compact double v triple? (my new bike!)

[aicabsolut]

I started out with my current bike as a complete noob, and I'm not a natural climber. I have an FSA 50/36T compact crank and Shimano 12-27 cassette.

I really suffer on grades around 12%. I would need a triple for any consistent hills above that. However, I rarely use the 36x12 gear on hills (6-9% usually) anymore. And a 34T small ring is definitely easier than the 36.

I'm not sure I'd particularly want to do 18% hills even with a triple , but I wouldn't underestimate your climbing ability with a compact.

[Veronica]

How long does it take to climb a hill? To me hills take less than 15 - 20 minutes to get over. And yeah, I don't need a small gear for those.

But the long, sustained climbs we have here, the ones that take an hour or two, or sometimes even more, to get over... Oh yeah, I want a small gear on those.

V.

[SadieKate]

It's not the grade only. It's grade plus length of the climb plus length of the entire ride. A climb that is easy in the middle of a 30 mile ride may be a killer at the end of a century.

Even the pros use triples at times.

[Eden]

Even the pros use triples at times.

Very, very rarely - they really are a liablility on a race bike - though you will find that the pros get their bikes tailored to the day that they are riding them on. If they are riding a very flat course they will have a very different bike from when they are riding a mountainous one, both in gearing and other things as well. For most of us mere mortals, we need to find the setup that gives us the most flexibility to do all tasks.

My personal experience was going from a triple to a standard double. When I did not have a bike that truely fit properly I *needed* that triple - and it was even mt bike style gearing.... Now that I have a lighter bike that fits properly I find that I can climb anything thrown at me without hurting my knees (even double digit grades seated) with a standard double and fast too - but I am very small and light which suits me to climbing. I test rode a compact double and I could tell very quickly that I would be missing those top end gears - here's where the small and light becomes a liability - I need to chase downhill a lot... Personally if I was not racing I might go with a compact. If I was touring and carrying weight I would want the extra gears a triple gives you.

[SadieKate]

Very, very rarely - they really are a liablility on a race bike - though you will find that the pros get their bikes tailored to the day that they are riding them on. If they are riding a very flat course they will have a very different bike from when they are riding a mountainous one, both in gearing and other things as well. For most of us mere mortals, we need to find the setup that gives us the most flexibility to do all tasks.

Yep, but they do use them at times and the rest of us can neither do the tailoring of a bike for each ride nor have the fitness and power/weight ratio of the pros.

[RussianHillGal]

My very humble thanks to the generous women on this board!!

Veronica - the hill profile was intimidating, but also exciting to see. I definitely see alot of training in my future!!

I will definitely ask the LBS for a compact triple and work on getting into shape.

RogueDog, I'll be sure to tell Hussein that you and the bike is doing well!

Embarassing moment: I was so excited about having a bike soon that I to GG Park today and rented a bike - just to test out if i still remembered how to ride - and promptly went HEAD-FIRST into a parked SUV and banged my head/shoulder into the car. Thanks goodness I had on a helmet and was only going about 2 miles/hour. Just my pride is hurt! Will make sure to not venture out with cars again til I get a bit more confidence on two wheels!

Thanks again!!

[roguedog]

LOL, RHG. Well, at least it was only your pride. But it was probably a gorgeous day to embarass oneself...

I was in the south bay and it beautiful spring day. Just needed to be riding in it.. not stuffing my face.

oink.

[RoadRaven]

Back on page 1 Regina said something I agree with...

A compact with a 27-12 cassette is probably all you will need.

A compact is lighter, narrower and less subject to dropping the chain.

I have only ever had a double and my most recent bike (EMC2 Fem Etape Pro) is a compact and is all I need. Our house is 600 feet above sea levele and all rides involve going down the hills to get anywhere and therefore always involve the climbs to get home again.

Also... If you look through a gearage chart for a triple, you will see there are a number of duplications.

[Veronica]

Veronica - the hill profile was intimidating, but also exciting to see. I definitely see a lot of training in my future!!

That is Mount Tam from Fairfax to the summit and back to Fairfax, a truly beautiful ride.

V.

[Eden]

Yep, but they do use them at times and the rest of us can neither do the tailoring of a bike for each ride nor have the fitness and power/weight ratio of the pros.

ummm yeah - I think I said that.....

[ehirsch83]

Also... If you look through a gearage chart for a triple, you will see there are a number of duplications.[/QUOTE]



That is the whole reason why I have never seen the point in a triple! I forgot to mention that yesterday in my semi-glazed state.

[maillotpois]

Sure there are duplications, but I do not want to give up my power gearing 52/12 or my long hill gearing 32/28 - there is no duplication at either extreme end and I want those gears.

Greedy, I suppose!

[Veronica]

You all do what you want.

Me - I'll stick with the gearing I have on my bikes. Heck, it got me through three double centuries so it must work all right for me. And in my world, it is all about me.

V.

[SadieKate]

Well said, MP.

Until you know what the grades and climbs are like here, the person's fitness level or other challenges (such as knee and back health), you can't really make an accurate recommendation.

Every single person who rides the same hills RussianHillGal will be has many years' experience riding centuries (or longer) and recommended a triple. These aren't newbies lacking fitness making the recommendation. Many of the strong male riders in this neck of the woods use triples. Those that don't are generally in split into two categories: 1) racers and genetically strong freaks and 2) idiots who due to their ego (or stubborness ) prefer to grunt, groan and fall over on the climbs (assuming they haven't already destroyed their knees).

[spazzdog]

You go Ms. V.!!

I think it comes down to personal preference/comfort... or in my case, stubborness (I probably fall into SK's #2 category, except I only fall over when I'm off my bike)

spazz-of-the-broken-left-buttock