Double, Compact, or Triple?

[pumpkinpony]

I would create a poll but I'm not sure how to. I'm curious to see what most people are using.

My Lemond I've been riding for the past two years has a triple. I just bought a new bike off eBay (w/o really thinking about gears - I was after the frame) and it has a Double with 12-25 in the back. I'm really missing the granny! After searching through old threads, I'm guessing my best bet is to swap out for a 13-29 in the back (all Campy Centaur parts). My last ride on it with some hills left my knees hurting...

Guy at the bike shop said you could swap out individual rings on the Campy cassettes, but from some web searching it doesn't look like you can on the Centaur, unless you are getting 2010 parts.

[ny biker]

I have a triple. I've never tried a double or compact double, so I can't advise. But I do know that I need that small chain ring.

[Veronica]

I have a bike with a triple, a bike with a really small compact double 46 - 33 with an 11 - 34 in the back and a bike with a standard compact 50 - 34 and an 11 - 25 in the back.

I think of myself as a pretty strong rider, not super fast, but strong. Yesterday we rode 46 miles with a big climb coming at mile 33 ish. The climb was 4.5 miles with an average grade of about 7.5% - sea level to 1600 feet. I cannot believe how much it hurt to climb those 4 and a half miles in my 34 - 25. No knee issues just some burning muscles and by the time I got to the summit I was seriously fried and it was NOT all downhill to the car. I'm thinking I need to see if I can put a 27 on it. It's also the first ride I've ever wanted bigger gears as I spun out in the 50 - 11 on a downhill. But do I really need to do more than 38 mph?

Yeah, if you're having knee issues... probably want to swap it out for something easier.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

I'm thinking I need to see if I can put a 27 on it.
Veronica

look at the ird cassettes. I have a 30 w/ my compact. I really love it.

[oz rider]

I have SRAM compact doubles on both 'good' bikes - with a 27 on the roadie and XX 36 on the new touring bike. I just think doubles are lighter and less hassle, and unfortunately I needed this one before Apex comes out. The tourer has mtb wheels (and will take 650s) so the rear wheel becomes a good mtb wheel as well, and should tackle anything. I hope,

The tourer had its first real ride Saturday - to the snow up Mt Donna Buang, which is a 20km climb with some mud. No knee issues, which is important to me after a knee injury.


I have a traditional 52-42 on another bike with a 28 on the back but it's not as versatile. I'm more endurance than speed though, so ymmv.

[OakLeaf]

But do I really need to do more than 38 mph?

Of course you do. But on hills like that you should be able to hit 45 easily without even pedaling.

[Veronica]

...on hills like that you should be able to hit 45 easily without even pedaling.

Unfortunately this was one of those climbs where you descend some, then climb some more, then descend again.

That first descent, nasty hairpins and chewed up road. Oh and it's in the redwoods so the road is in shadow and it sees a lot of car traffic and it's about a lane and a half wide.

Yeah, the second half of the descent I hit 40 w/o pedaling. In fact I refused to pedal until I hit the stop signs at the bottom. This section has much nicer pavement, more sweeping turns and two full lanes.

Veronica

[JennK13]

Pumpkin,
My Fuji has a double (36/46) up front and a 12-25 10spd on the back. At times, I'm also wishing I had a granny on it! Did a nice 36 mile ride yesterday with rolling hills, some pretty steep and long, and though my knees are good, my thighs were getting fatigued. I find I sometimes have to stop for a few minutes and rest my legs, then I'm good to go - almost like they got their second wind, and I just run up the hill no problems. I guess that ultimately, it will make me a better/stronger climber - in groups rides, I pass a lot of people only because my bike can only go so slow because it doesn't have a granny; if I pedaled any slower, I'd literally fall over