That’s 1.8” in old money. That’s what mtn bikes were running 30 years ago. We were all running triples on our mtn bikes 30 years ago as well. I ran a triple on my last mtn bike and that was running 2.2” when it retired. Thus no reason triple can’t be fitted if tyres are 56mm wide or lessNearholmer wrote: ↑29 Oct 2024, 9:16am My son’s MTB (tyres are 47mm, but it has room for a lot fatter):
Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Indeed. We took the big tyres off, and put those tough old Marathon 365 on it, because he uses it as a utility bike, not an MTB.That’s what mtn bikes were running 30 years ago
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
I really don't think that there is any need for triples these days. I say that as someone with a 531 framed Mercian with an Ultegra Triple.
You have plenty of range with a couple and a wide range cassette on the back. In most cases, way more range than with a triple. For example, my Canyon Grail is on a 48/31 at the front and an 11-36 cassette. I have climbed the 3 highest and hardest climbs in Norway on that (2 of the 3 were gravel, with long, long pitches at 15-17%).
I think especially where UK 'gravel' is concerned, you're dealing with a lot of mud and having the complication of a triple just seems unnecessary.
I'm not saying go 1x (I'm still not convinced by that yet), but a 2x system will give you ample gear range and you've a lot of different groupsets to choose from. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a gravel bike running a triple.
For reference, I ride about 8000km gravel a year and go to plenty of events and some races.
You have plenty of range with a couple and a wide range cassette on the back. In most cases, way more range than with a triple. For example, my Canyon Grail is on a 48/31 at the front and an 11-36 cassette. I have climbed the 3 highest and hardest climbs in Norway on that (2 of the 3 were gravel, with long, long pitches at 15-17%).
I think especially where UK 'gravel' is concerned, you're dealing with a lot of mud and having the complication of a triple just seems unnecessary.
I'm not saying go 1x (I'm still not convinced by that yet), but a 2x system will give you ample gear range and you've a lot of different groupsets to choose from. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a gravel bike running a triple.
For reference, I ride about 8000km gravel a year and go to plenty of events and some races.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Age.
Oh, and luggage.
And, a less all-consuming passion for riding a bike.
All might be reasons for wanting super-wide range.
Oh, and luggage.
And, a less all-consuming passion for riding a bike.
All might be reasons for wanting super-wide range.
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Because having a middle ring gives relatively small gaps between the chainrings. Which just feels better to me.
I also have a load of old kit that works for me..
I also have a load of old kit that works for me..
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Not just a super-wide range.Nearholmer wrote: ↑29 Oct 2024, 10:22pm Age.
Oh, and luggage.
And, a less all-consuming passion for riding a bike.
All might be reasons for wanting super-wide range.
The reduced gaps between gears is appealing too. I spent many years appreciating the versatility of a close ratio cassette (freewheel, mostly, if truth be told) and I’ve never really changed. Likewise, I can’t get on with significant differences between chainring sizes. I use my 10x3 gravel bike for solo rides where my speed is fairly constant and rarely drops below 10mph so small ratio gaps are ideal. I also do rides with my partner who has limited power and often drops to walking pace so very low gears are a must.
Triple cranksets are the only way to achieve this. Granted, an internal hub gear could be substituted but the ratio gaps are pre-determined.
The older I get the more I’m inclined to act my shoe size, not my age.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
I have a triple on my Vagabond too - bought secondhand like that though I'd probably be fine with a double. It has bar-end shifters, friction on the front, indexed at the rear. It's had the occasional raised eyebrows from mechanics but works fine.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Interesting reading. I have a folding Airnimal Joey with a SRAM 1x set up and 26in wheels with 32mm tyres.
At the other end of the scale an Enigma Etape with 52/36 by 11-28 and 28mm tyres.
In between a Kinesis 4s with 50/34 by 11-32 and reaching pensionable age.
Nowhere in that lot is there something that an old boy can drag up big hills with a bit of kit yet still still be fun and comfortable.
So I’ve been contemplating triples too.
At the other end of the scale an Enigma Etape with 52/36 by 11-28 and 28mm tyres.
In between a Kinesis 4s with 50/34 by 11-32 and reaching pensionable age.
Nowhere in that lot is there something that an old boy can drag up big hills with a bit of kit yet still still be fun and comfortable.
So I’ve been contemplating triples too.
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Pro road teams have tried 1x a few times in the last decade(in one recent case it was pure marketing from the main sponsor).
They go back to 2x pretty quickly.
Most of us don't have their power-to-weight (and bike+luggage+rider weighs a lot more), so we benefit from another chain-ring, for the same reasons they like more than the one. Having 12 cogs at the back hasn't changed this situation from when we had 8.
They go back to 2x pretty quickly.
