Help!!

[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.