Compatibility-Italian Triple

David Ewing rides a triple chain set and wants to have one fitted to a top class frame; either a Pinarello or Wilier. He needs to know if it is possible to fit a Campagnolo triple as he is mad about the Italian brand.

Question:
I’m a couple days away from turning 54, and need a pretty-much one-for-all-purposes road bike. My [apparent] problem is that I have a huge jones for all things Italian, especially when it comes to bikes; but I also want a bike in the pretty darn good-to-terrific range that I can still ride with a triple–due to job and family circumstances, a regular training regimen unfortunately is not currently on the table. What I want to know is this: can I order, for example, an FP3 or a Wilier Imperiale or Izoard frameset from my local LBS, and have them put a Campy triple crank w/Athena or Centaur mid-cage derailleur with it? Or am I just dreaming of what can’t be?
Please don’t suggest a compact: been there, didn’t like it.
Thanks.

Hi David.

You can order anything you want too!

A triple can be fitted to any frame, if you think back to before compacts were available and a race would go over a horrendous climb, like the Alto de L’Angliru in the Tour of Spain you would find riders like Miguel Indurain with a triple chain set on their race bike.

So your local bike shop will be able to fit the Campagnolo triple chain set with its slightly wider bottom bracket and the special front derailleur to which ever frame you choose.

With a triple there is the problem of getting the best chain line especially with the shorter rear end of a top class frame. As I’m sure you know, David, you have many duplicate gear ratios with a triple chain set, but you don’t want me to mention a compact chain set which avoids this problem. I guess you don’t like the double compact chain set due the jump from the small to the large chain ring, the spread of gears can be the same as the triple, but there can be gaps in the ratios which can be a shock to the legs. You stick to the triple as this is what you prefer and it can be gentler on the legs.

Once you have decided on your frame you can have the bike shop fit your Campagnolo triple chain set with no problems.