Going from a triple to a double – what don’t I know?

[jrenaut]

My “I don’t have the kids but the fixie is impractical for this ride” bike is a 2013 Bianchi Volpe. It came with a triple up front – 50/39/30.

I’d like to switch to a double. The only time I ever use the small ring is when I accidentally downshift, and then I use it only long enough to get back into the middle ring.

Can I just replace the crankset and the front brifter? Or is there more to it than that? Since Shimano sells 2X10 and 3X10 derailleurs, I assume i’d have to replace that, too. Would I have to do 50/39? And how do I get the crankset off?

Topic

[dplasters]

I’ve been using SRAM’s 1×11 for the last few months commuting(50t and 11-32). Do it. You know you want to.

I was originally going to go 11-36 on the rear but figured I’d give 11-32 a go. So far it hasn’t been an issue.

[Harry Meatmotor]

Brifter?

We call them shifters (and if we’re getting fussy, we’ll call them integrated brake/shift combos. And further, if we’re talking only about Shimano, we simply call them STI levers). If we need to differentiate between the brake lever shifter combo on a mountain bike (yes, these do exist!) from a brake lever shifter combo on a drop bar road bike, we can say “drop bar shift lever” or “flat bar shifter combo”. If we’re being stodgy, we can say differentiate “bar end shifter” as being a different thing, for those who have touring bikes and choose to eschew indexed shifting.

I can assure you that no where in any bike parts catalog is there anything called a “brifter”. It’s not slang that anyone outside of the sandle-wearing cycling bulletin board community uses. Call me ornery, but using the term “brifter” doesn’t actually refer to a specific part on a modern bike more than “chainwheel” of “handle horn” does.

This is similar to calling SRAM “Ess-Ram”; or calling Campagnolo “Campag” (it’s Campy).

[dkel]

@Harry Meatmotor 155036 wrote:

I can assure you that no where in any bike parts catalog is there anything called a “brifter”. It’s not slang that anyone outside of the sandle-wearing cycling bulletin board community uses. Call me ornery, but using the term “brifter” doesn’t actually refer to a specific part on a modern bike more than “chainwheel” of “handle horn” does.

This is similar to calling SRAM “Ess-Ram”; or calling Campagnolo “Campag” (it’s Campy).

Nya, nya! Brifter, brifter, brifter! Barcon, barcon, barcon!

Hee hee.

[vvill]

I remember when I upgraded my brifters from Shimano Tiara to One-hundred-and-five.

I will admit “chainset” always weirds me out.

[jrenaut]

What even is a chainset

[dkel]

My bike is a 2×10, so that makes it a 20-speed, right?

[vvill]

@jrenaut 155046 wrote:

What even is a chainset

UK version of “crankset”. Although I think it implies that the chainrings are included. Whereas “crankset” is not specific wrt chainrings.

[ImaCynic]

@Harry Meatmotor 155036 wrote:

Brifter?

We call them shifters (and if we’re getting fussy, we’ll call them integrated brake/shift combos. And further, if we’re talking only about Shimano, we simply call them STI levers). If we need to differentiate between the brake lever shifter combo on a mountain bike (yes, these do exist!) from a brake lever shifter combo on a drop bar road bike, we can say “drop bar shift lever” or “flat bar shifter combo”. If we’re being stodgy, we can say differentiate “bar end shifter” as being a different thing, for those who have touring bikes and choose to eschew indexed shifting.

I can assure you that no where in any bike parts catalog is there anything called a “brifter”. It’s not slang that anyone outside of the sandle-wearing cycling bulletin board community uses. Call me ornery, but using the term “brifter” doesn’t actually refer to a specific part on a modern bike more than “chainwheel” of “handle horn” does.

This is similar to calling SRAM “Ess-Ram”; or calling Campagnolo “Campag” (it’s Campy).

Or calling Shimano “Shima-NO”.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

[jrenaut]

@vvill 155048 wrote:

UK version of “crankset”. Although I think it implies that the chainrings are included. Whereas “crankset” is not specific wrt chainrings.

I can’t use a chainset, I don’t ride in metric. If I ride five miles with a chainset, my chain falls off and catches on fire, right?

