Shimano groupset quality q.

[Gandalf]

Is it only me who thinks that current generation Shimano chainsets are just breathtakingly ugly ?

No

Are we just  talking about MTB chainsets?  If not I'm afraid I have to disagree, I think the Ultegra SL actually looks rather splendid. 

[Paul Smith SRCC]

For 2009 Shimano are apparently going offer triple chain sets with 48/38/28T

About time if you ask me!

Shimano have quite a good FAQ section, including questions that I seldom get asked like “will a 10 speed cassette fit on a 9 speed hub?”, although one I often get asked is “can I use a 9 speed ATB chainset with 10 speed STI?” yet they don’t list that question. Many have asked as they simply do not want such large chain rings as most of their road bike range triples offer. Mind you by the same token many don’t want such low as they ATB range either, which is why the 28/38/48 they are about to offer again will be welcome.

You could assume perhaps that Shimano may only be listing questions with a postive spin, so they do not ask the question because as far as they are concerned it can’t be done. Mind you I have seen quite a few that have and it seems to work perfectly. Out of interest today I compaired XT and Ultegra triple chainsets, both were as far as I could tell holding one against the other the same spacing, if anything the Ultegra had thicker rings than the XT so I can’t see a problem running the 10 speed.

Perhaps either that have listed it elsewhere, or maybe thet are about to add it to their website, right next to the “Shimergo” listing….

Paul_Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

[alecstilleyedye]

my tiagra triple is 52/42/30…

[Paul Smith SRCC]

my tiagra triple is 52/42/30…

The largest cassette sprocket Shimano make in roaad bike 10 speed is 27t, although Campagnolo offer a 29t sprocket, smallest chain ring in road bike triple either offer is 30t, many many loaded carrying tourers want lower than, hence the questions of how to achieve that is often asked.

Paul_Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

[MSeries]

Don't forget of course one can fit new rings of different sizes. One of my bikes has Ultegra cranks with 48/38/28 rings. Another has Ultegra with 52/39/30, I believe this is available now as stock but initially it wasn't so I did it myself.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

Don't forget of course one can fit new rings of different sizes. One of my bikes has Ultegra cranks with 48/38/28 rings. Another has Ultegra with 52/39/30, I believe this is available now as stock but initially it wasn't so I did it myself.

Ultegra triple chain set inner ring will actually take down to a 26t as an aftermarket amendment, acccording to Shimano they offer 165/170/172.5/175mm Gearing:52-39-30T

Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
]

[Sergeant Pluck]

Don't forget of course one can fit new rings of different sizes. One of my bikes has Ultegra cranks with 48/38/28 rings. Another has Ultegra with 52/39/30, I believe this is available now as stock but initially it wasn't so I did it myself.

I have used TA rings on a 105 triple to get 28/39/50.

[mr endon]

Well, I managed to squeeze a bit more life out of my drivetrain but need to make the fixes now.
Original plan to replace old chainrings with new not appreciably cheaper than, say, buying a new Stronglight triple: STRONGLIGHT Impact Triple  :: £58.00 :: PARTS & ACCESSORIES :: Components - Gears - Chainsets :: Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.
Blurb says "Recommended bottom bracket Stronglight JP400 110mm". Is this just marketting; will I be fine with my existing Shimano UN something or other?

[MSeries]

Well, I managed to squeeze a bit more life out of my drivetrain but need to make the fixes now.
Original plan to replace old chainrings with new not appreciably cheaper than, say, buying a new Stronglight triple: STRONGLIGHT Impact Triple  :: £58.00 :: PARTS & ACCESSORIES :: Components - Gears - Chainsets :: Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.
Blurb says "Recommended bottom bracket Stronglight JP400 110mm". Is this just marketting; will I be fine with my existing Shimano UN something or other?

If yours is long enough it will be fine.Those JP400s are not as good as Shimano ones IMO.

