Help!!

[Roadrunner]

What's the difference between a Trip;e and a Compact. Which is the best (I struggle on hills these days). I've not been out much on my bike lately (I'm blaming my deppresion) and my hill climbing has suffered for it (Can't cycle musch around here without some kind of hill).

[IFjane]

Hi RR. I am certainly no expert but I will share what I know. A triple has 3 chainrings - usually the largest is a 52 tooth, then a 42, then then smallest is a 30. A compact has two chainrings with the biggest usually a 50 and the smallest a 34.

I have always ridden with a triple and also struggle on hills. Recently I rode a friend's bike that had a compact double and the hills seemed easier. It all has to do with gear inches and math I can't figure out! I am considering switching from my triple to a compact at some point.

Oh, and the cog on the back of my bike (with the triple) is a 12 - 27; the one on the compact was an 11 or 12 - 25. To me, climbing in the compact should have seemed harder but it didn't.

[Roadrunner]

Thanks IFjane that seems to clear it up a bit fr me. I thought it would be harder. I'm definately swaying toward one now.

[Pedal Wench]

The two factors that go into what makes it easier to climb are the size of the small ring up front, and the size of the largest cog in the rear cassette. The compact you tried might have had a bigger rear cassette.

The small ring on a triple is a 30. The small ring on a typical compact is a 34. With the same cassette on the rear, the triple will give you an easier gear for climbing. You can get similar gearing by putting a larger rear cassette on a bike with a compact, but if you had that same large cassette on a triple, it would be even easier gearing.

People prefer compacts because they believe that shifting is cleaner and more precise with only two rings up front, and they'll also save weight. "Racers" will look down at triples, although anything that make cycling more enjoyable is good in my book!

[Roadrunner]

Thanks Pedal Wench. That helps clear things up a bit more. I'm not very knowledable about things like that. I just get on and ride (Talk about giving blondes a bad name eh lol). Hubbie wasn't much help either though. I knew you folks would know your stuff though. I'm glad to be back with you all.

I haven't actually tried the bike as the bs will have to order it in for me especially. I'ts just a small family run business and they don't have any wsd bikes in stock (lack of demand, I think).

Not very many bs's around here will let you ride a bike (especially new new ones).
I'll ask about the ratios when I go back over there though.

[Zen]

Not very many bs's around here will let you ride a bike (especially new new ones).

Huh???!!!
How do they expect to sell them?
Can you imagine buying a new car without a test drive?

[Roadrunner]

You can sit on one if they have it in stock, but that's usually about it. There are a few who'll let you test ride, but that's not much use if they don't sell the bike your after.

[jpbayarea]

Hi,

I switched from a triple to a compact double about a year ago. It is possible to get exactly the same gearing minus one gear in a compact and the difference in shifting makes that one gear loss unnoticeable. I find it
much smoother, much easier on hills and no loss at all. When I was
thinking of the shift the bike shop I use suggested I ride my usual rides
without going down into the final "granny gear" and see if that worked.
It did and so I made the shift and wouldn't consider returning to the cumbersome triple. I have never de-chained since making this shift and
feel total confidence in the compact double. I also find that the new
gearing ratios make it so that I ride most of the time in the double and
rarely use the top ring other than for long flats or descents.

Hope you get back on your bike soon...it's the best depression medicine out there!!!

[LBTC]

My old road bike had a triple, my new one is a compact. I only got the new one about 6 weeks ago, and only had one chance to ride it outdoors before the snow came - I am in terrible shape after a long "illness" kept me off the bike for over a year, and the hill outside our house was no problem at all! I was amazed at how easy it was to climb.

It is all about ratio and fit.

You're going to be so happy to get our riding again! Surround yourself with butterflies and the hill will just fly by!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[tulip]

I switched from a double to a compact double on my Luna last fall. Switching to a triple would have had the domino effect on the brake levers, front derailleur, and all sorts of things. So I went with the compact double and I've been very pleased.

If I were to get a new touring bike, I would have to research about which way is better from a fresh start, but the compact double has been a great switch-out on the Luna.

[Roadrunner]

Thanks you guys. You're all so encouraging.
I've been comparing the two bikes and my son reckons that the Specialized has a more relaxed geometry. I'm going to sit on one on Thursday. I'll let you know my decision (If |I ever make it lol).confused:

[RoadRaven]

I know alot of people swear by triple chain rings, but you can get all the gearing you need with two rings.

I have two chain rings on my TT race bike (55-39).
Its a 9 speed with 27-13 on the back.
I essentially ride only flat courses with it - but I can climb 12 and 14% gradients on it.

...and I have a compact set on my road race bike (50-34) Its a 10 speed with 27-12 on the back.
With slightly lower gears I can climb hills a tad more easily - but there is not alot in it.

I have a triple on my mountain bike but I only use the small and medium cogs - never the biggest when I am off-road.

Essentially, I have found a compact to be a good "in-between" option. It does everything for me a triple would without the hassle (for me) of a third ring.

I much prefer having only two cogs at the front, because it means less thinking involved...