[TwoWheelsDC]

So of course this thread got me thinking about the FD and RD situations on my gravel/commuter bike, both of which have been driving me nuts because neither will run both quietly and shift smoothly…it also reminded me that I was hoping to get a 1×11 drivetrain when I bought the bike, but was only available on much higher end bikes. Finally, it reminded me that I had some OT money to blow without risking my wife’s wrath. So…a SRAM Rival 1 set is now en route to my house. Went with a 42t chainring with 11-36 cassette, which I hope will be well-suited to my commute that has both C&O and a long ass hill…much more lower speed stuff that would’ve made a 50t overkill and necessitated a 42t cog and long cage derailleur out back. Yay impulse buys!

[huskerdont]

I was sure Mr. Meatmotor was going to move on to “crank arm” before that rant was over. Oh well.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cn-z.html#crank
‘Crank – The arm which connects the pedal to the bottom bracket axle. Sometimes called a “crank arm”, but this is redundant and inelegant. Call it a crank, or call it an arm, but please don’t call it a “crank arm” ‘

[TwoWheelsDC]

@huskerdont 155066 wrote:

I was sure Mr. Meatmotor was going to move on to “crank arm” before that rant was over. Oh well.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cn-z.html#crank
‘Crank – The arm which connects the pedal to the bottom bracket axle. Sometimes called a “crank arm”, but this is redundant and inelegant. Call it a crank, or call it an arm, but please don’t call it a “crank arm” ‘

If you take your bike into the shop and just say “my arm is broken”, they’ll probably look at you funny and refer you to the nearest hospital.

[hozn]

@TwoWheelsDC 155052 wrote:

So…a SRAM Rival 1 set is now en route to my house. Went with a 42t chainring with 11-36 cassette, which I hope will be well-suited to my commute that has both C&O and a long ass hill…much more lower speed stuff that would’ve made a 50t overkill and necessitated a 42t cog and long cage derailleur out back. Yay impulse buys!

I’m guessing that will be easy enough, since your new low gear is just slightly lower than a 34:28, which I’m guessing was your previous low gear?

And your 42:11 is still 30mph @ 100rpm with a 28mm tire. That’s pretty fast. (A friend participates in quite fast group rides on his 1×10 with a 42t ring.)

The huge upgrade here, though, is switching to hydro disc! (I assume that’s what’s happening, right?) Of all the things I have upgraded in recent years, that stands out as one of the biggest impacts.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@hozn 155087 wrote:

The huge upgrade here, though, is switching to hydro disc! (I assume that’s what’s happening, right?) Of all the things I have upgraded in recent years, that stands out as one of the biggest impacts.

Nah, I just went with a standard mechanical brakes with the Rival 1 crankset and RD. Besides the hydros being almost 3x the cost, I’ve actually been very happy with the TRP Spyre mechanicals on this bike. The brake feel is great and comparable to rim brakes, and they’ve been super easy to keep adjusted…they’ve really been the only component on this bike that I haven’t been itching to upgrade (not including the perfectly fine seatpost, stem, and handlebars). Saddle, wheelset, and drivetrain will have been totally replaced once this little operation is complete.

[hozn]

@TwoWheelsDC 155093 wrote:

Nah, I just went with a standard mechanical brakes with the Rival 1 crankset and RD. Besides the hydros being almost 3x the cost, I’ve actually been very happy with the TRP Spyre mechanicals on this bike. The brake feel is great and comparable to rim brakes, and they’ve been super easy to keep adjusted…they’ve really been the only component on this bike that I haven’t been itching to upgrade (not including the perfectly fine seatpost, stem, and handlebars). Saddle, wheelset, and drivetrain will have been totally replaced once this little operation is complete.

Oh, ok. I guess I didn’t know Sram encouraged (had a line of) 1x with rim brakes; I’m sure that’ll be a great upgrade, regardless. Certainly will simplify things. And might lighten things up for you, though I’m guessing weight will be the same. Was it cheaper (or close enough) to go all-in with the new crank rather than just picking up a 1x ring for your current crank? Will the Rival 1 crank use a different bolt pattern (e.g. are those spiderless?). I probably could just google this

Yeah, Spyres are great compared to rim brakes, but hydros are at least as great again compared to mechanicals (like Spyres). Single-finger braking from the hoods is pretty sweet, especially if you ride off-road. That and never having to adjust the brakes. The only downside to hydro has been that you don’t realize the pads are done until they’re basically done (the brakes give one warning “shudder” when they reach the end, I’ve learned). Of course, initial brake setup is a much bigger PITA w/ hydro. But so far has been set and forget after that. Knock on wood.

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