Double Chain Ring...yikes

[aicabsolut]

My easiest gear on my Roubaix is 36/27, or 35 gear inches. That is considered pretty wussy by a lot of my friends. I don't use the 27 much..mostly for stopping and starting in traffic on hills as I really suck at getting going in a "hard" (for me) gear.

That is roughly equivalent to a 34/25 gear (my 36 compact is less common these days).

Don't worry a lot about the double, unless you want to make a more expensive switch to a compact crankset. You could try changing up the rear cluster to a SRAM 12-28 or 12-26 or Shimano 12-27 if your biggest cog is a 25. Those are much cheaper (max $100) options.

[spokewench]

I have a 39 low in front and a 27 in back - I do a lot of climbing when I ride; but I also own a Giant TCR which is like 16 pounds or something insanely light so it works for me. The only time it gets troublesome is on multi day i.e. 3-5 day rides with lots of mountain climbing, then on day 3 or 4, it can seem not enough. I don't do that much of that type of riding, so the gears work fine for me. I have, however, been riding for 20 plus years so that has something to do with it too.

[mimitabby]

My easiest gear on my Roubaix is 36/27, or 35 gear inches. That is considered pretty wussy by a lot of my friends. I don't use the 27 much..mostly for stopping and starting in traffic on hills as I really suck at getting going in a "hard" (for me) gear.

I hope you don't let your friends' attitudes bother you.
You can ride all day if you want on your top chain ring, but if you NEED
that granny gear, it's there.