[Hot Flatus]

A Shimano UN will be fine.  I've used a Shimano UN BB with my Impact Compact for years.  Should you buy that crankset, you might like to know that you won't in fact be riding a Stronglight product at all, but a Sugino one  

If it comes with Zicral rings you'll be laughing, if not you'll want to snap one up when you see them going cheap, as the non-zicral ones don't last long.

[MSeries]

I was going to mentioned the cheese rings, the last one I saw was not Zircal.  I also heard that the ring spacing isn't that accurate and with  indexed mech. it needs very fine adjustment to avoid rubbing. Just a secondhand story though so might be a load of tosh.

[Hot Flatus]

I've got a double compact not a triple, but it came with a crap rings that were not flat, and so there could be a little rubbing as the chainring wobbled. Once I'd worn them out and fitted stronglight zicral rings that Spa were doing cheaply there was not problem as the rings are true.  No sign of wear yet either.

[Biggsy]

Ultegra triple chain set inner ring will actually take down to a 26t as an aftermarket amendment

24t, actually.  Same with Campag road triples.

[mr endon]

OK, just to change tack slightly, what do the panel think about Shimano Alivio as a winter commuting groupset?
An Alivio triple c/set 28/38/48 and triple rear mech (big pulley wheels) would come in for the cost of the Stronglight c/set.

[rogerzilla]

I think there's a high chance it contains some non-stainless steel parts which would rust.  Spray it with WD40 weekly and it will probably be OK.  The chainset is heavy because it uses steel rings, but apart from the weight these are a Good Thing - they last forever and don't tend to suffer from chainsuck.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

Ultegra triple chain set inner ring will actually take down to a 26t as an aftermarket amendment

24t, actually.  Same with Campag road triples.

Worth noting that they do 

If you do change the rings note that this may push the front mech past the designed range, for example although I am using a triple front mech with a 26t inner it is a road bike mech, as is the norm’ nearly all road bike versions are designed to be used with larger overall rings, as you can see below the mech line does not follow the chain ring.



This can mean that you don't get such good change, more noticeably when changing into the smallest ring. I have got it working well enough for my liking, although I try not to change down under full pressure and if posible not when in the largest rear sprocket, I get a better shift if I am in 3-4th sprocket down as the mech engages the chain nearer where it was designed to do, as a precaution I have also fitted an over shift protector
 
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk

[Biggsy]

I have Campag systems working with 26/39/50, 26/39/51 and 24/39/50.  Front mech adjustment as been tricky, admittedly.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

I have Campag systems working with 26/39/50, 26/39/51 and 24/39/50.  Front mech adjustment as been tricky, admittedly.

For sure it is good enough to use as far as I am concerned, although I am sensitive to the fact that I am pushing the mech, all is fine when I anticipate the gear changes, the problems can arise when I change under load if I get caught out and need a quick change under load, even then most of the time I get away with it and I am using a 26/36/46, so not quite as good as your 39 middle in that respect though, I notice that the mech engages/pushes the chain a bit far away from the chain ring, would be OK with a slightly larger ring.

The over shift protector stops the chain falling straight past the small ring on the odd occasion I do get caught out though.

Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk

[GrahamG]

Would it be easier (assuming campag non-indexed shifters) to just fit an MTB front mech?

Reason I ask is that I'm using a campag 30/40/50 triple chainset and fr mech but was going to pick up a 26/36/46 triple to fit for touring (with trailer).

[De Sisti]

I have Campag systems working with 26/39/50

Ditto.

[Biggsy]

Would it be easier (assuming campag non-indexed shifters) to just fit an MTB front mech?

Maybe (if it can cope with a 46t big ring), but I would try the Campag mech first.

[GrahamG]

Ah, right - hadn't thought of the teeth capacity as I'm not much of an MTB bod. Thanks.

[mr endon]

hmm..

[mrcharly-YHT]

You'd be wise to have your BB shell faced if you fit an external BB system such as Tiagra.

I have tiagra on a bike that was new in 2008.

Conventional square taper bb.

[Hot Flatus]

Sounds like you've bought an old stock bike,  I built up a bike for the wiff in early 2007 with a Tiagra gruppo... external bearings