If I switch out my triple crankset for a double, what else do I need to buy or consider? Do I need a new derauler and shifter? What ring set gearing should I look for if I am a MOP rider and my local area is very very flat? Thanks!
I looked into this for my road bike, and was told I would need (besides the new crankset) a new front derailleur and shifter. As for the gearing, I think that’s a personal thing. I roll compact 50/34 because I’m not too powerful and prefer the overall range.
depends on what else you have 
Some shifters can be made to shift double or triple, others will not work so swell. Your RD will likely be too long, but maybe not. You will need to adjust your chain length as well, but this is easy.
there are a million choices for cranks/chainrings… a little more info on budget, existing component group, motivation for switching, etc. would probably help.
You can quite likely get adequate shifting performance with your existing front derailleur. You won’t hurt anything by trying a new crankset with it (well, unless it drops the chain while you’re doing a standing sprint, that is). You can wait to decide on an upgrade.
A decent quality shifter should work just fine for a double or a triple.
Choice of gearing depends upon which gears you favor now. Do you ever use your small ring on the triple? Then you’ll want to look at a compact, probably.
Congratulations on making this step toward making your bike fit in with the cool crowd.
I currently have a Shimano crankset with a Specialized stamp on it. I have the gears written down at home, but not with me now. I almost never ride in the small ring. My group set is all 105. I really don’t want to spend a lot of money. I realize one can easily drop several big bills on high tech graphite cranksets in pretty colors, but I am not there yet, maybe next year. Stupid question: If my current shifter shifts three times (ie. for each of the three rings) wouldn’t it continue to shift three times on a double. Do I make sense?
Yes, your shifter technically has more than two positions - but these are useful for “feathering” the FD when you’re approaching a cross-chain position (i.e. big chainring/big cog or small chainring/small cog - gear combinations to be avoided). Practice, good tuning, and avoiding cross chaining will allow you to avoid sounding like a pepper mill when you ride.
I’m not sure that I can give good advice on gearing selection for flat terrain, as I have so little experience with riding anywhere that isn’t pretty lumpy. I do like Shimano’s cranksets in general for their smooth shifting.
What is your need or purpose in doing this? Seems like lots of expense and bother for very little (if any) benefit. As a MOPer you would get far more benefit just by riding lots more.
I did this conversion last fall. Actually, the LBS did the work, I sourced the parts.
Check eBay for new, surplus 105 crank, BB, and FD. Per Shimano, I needed a new FD. The RD, although long, works fine. The shifter will probably work but you can check here:
http://techdocs.shimano.com/…;bmUID=1235752009078
As for gearing, if you are mostly on flat terrain then go with 53/39 up front and 12-25 ( in back.
Edited to add BB.
What is your need or purpose in doing this? Seems like lots of expense and bother for very little (if any) benefit. As a MOPer you would get far more benefit just by riding lots more.
Bike looks cooler. I’m not being facetious when I say that this is a reasonable justification for the expenditure, if finances aren’t overly tight.
“Bike looks cooler. I’m not being facetious when I say that this is a reasonable justification for the expenditure, if finances aren’t overly tight.”
The day I start spending unnecessarily to be “cool” is the day they can put me in the mental ward.
Aw, c’mon, live a little! You can do “buy it now” for an Ultegra crankset on eBay for under $150, and could probably get a better deal if you’re resourceful. That seems like a pretty reasonable upgrade, at least for somebody who has a secure source of income and does not carry a large amount of debt. Anyway, it’ll weigh less and probably shift better.
FWIW, I race on a bike that I bought on eBay for a very reasonable price. Have promised myself that I won’t replace it until I show enough improvement in speed as to warrant the expense. That being said, last year I bought a matched set of water bottle cages (Specialized Rib Cages) for my road bike, even though I had plenty of other mismatched cages lying around. They match the color scheme, they “look cool,” and the enjoyment of having a (to me) cool-looking bike is that I want to ride it more frequently.
My overall mental health is certainly subject to debate, but I’m hoping that my selection of bike parts won’t be the last straw that makes the authorities decide to commit me.
Nobody is going to put you away for your selection of bike parts. For me it’s extremely wasteful to spend on things that aren’t necessary and have very little benefit. Spending money to be cool is wasteful IMO. The OP would get more benefit just by riding lots more. Save the money for more important things.
The primary reason I want to change it is: are you ready? I simply don’t like the current triple that I have. I don’t like how it looks (cool factor there I guess), and I don’t like how it sounds. It squeeks like crazy. I pulled it, cleaned it up real good, regreased it, then replaced it. The squeeking is much better, but still comes back (though not bad) after about 30 minutes of riding. The final reason I want to replace it, is that it just doesn’t feel right. I am sure it is all my imagination, but it doesn’t feel fast or smooth. Do I really need to replace it? No. Do I want to replace it? Yes!