours in USA combined. Outside of USA, more IGH usage is a firm trend. I do not know yet if gearing built into the bottom bracket is going to take off or not.
Drivetrains for derailleur bikes is slowly following trends established by road bikes, but with wider gearing. The biggest trends I see here is cassettes with more sprockets over time (like road bikes) and more touring bikes with brifters instead of bar end shifters (also, like road bikes).
As mountain bikes and hybrids gain wider range cassettes, I would not be surprised if triple cranks disappear from the mass market within a decade. And once triples are no longer offered on mountain bikes and hybrids, they will no longer be made and thus will be unavailable to touring mass market models.
You might find companies like Sugino continue to make triples, but if new shifters and front derailleurs are not available to mate with them, those might disappear too.
This past spring I built up a new Titanium touring bike but the drivetrain is mostly using components that were designed over two decades ago, square taper crank, eight speed cassette, an M739 XT rear derailleur, bar end shifters, steel axle cup and cone rear hub. Since the bike has a rear disc brake, I needed a new hub for it and could not use a wheel from my collection. I chose the M756A XT rear hub that uses the older style steel axle instead of a newer style of hub with cartridge bearings. Call me a Luddite if you want, but I wanted a drive train that is robust, easily replaceable, reliable, and easy to repair. (I think I just defined a four "R"s for cycle touring.)
#55
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I wouldn't read too much into trends. Once they stop selling triples they can wait a year or two before bringing them back, whilst regaling us all with sales blather about how great this 'new' innovation is (biopace, anyone?). Cycling seems an inherently faddy and trend based pass time, and remember, outside of the commuting, touring, and utility sub-groups, most bikes are just recreational machines, something for people to spend disposable income on. (Come to think of it, touring is pretty much purely recreational also, it just has a few unique gear needs shared mainly with commuters and utility cyclists.)
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Same with Microshift bs-A11 shifters.
#59
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Well thats a setup ive never seen before.
#61
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Range is only one factor in gearing. Probably the least important one as well. Compare these two gearing patterns. The lower one is the gearing I currently use on my touring bike. Both have the same "range" but it's pretty easy to see that if you went to that extreme, the shifting pattern on the double would be almost impossible to use. The transition from one to the other is too extreme. In essence, the bike is equipped with 2 independent 9 speed systems.
So let's go to a more reasonable double. But which end of the range should be sacrificed? Keeping the low at the same point...I really like having a super low gear... and assuming that some overlap between the two rings would be good, a 32/20 would be a good choice. But, if you look closely, I'd be coasting at a bit over 20 mph. That's way too slow for downhills.
Sacrificing the low end, I could use a 46/32. Frankly, my knees hurt just looking at that one.
Of course I could pick a more middle ground but then I lose the low gears and the high gears. Of course just staying with the triple, I can keep the high, keep the low and have lots of choices in between. I don't see that a sacrificing anything.
So let's go to a more reasonable double. But which end of the range should be sacrificed? Keeping the low at the same point...I really like having a super low gear... and assuming that some overlap between the two rings would be good, a 32/20 would be a good choice. But, if you look closely, I'd be coasting at a bit over 20 mph. That's way too slow for downhills.
Sacrificing the low end, I could use a 46/32. Frankly, my knees hurt just looking at that one.
Of course I could pick a more middle ground but then I lose the low gears and the high gears. Of course just staying with the triple, I can keep the high, keep the low and have lots of choices in between. I don't see that a sacrificing anything.
Last edited by Diamond; 11-05-17 at 01:51 PM.
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2. Can't reach them from the drops.
3. Too far from the hoods.
4. Even if i could mount them on the tops, like some people do (google), that would reduce the grip space on the tops.
#63
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First, great link to showing your gearing! I hadn't seen that before. So I used that to enter in my 28/38 front and 11 speed 11-40 rear. Chart. I think that is far more reasonable. I certainly agree that in the past a triple was de rigueur for touring but these days, with 11 speed rear, the case is far less compelling.
To repeat myself though, with a lighter load it would probably work really well, cost and wear issues aside.
#64
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#65
Senior Member
triples are more useful in a rolling hill terrain.
The cog in the back stays the same gear while you change between the middle ring and outter ring in the front.
You just alternate between them depending if you go up or down hill.
You remain seated on the flats and downhill while standing on the crank when going up the short uphill.
The cog in the back stays the same gear while you change between the middle ring and outter ring in the front.
You just alternate between them depending if you go up or down hill.
You remain seated on the flats and downhill while standing on the crank when going up the short uphill.
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Where is this short uphill touring you speak of? Not in New England where I pedal. Maybe in the flats of the mid west? My idea of loaded touring/bikepacking is to have a low enough gear in which to be able to sit and spin without redlining. Sometimes the hills might be a couple of miles long.
I used to live in New Hampshire. I know what you're saying. The hills are too long for this.
#67
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yup, Ive never had the luxury of being on nice easy hills like that, well, hardly ever thats for sure.....
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If not, I guess I have to bite the bullet and go for a bigger cassette and live with the smallest small ring they can give me.
I have 26x30 now and I might not use the last two or three, but if I'm 120 miles into a brevet and my legs feel like jello, I will be happy to climb at 7 mph and finish.
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There's also alway barend shifters...I hate 'em, but they are still an option.
And, of course, there are tons of old 7,8,9 speed shifters floating around on Fleabay. They are probably good for another 10 or 15 years so you'll be ready for the "Improved®" triple when it comes back around.
Perhaps a bit too much snark but doubles really chap my hide!
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Last edited by cyccommute; 11-07-17 at 09:12 AM.
#70
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The chainrings did not win the races, but marketing can try to convince you of that..
... any how 46 30 doubles are a thing..
... any how 46 30 doubles are a thing..
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I've been running a 32-20 up front with a 9 speed 12-36 cassette in back on my '89 worked-over Voyageur. Original downtube friction shifters, original derailleurs front and back (I did replace the cables 🙂 )
OK, I'll 'fess up, I have a 44 chainring too but that doesn't count since I never use it.
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Aging Cranks Are Touring - The Next Trend!
Back when I was in my 20s, I mostly rode on the 52 front, 14 rear, crossing entire countries without shifting (small flat countries like Belgium).
Now that I’m an aging crank (61 years old), I need a smaller front chain ring.
Now that I’m an aging crank (61 years old), I need a smaller front chain ring.
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What's the benefit over a triple? Certainly doesn't seem cheaper. Even if you're concerned about weight (and I don't see why you would be on a touring bike), I can't imagine this weighs much less, what with the huge cogs and assorted extra parts.
Makes sense if your bike came with a 2x STI shifter, but otherwise I don't get it
Makes sense if your bike came with a 2x STI shifter, but otherwise I don't get it