Why would you buy a double bike, when you have the option of the triple?

Question

I'm looking at the Specialized Allez and was wondering what the advantage of double over triple is.

Answer 1

It all depends on the terrain you live in and your physical situation.  I live in Washington now and I wouldn't buy a bike w/o a triple.  If I still lived in Ohio I would probably buy a compact double.  Also, as you get older you will start to have knee problems if you are constantly hammering away at low rpm's up mountain passes so a triple is good investment, way cheaper than knee surgery.  Doubles are generally lighter and less complex.  You also have a lower 'Q' factor with a double.  The 'Q' factor is how wide your feet are from each other when you riding.  The 'Q' factor is lower because you don't have to make room for an extra chain ring.  A lower 'Q' factor is generally thought of as being more efficient for power transfer, how much is debatable.  Triples also have a lot of gears that overlap so you may have 27 or 30 gears but there is a lot of redundancy.  You may be able to get a compact double that will get close to the gear range of a triple w/o the redundancy but the gears on your cog set will probably have bigger jumps between them.

Answer 2

It seems like a combination of reputation and need.  Most road racers wouldn't need or want a triple.  You will only really need a triple to climb hills if you are not that strong (or if you have really steep hills that you have to climb all the time).  Triples can keep pressure off your knees and lower back if you need to.

Answer 3

Depends on your strength and where you live, I guess.   Here in the flatlands of Illinois, the only time I need a triple is on singletrack.    Most MTB's of course have triples.

Even on the short choppy hills of Wisconsin, a double has been sufficient on my road machine.

Answer 4

Ive always been a p***y on hills!  that said, my road bike has a double cr. in my smallest gear, I can still spin on many hills. I have become a stronger, more efficient rider with the double, than I would be with the triple. I don't think the triple means you're any less of a rider, though some of your mates may slag you for it. on my mtb, I wouldn't live without a granny gear!

Answer 5

Less weight and less things to go wrong with the front derailleur and it's cheaper if it needs replacing.

You really won't need the granny gear, if you do a lot of hills anyway, you'll become stronger and won't have a need for the tiny front chainring anyway.

I have an Allez Double and I'm rarely in the small chainring anyway. It's a 34, the only time I use it is on VERY steep hills, I don't think you'll need one any smaller than that.

Answer 6

With my age at 62, I am now using a triple at 34 teeth. Sure helps a lot on climbing steep inclines.

Answer 7

I just converted to a compact double 50x34, SWEET!

How'd I ever ... oh yeah.  Once upon a time I rode at least 4 days a week and doing a quality 150 - 200 miles/wk.

Long rides?  Steep rides?  Long steep rides?  Even once upon a time when the ride was long enough, climbed enough I'd be looking for a lower gear, just one more... No gear no prob stand and ...

200 miles aweek... nos problemos

Answer 8

Its more of a status symbol, If you have a triple it means your weak, and double your strong. If you are strong there is no need for a triple. If you add another chainring you hav got more to go wrong and the deraliur has to be tuned more accurately so it doesn't malfunction. Double anyday, but if your thinking of biking up Mt ventoux go for the triple if you less fit! =)

Answer 9

awesome, triple all the way