Most of us don't have their power-to-weight (and bike+luggage+rider weighs a lot more), so we benefit from another chain-ring, for the same reasons they like more than the one. Having 12 cogs at the back hasn't changed this situation from when we had 8.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Within the past few years, I’ve used wide-range 1x, 2x, and 3x for what is commonly called ‘gravel’, which in the course of even a quite short ride often includes rooty, steep and twisty bits in the woods, field-margin bridleways, paved and unpaved cycle ways, cart tracks, actual gravel forest roads, old railway lines, rural roads of various qualities etc, and I reckon each has its pros and cons.
1x is good if you want to go “hard at it”, especially where it’s steep, rough, and twisty, so changing gear every few seconds. But, I find it needlessly tiring on easier, long rides, where more even cadence becomes important.
3x is fine for very wide range and for steady riding, especially with a heavy load, where gear changes are fewer and more anticipated, but I find it a bit of a faff if things are happening quickly.
2x, with 30/46 at the front, seems to fit me best, and I use it effectively as two lots of 1x, only moving down to the small ring where the going is more challenging, and going all the way across the block at the back (10x or 11x) barely considering chain line. I do lack really low gears for lots of climbing with camping gear on board with the 2x though, and I could do with going to very slightly smaller chainrings to cover for that, even at the price of loosing a couple of rarely-used high gears.
The mud clogging thing I’ve never really had trouble with, the 2x GRX seems to carry on working fine when totally caked, and it’s really only when twigs and sticks get caught in things that I pause to unblock the mess.
I think if I was to start again, knowing what I’ve learned in the past c10 years since I started “proper bike rides” again, I’d invest in a Rohloff and maybe have the bike setup for something like 18”-90”, or 20”-100”, at least partly because off-road riding all year round does chew through drivetrain parts, however much I clean them!
1x is good if you want to go “hard at it”, especially where it’s steep, rough, and twisty, so changing gear every few seconds. But, I find it needlessly tiring on easier, long rides, where more even cadence becomes important.
3x is fine for very wide range and for steady riding, especially with a heavy load, where gear changes are fewer and more anticipated, but I find it a bit of a faff if things are happening quickly.
2x, with 30/46 at the front, seems to fit me best, and I use it effectively as two lots of 1x, only moving down to the small ring where the going is more challenging, and going all the way across the block at the back (10x or 11x) barely considering chain line. I do lack really low gears for lots of climbing with camping gear on board with the 2x though, and I could do with going to very slightly smaller chainrings to cover for that, even at the price of loosing a couple of rarely-used high gears.
The mud clogging thing I’ve never really had trouble with, the 2x GRX seems to carry on working fine when totally caked, and it’s really only when twigs and sticks get caught in things that I pause to unblock the mess.
I think if I was to start again, knowing what I’ve learned in the past c10 years since I started “proper bike rides” again, I’d invest in a Rohloff and maybe have the bike setup for something like 18”-90”, or 20”-100”, at least partly because off-road riding all year round does chew through drivetrain parts, however much I clean them!
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Were you carrying much on these climbs?Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑29 Oct 2024, 10:14pm I really don't think that there is any need for triples these days. I say that as someone with a 531 framed Mercian with an Ultegra Triple.
You have plenty of range with a couple and a wide range cassette on the back. In most cases, way more range than with a triple. For example, my Canyon Grail is on a 48/31 at the front and an 11-36 cassette. I have climbed the 3 highest and hardest climbs in Norway on that (2 of the 3 were gravel, with long, long pitches at 15-17%).
I think especially where UK 'gravel' is concerned, you're dealing with a lot of mud and having the complication of a triple just seems unnecessary.
I'm not saying go 1x (I'm still not convinced by that yet), but a 2x system will give you ample gear range and you've a lot of different groupsets to choose from. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a gravel bike running a triple.
For reference, I ride about 8000km gravel a year and go to plenty of events and some races.
(Ok, admit am a triple fan,find no problems with, would find a fag to change to anything else)
Sweep
Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
What complications are you thinking that doubles don’t have?Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑29 Oct 2024, 10:14pm
I think especially where UK 'gravel' is concerned, you're dealing with a lot of mud and having the complication of a triple just seems unnecessary.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
I'm 101kg and 6ft 8". I wasn't carrying much in the way of luggage, but I think you can agree that I'm no featherweight. I was also pushing really hard too - I could have gone much easier if it had been necessary.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
Aligning on three chainrings is just a bit trickier. You don't have the trim function that you have with a double, and you can also end up with some really awful cross chaining.Blondie wrote: ↑30 Oct 2024, 6:31pmWhat complications are you thinking that doubles don’t have?Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑29 Oct 2024, 10:14pm
I think especially where UK 'gravel' is concerned, you're dealing with a lot of mud and having the complication of a triple just seems unnecessary.
Triples made sense when everyone was on 6-8sp cassettes, but it's 11-12 now and they are just outdated.
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Re: Triple Chainset on a Gravel Bike
But we know from other posts that you have an output of several megawatts, so, power to weight ratio?I'm 101kg
That’s what’s important in gearing discussions, and I’ll unashamedly state that my sustainable output is probably not much more than 1W/kg, taking the weight of me, the bike, and the camping gear, and not much more when there is no camping gear!