triple chainset?

[rickbrown74]

Hi all. Had a break from cycling for quite a while now but need to get some fitness on the go again. Turned 40 and have a slight problem with slight joint pain/stiffness if I push it too hard when exercising.

I have 50-34 on the front and I think I'm right in saying I've a 26 tooth at the rear (9 speed tiagra). I need to spin up hills rather than grind up them to avoid aggravation. Will a triple give me a noticeably smaller gear to play with? Obviously will require a fair amount of work to change all so want to be sure before committing to it.

[gazza285]

A wider ratio cassette would much less hassle, there's lots to choose from, although you might need a longer cage derailleur to accommodate the wider range of gearing.

A triple would typically only have a 30 inner ring, and would require a change of shifter, as well as both front and rear derailleurs.

I'd go for a 30-11 cassette first.

[nammynake]

How long are steep are hills you're likely to ride? 34-26 is already a reasonably low gear but as above even an extra few teeth on your cassette will help.

[Usget]

Yep, if your derailleur will take it, definitely try a wider range cassette. Even an 11-28 will make a big difference.

Edit - although you're on 9-speed so I think the biggest you can do without changing your derailleur will be 12-27 - but that's from memory, and I might be wrong.

[donfisher]

My road bike has 9sp Tiagra compact 12-25. My CX has 10sp Tiagra compact 11-30.

I know there are limitations on what a standard rear mech can do but the 11-30 will go up pretty much anything.

As above, look into what you can do with the cassette first as I suspect even changing the rear mech or cage to fit a wider cassette would be easier and cheaper than it would be to fit a tripple and the right brifter for it.

[rickbrown74]

Thanks for all the helpful replies guys. Looks like trying a rear cassette and possible rear derailleur is the handiest route.

I don't intend doing big mileage so will never be that fit really and everywhere round here is pretty up and down. There's a hill to my house for example which is half an mile and even seasoned cyclists be crawling up it.

I come from a mtb background so used to tiny gears and spinning.

[Barchettaman]

Swap in a 28 rear cassette, start training hill repeats, take it easy, you'll be fine.

My Merckx has 12-30 9 speed with a compact. I find I run out of gas on a long route and the 34-30 combo gets me and my fat sorry arse up and over just about anything.

[Kell]

I've got a B'Twin Triban 3 that came supplied with a triple on the front.

I can't comment on your knees, but I'm also north of 40, weigh 16 stone and have had operations on both knees.

When I first got the bike I had to have it in its lowest gear for one hill in particular, but I'm making a point of trying not to use the inner ring at all.

Someone else would be better able to tell you the actual difference between sticking it on the biggest ring at the back and using the middle or little ring on the front, but all I can say from the saddle is that it didn't feel that much easier.

I've not tackled that hill again, but on my ride out last weekend, I managed everything in the middle ring.

Good luck with it though.