Trade Ultegra Triple for Dbl Crank

[MTBMaven]

Anyone want to trade an Ultegra triple (6603) for a double (6600)? Mine is for a 10 speed drivetrain and has about 1,000 miles on it.

I figure it would be best to just trade the crank arm and keep our respective middle and large rings. That way there is no worrying about ring usage.

My double set up just doesn't have the range for the hills I want to climb.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Anyone want to trade an Ultegra triple (6603) for a double (6600)? Mine is for a 10 speed drivetrain and has about 1,000 miles on it.

I figure it would be best to just trade the crank arm and keep our respective middle and large rings. That way there is no worrying about ring usage.

My double set up just doesn't have the range for the hills I want to climb.

Noooo, don't go to a triple. Get a compact instead!

[MTBMaven]

Mmmm...that's not a bad idea. But I like the gearing I currently have for most of the time. It's when I want to go up really steep stuff, like double digit grades (e.g. Chaney Trail, Tioga Pass, etc.). Climbs like the big hills on Solvang, Torre Pines, road to Chantry are fine with my gearing.

Not sure what to do....

[Neccros]

I heard the rings for doubles and triples are different....

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by Neccros

I heard the rings for doubles and triples are different....

Dooo Figures

[Neccros]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Question:
Can you use Triple and Double rings interchangeably if you get the right size?

Answer:
No, you cannot use the Shimano Ultegra Triple chainrings with your Shimano Double chainrings.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Mmmm...that's not a bad idea. But I like the gearing I currently have for most of the time. It's when I want to go up really steep stuff, like double digit grades (e.g. Chaney Trail, Tioga Pass, etc.). Climbs like the big hills on Solvang, Torre Pines, road to Chantry are fine with my gearing.

Not sure what to do....

Just get a compact and go as big as you can in the back, you'll be fine. A few less teeth in the front makes a huge difference.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

Just get a compact and go as big as you can in the back, you'll be fine. A few less teeth in the front makes a huge difference.

Maybe I'll give this a try as a cheap alternative. I'm concerned about some of the hills on the High Sierra Fall Century.

[2wheel_lee]

And if you want Ultegra level cranks in a compact bolt pattern, the FC-R700 crank is the ticket. In some of Shimano's printed information, it actually says that this crank is Ultegra level.
http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1185206072442

[Neccros]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

And if you want Ultegra level cranks in a compact bolt pattern, the FC-R700 crank is the ticket. In some of Shimano's printed information, it actually says that this crank is Ultegra level.
Products

Lee,

Correct, and the R600 is the 105 equivalent.... Dunno why they dont just list it as Ultegra Compact and 105 compact.... would save so much confusion...

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Maybe I'll give this a try as a cheap alternative. I'm concerned about some of the hills on the High Sierra Fall Century.

Whats the average/max grades of the climbs? I've done the switchbacks to the ski lifts at Mt. Badly with my standard 39/27, so with a compact up front, I'm sure you'll be fine. You're a strong rider, I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

Whats the average/max grades of the climbs? I've done the switchbacks to the ski lifts at Mt. Badly with my standard 39/27, so with a compact up front, I'm sure you'll be fine. You're a strong rider, I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

I tried climbing Chaney Trail (the road up to Sunset Trail) the other weekend and didn't get very far. Granted it was close to 100 that day but I couldn't go more than 30 feet without needing to stop.

I would love to climb Highway 120 from Lee Vining to Tioga Pass in the fall but that thing as a 5 mile sustained grade of something like 12%-14%. That's a serious grade for a long time.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

I tried climbing Chaney Trail (the road up to Sunset Trail) the other weekend and didn't get very far. Granted it was close to 100 that day but I couldn't go more than 30 feet without needing to stop.

I would love to climb Highway 120 from Lee Vining to Tioga Pass in the fall but that thing as a 5 mile sustained grade of something like 12%-14%. That's a serious grade for a long time.

I've done Chaney on my road bike, it's a really good climb, you just have to spend time out of the saddle. The day we did Baldy it was over 100 degress, and unless you're drinking a ton of water and finding a way to stay cool, it really beats the shit out of you. It gets to the point where you start feeling delusional. If you want to do Chaney sometime on a cooler day, let me know.

12-14% for 5 miles is really brutal, though. If you put your mind to it, and make the commitment not to stop, you can get it. Like I said, you're a strong rider, I think more of it is in your head.

[MTBMaven]

Okay so let me see if I've got this straight, I need a different crank to run compact gearing? I can't just get smaller rings? If so, that's such BS.

[2wheel_lee]

The smallest ring you can fit on an Ultegra crank is a 38 (39 is standard). The reasoning for this is that the bolt circle diameter does not allow for anything smaller. The compact crank has a smaller bolt circle diameter, which allows for smaller rings.

[jeffj]

Won't you also need a different left side shifter and front derailleur to run a triple?

I'd second the recommendation to go with a compact double. My daughter switched from a 105 triple to the latest R-700 double and Ultegra 10 speed shifters and has been on fire with the setup.