compact double v triple? (my new bike!)

[teigyr]

Veronica,

Those look like the Aids Ride terrain charts. If so, I did it on a double but had a larger cassette in back. Also, I was in shape back then.

Everyone has far more experience than me so I'm trying to stay out. That being said, I have a compact double. I love it, it shifts better than DH's triple (and I've never lost a chain) but it does have its limitations. I'm thinking about putting a larger cassette on the back because I have a 12-25 as of now. If someone is out of shape, even a compact double will be a challenge sometimes. So...I'm not regretting the compact double whatsoever but I can see why people would ride a triple.

bowing out now

[SadieKate]

All I know is I try not to make gearing recommendations for areas in which I don't live or ride. I look at the gearing used by riders that I think are my peers ability-wise (not racers, not genetic freaks, etc.) even if they are in better shape. That tells me what gear range I need to consider and then I determine what components are necessary to provide that range. And a widely spaced cassette just so you can run a double absolutely sucks on flat terrain.

If you're racing, you have a whole different rationale for choosing components.

And if you only ride 50-60 miles distance at most, I don't think you can understand what gears one may need at mile 99.