Dave, Gorgeous bike. Congrats!
Anne, I'm not an expert bicycle historian or anything, but my perspective on it is that since the traditional 'road bike' had a double crank, like a 40/50 pair or something around that (like a 39/53); and mountain bikes are where I first came into triples in the front for that granny gear... which made so much sense for a touring bike that needs to lift loads up hills... but the triple does add some weight... and, if someone is being competitive, then someone that 'needs' a triple isn't going to be competitive against someone strong enough to do it on a road double, so, I think there was disparaging of triples in the road bike circles. Of course, some folks realized they could use a lower gear, but wanted to stick w/ a double instead of a triple, so the compact double came about... one can easily argue that it makes sense for cyclocross, being lighter since it's a double, but allows for that climbing gear if needed; but I think a lot of its attraction comes from those who want to continue to hold off of going w/ a triple, wanted to stick w/ a double for their own reasons, but could have used a triple. Eric and Bob, I built my Ram w/ the rear being a XT 11-32 cassette, and XT long-cage derailler, to have a wider range; in the front, I went with a Dura-Ace crank, but went w/ a triple, so that I could have that climbing gear; that way I have a 30/39/53, a good wide range. Most of the time on the flats, I'm trying to run 53/12, but can drop back whenever needed (which, is often). Here in East Tennessee, we do have some hills, so I find that I have to make use of the range of my gears... I do try to use my 39 gear when I need to climb, so I'm often on my 39/32 combo... but, there are a few around here that I just need a bit more, and am glad of being able to drop to the 30/32 for that last umph... I try not to, I'm trying to get stronger and not use it, but, it's better to use it than not have it, for me. Running the cassette and crank that I am, some things to consider are chain length and wrap. Of course, if I'm on the 53, I should be in the 11/12 gears in the rear, and if I'm on the 30, I should be on the 28/32 gears... but, if I happened to go w/ a 53/32 combo, then I'd better have a long enough chain, so I don't break it. But conversely, if I went w/ a 30/11 combo, the chain would be hanging slack and falling off if you don't have a long-cage derailler to take up the slack. If I didn't use a long-cage, I could shorten the chain up a bit to try to get the 30/11 combo to function, but, that risks being too short, the 53/32 combo to wreck the chain. Of course, *don't* use a 53/32 or a 30/11 pairing, is the correct answer, but, I did adjust mine so it would function in the full range so I wouldn't have a problem if I mis-shifted or something that put in in one of those pairings. And, while I don't ever come close to using the 30/11 pairing since I try to stay off the 30, I do try to stay on my 50, and often will end up closer to the 53/32 pairing before I go to the 39... I need to go to the 39 earlier, perhaps, but, the 53/32 works, on mine, but, I don't recommend it. FWIW.... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
