Compact vs. Triple

[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.