Hey Max About That Triple...: Bikefanclub.com

This was my response under Going Triple.

Rebecca said it well. I have a triple on my Calfee and my Kestrel and I have never regretted it a minute. I live on the edge of the Allegheny Mountains and I tour on my bikes. It is what is practical for a 56 year old who is 210 with a bad knee. Can I ride a double? Sure and just like Rebecca you pay for it eventually. I have ridden all my local rides on both a double and a triple. The difference is how you feel at the end of the day. This is especially important when you are doing tours. All you are doing is giving yourself more gear ratios.

Fred Matheny wrote an article about 2 years ago about the average rider kidding themselves when they are riding a 39 x 25 to climb. He made the point that that is what Lance ususally uses. If Lance is in that ratio to spin up a steep hill how could the average weekend warrior use it? It went on about ratios and so forth and he proved that many people should really have a triple to ride the best and most efficient way.

This is a little bit about Fred. It leaves out he did Paris-Brest-Paris this year for the second time.

During his 20-plus years in cycling, Fred has written hundreds of fitness & training articles for top bike magazines and websites. A dozen books, too, including the landmark Fred Matheny's Complete Book of Road Bike Training published in late 2002.

On the bike, he's raced to medals in state and national championships, plus a senior world record in the Team Race Across America.

As a coach, Fred has worked with hundreds of riders at PAC Tour Endurance Training Camps, the Carpenter/Phinney Bike Camps, and Dirt Camp.

So as you can see Fred knows what he is talking about.

My cassette is a 27. Again I never regret that. I don't always use all those gears but if I hit a particularly long or steep climb (or both) I am happy it is there. Sometimes I look for another one even. We have some really steep hills in Pittsburgh. If I were you I would get the largest cassette made. Then you pick the best climbing gear for you for that hill for that day. Campy cassettes are really expensive so why not know that you will never need another cassette? You will have every possible ratio you can have. I know when you hit a 12% or higher climb you'll be happy for an extra "click." They wouldn't make them if people did not want and buy them. Don't let the "roadie" mentatlity about triples influence your choice of cassettes. Go for broke...

Enjoy our bike and don't worry about the hammerheads. There are a lot of wannabees in that crowd.

Post Extras