Compact vs. Triple

[Susan126]

I agree with SadieKate. Know your own body, your local terrain, what you are capable of doing. I have a bad right knee/quad and I know without my triple I would definitely reinjure this old injury. I have to start each spring carefully building my leg back up but once it is strong again I am set for the new season with my triple. It is very hilly here where I live and I am 54 years young; these two factors plus my bum right leg make me just love my triple!

But you may be stronger, fitter, younger so you may be able to go with a compact. Try them both. Talk to friends other riders, lbs people. Listen to your own body and have fun!

[SadieKate]

Harley, I can tell you why I like triple cranksets and I also live on the east side of the Cascades.

1) I can run smaller, more closely spaced, cog sets. When I am out in the flats I have lots of little jumps between gears rather than big gaps.
2) The triple doesn't have to be used and it certainly doesn't weigh more than a giant platter of a cog set.
3) That granny gear is a fabulous safety valve when you're tired or injured and you need to make it home. SAG wagons at century rides are for emergencies not because one is tired.
4) I set up the chain ring sizes so I can run mostly on the middle chain ring anyway. I have a touring triple 48-36-26 one of my bikes and use the 36 almost exclusively. A 50 would be too big and a 34 too small for most of the flatter cruising around here so I'd be shifting constantly with a 34-50.
5) When I do travel and find a steep or long hills or go up to high elevations, that granny is a welcome addition.
6) Not getting any younger and have old knees to begin with.

Matter of fact, I had the above bike with the touring triple out on Saturday and rode from the mountains out to the east on flatter roads. I still had on my mongo 11-32 platter cog set that I used for big climbs in California and was hating it because of the gaps between cog sizes. I'll put on the 12-25 so I can the nice flat land cogs but keep a granny for the hills. Best selection of gears for me for mixed hills and flat.

When you're talking to your peers ask the compact riders if they would do it differently next time and the same with triple riders--and why.

So go talk to a lot of people and think about the types of terrain you cover and your future.

[Harley]

SK that is good information, just the insight I have been looking for.

It would be nice to have a "bail out" gear, and looking down the road, I'll need all the help I can get. The jump from 50-34 does seem extreme. I am in good condition for 58, no physical problems, very active, xc ski, hike, ride a trainer, road riding my mtn bike around town and until roads clear of sand, did 23 miles Sunday.

Alpinebunny has made me wondering why I couldn't put a compact on my old 929Vitus... aside from cost... ? It is 1990 vintage Durace.

Buy the Bianchi with a triple. I'd have a complete stable
I'll talk with more of the local riders, as suggested
Thanks!

[SadieKate]

Alpinebunny has made me wondering why I couldn't put a compact on my old 929Vitus... aside from cost... ? It is 1990 vintage Durace.

Buy the Bianchi with a triple. I'd have a complete stable

If you can do that it might be the best of both worlds. But check into the BB situation. Today's compact cranks may need a different bottom bracket and your Vitus may want French(?) threading? And you'd need a new front der.

I bet that Vitus is comfy on chip seal.

[Becky]

If you can do that it might be the best of both worlds. But check into the BB situation. Today's compact cranks may need a different bottom bracket and your Vitus may want French(?) threading? And you'd need a new front der.

Another potential workaround would be changing out the chainrings for something smaller, but keeping the existing BB and crankarms. What is the bolt center diameter on your current crankset? If it's 110, you should plenty of chainring options. If it's 130, you have options, but you're limited to a small ring of 38(?), I believe. Check out what Sheldon Brown's website has to say on the topic: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/chainrings.html

To answer the original question, I really like my compact double, having switched from a standard triple. But, here in the mid-Atlantic, most hills are do-able with a low gear of 34 x 25, even though I'm no super-climber.

Good luck!

[Mr. SR500]

I had a triple, now run a compact. Very pleased, no plans to go to regular double or triple. The triple can give you an ultra low gear, but do you really need it. Go based on you ability and terrain. A compact can be the best of both if it works for you.

[RoadBunner]

Harley, what did you end up getting? If you find a bike that comes with a compact is it better to try the compact out for a bit and change to a triple if need be, or will the LBS swap it out for a fee? I am still obviously on my bike search