I have been told by a couple of people that you cannot install a triple chainring on a Giant TCR Composite frame. Is this true and if so, why? I know Giant does not offer it as an option on their complete bikes. Also, what are some other crank, cassette, and derailleur (both Shimano & Campy) options to get better climbing gears with a double? Thanks

FSA compact crankset 50/34 chain rings and your choice of Shimano or Campy shifters and cassettes. Campy 10 goes up to 13-29, Shimano goes to 12-27, and there are custom cassettes available too. I don't recommend mountain bike cassettes on road bikes unless you will be spending most of your time riding mountains.

Thanks. Does this set up allow for similiar low gears similiar to a triple? Have you used such a set up? Are there disadvantages to a compact crankset?

FSA compact crankset 50/34 chain rings and your choice of Shimano or Campy shifters and cassettes. Campy 10 goes up to 13-29, Shimano goes to 12-27, and there are custom cassettes available too. I don't recommend mountain bike cassettes on road bikes unless you will be spending most of your time riding mountains.

Thanks. Does this set up allow for similiar low gears similiar to a triple? Have you used such a set up? Are there disadvantages to a compact crankset?
Short answer is no one knows how low you need. A compact crank with a 110 BCD can only use a smallest ring of of 33 teeth. Standard triples typically come with a 30 and some will substitute a 26 tooth granny(74mm BCD). Sheldon Brown at www.harriscyclery.com has a gear inch calculator.

Haven't seen it, but a friend of my wifes just bought a TCR with Dura ACE triple. The shop switched it out for her. Probably gladly as it was DA 10 speed originally.

Did she buy a TCR Composite Carbon bike or is it aluminum? Is it an 04?

Haven't seen it, but a friend of my wifes just bought a TCR with Dura ACE triple. The shop switched it out for her. Probably gladly as it was DA 10 speed originally.

I was told by the shop that at triple was not a good idea on a TCR compact frame. The reason given is that the chainstay is so short. Triples do better on longer chainstay bikes.




I have been told by a couple of people that you cannot install a triple chainring on a Giant TCR Composite frame. Is this true and if so, why? I know Giant does not offer it as an option on their complete bikes. Also, what are some other crank, cassette, and derailleur (both Shimano & Campy) options to get better climbing gears with a double? Thanks

They probably say this because of chainline issues. You won't be able to use extreme angles in the big ring, and the granny will be a bailout ring when in the three largest cogs.

A good shop will be able to set you up. Use a triple system that has a few different BB spindles or adjustability, because you'll want to get the granny a chain-width away from the chainstay. Use a 3rd-eye chainwatcher. If you throw your chain on the inside and it catches in the stay, the whole frame is toast.

Other than that, a compact system might offer you a better solution with a 13-29 (Campagnolo) or 12-27 (Shimano).

All kinds of guess work again. The chainstay length is 40cm, only .6cm shorter than many other bikes. This should not keep you from running a triple. Like any short chainstay bike however, the chainline is a tiny bit more extreme.

A quick calculation will reveal that the difference in the chains's angle due to the shorter chainstay is a miniscule .08 dgrees.

Whether a triple is the most desirable option depends on the terrain that you're riding and the lowest and highest gear ratios that you need. A campy triple with a 53/39/30 will offer the best range, most uniform gearing and ease of operation.

If you don't need a lot of top end gear a 50/34 with a 12/25 or the standard 53/39 with a 13-29 are both viable options.

All kinds of guess work again. The chainstay length is 40cm, only .6cm shorter than many other bikes. This should not keep you from running a triple. Like any short chainstay bike however, the chainline is a tiny bit more extreme.

. Yep, chainstay length is not a deal killer. another factor is that the alumminum giants that will handle a triple have an indent in the lower seattube for derailer clearance. Since this is not the case with the CF model, a BB shim might be requried for proper derailer clearance,Which would also affect chainline,but not necessarioly be a deal killer either. There are giant composites that people have successfully installed triples on, although many shops will not make the switch.

Thanks for all the feedback. I was going to buy the frame, fork, and build kit online and either build it myself or have a shop do it. I didn't want to buy a triple kit or a set up that won't work for me. I think I am going to try an Ultegra or Campy Centaur double with a 12-27 or 13-29 cassette. Do Shimano and Campy make compact cranksets? Also, what is the disadvantage to a compact crankset?

Thanks for all the feedback. I was going to buy the frame, fork, and build kit online and either build it myself or have a shop do it. I didn't want to buy a triple kit or a set up that won't work for me. I think I am going to try an Ultegra or Campy Centaur double with a 12-27 or 13-29 cassette. Do Shimano and Campy make compact cranksets? Also, what is the disadvantage to a compact crankset?


FSA has the Eneergy compact crank, but it's in short supply.

The minor disadavantage to a compact is the additional cog shifting after every chainring shift. With a 53/39 a 2-cog shift is required. With a 50/34 its usually a 3-cog shift. A 50/34 reduces the top gear by 6% and lreduces the lowest gear by 13%, for a net 7% increase in range.

With Ultegra soon to be 10 speed, I advise you to go Campy. If you don't get a compact crank, consider upgrading the crank to a Chorus model which has a better bottom bracket that is interchangeable with Record. Otherwise you get a real cheap BB that is not a cartridge type, wiht an oddball 111mm spindle that can't be upgraded within the Campy line.

The bike was an 04 composite.

With Ultegra soon to be 10 speed, I advise you to go Campy. If you don't get a compact crank, consider upgrading the crank to a Chorus model which has a better bottom bracket that is interchangeable with Record. Otherwise you get a real cheap BB that is not a cartridge type, wiht an oddball 111mm spindle that can't be upgraded within the Campy line.
The centaur and lower BB may or may not be crap, but it IS MOST CERTAINLY A CARTRIDGE TYPE, and not the old ball and cup type.

thanks for the response. BTW, what's wrong with Dura Ace 10, you said she was "probably gladly as it was DA 10 speed originally"?
Just curious as I am deciding on a build kit.

The bike was an 04 composite.

The centaur and lower BB may or may not be crap, but it IS MOST CERTAINLY A CARTRIDGE TYPE, and not the old ball and cup type.

The centaur just requires another special tool to tighten the cups.

I have a 10 spd campy record triple on a tcr composite.
I set it up myself and It works great.

Every now and then, it is very helpfull to have those low range gears.