Shimano Tiagra FC-4503 Triple

Price Paid:  $0.00 at REI

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mountain

Bike Setup:
1987 vintage Vitus 979 bonded aluminum frame
Cane Creek SCR-5C compact aero levers
Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow saddle
Shimano Sora front derailleur
Shimano Tiagra Triple chainring
Mavic Open Pro rim
Nashbar 7 spd. Huge Gear 12-34 freewheel
Shimano Tourney Megarange rear derailleur
Mavic SSC dual-pivot caliper brakes

Summary:
This is the best I could afford when rebuilding my old Vitus. I would have liked to have been able to get a carbon triple (triple for riding in the mountains), but I'm content with the choice. It's stable, and transitions between the gears is reasonably smooth. If I have a complaint, it's about the rare occasion when I've been going between the large gear on the Tiagra crank and low gear on the 7 sp. freewheel. There's a rub, and it's not on the derailleur. There are these little button things on the largest chainring, and they're not recessed enough, leading to an annoying rub if your gearing is putting your chain at too much of an angle.

Living in Colorado, I ride in the mountains a lot, so a triple is definitely the best choice. Old one was only a double.

Strengths:
Cost
durability
look

Weaknesses:
a bit heavy
button rub on the large chainring

Similar Products Used:
Spidel double
Shimano