decision...to get a triple or compact double

[OakLeaf]

I'll say it another way:

On your current bike, do you ever find that you just can't find the right gear? You're either pedaling too fast or too slow? Then a triple is for you, because a compact will potentially give you that problem in almost every gear, where a triple will do it in only maybe one or two.

If not, you're probably fine with a compact.

[Cataboo]

I'll say it another way:

On your current bike, do you ever find that you just can't find the right gear? You're either pedaling too fast or too slow? Then a triple is for you, because a compact will potentially give you that problem in almost every gear, where a triple will do it in only maybe one or two.

If not, you're probably fine with a compact.

I run a compact (50/34) with a 11-25 cassette in the back... and I can't say that I ever have a problem with feeling that I can't find the right gear. I don't have a problem with a 10 speed triple doing that at all either.

Now, I could see if I was running a compact double with an 11-37 or something on it that I'd have that issue with hunting for gears.

I run a 53/42/30 triple with an 8 speed mountain bike rear cassette on my surly and I quite often find that I can't find the right gear on that.

[OakLeaf]

So that's your preference. And if the OP is the same way, then she should be fine with a compact. (But yes, obviously an 8-speed cassette will have wider gear spacing than a 10-speed of the same range, and that's as much a consideration as whether to have two or three up front.)

Myself, with my 50/39/30 x 11-25, I really really notice the absence of an 18-tooth cog on the cassette. The jump from 17 to 19 is just too large for me. If I went to a 50/34 x 11-34, I could have an even broader gear range, but I'd have jumps like that nearly every single gear. It would not work for MY knees or MY leg muscles.

At least with the 10-speed I have a 16; on my old 6-speed (52/42 x 12-21) it was awful having to jump from 15 to 17.

[Cataboo]

So that's your preference. And if the OP is the same way, then she should be fine with a compact. (But yes, obviously an 8-speed cassette will have wider gear spacing than a 10-speed of the same range, and that's as much a consideration as whether to have two or three up front.)

Myself, with my 50/39/30 x 11-25, I really really notice the absence of an 18-tooth cog on the cassette. The jump from 17 to 19 is just too large for me. If I went to a 50/34 x 11-34, I could have an even broader gear range, but I'd have jumps like that nearly every single gear. It would not work for MY knees or MY leg muscles.

At least with the 10-speed I have a 16; on my old 6-speed (52/42 x 12-21) it was awful having to jump from 15 to 17.

It's my preference, but saying that she's going to have a problem hunting for a gear in almost every gear on a compact is not a true statement - it depends on what she's running on her rear cassette. Especially as we have no idea what the gears are on her current bike - I think she's got a hybrid from the tri thread she posted? So probably 3x8 in the back, so she is probably hunting for gears that work at times, but that's more related to an 8 speed in the back.

If you put an 12-23 rear cassette on your triple, you could get rid of not having an 18 tooth cog, and you probably wouldn't feel like you were hunting for a gear on a triple. A 12-23 would also probably fix a lot of that on a compact for you. Now that may not give you enough gears for hills, and it may not give her enough gears either. Not that I think you should get a compact at all, because you seem happy with your bike - but compact doubles are not as bad as you're making them out to be.

If you're having knee pain, you might want to look into your crank length if you haven't already - I switch my cranks to 165's which is much kinder on my knees.

[txred9876]

It's my preference, but saying that she's going to have a problem hunting for a gear in almost every gear on a compact is not a true statement - it depends on what she's running on her rear cassette. Especially as we have no idea what the gears are on her current bike - I think she's got a hybrid from the tri thread she posted? So probably 3x8 in the back, so she is probably hunting for gears that work at times, but that's more related to an 8 speed in the back.

If you put an 12-23 rear cassette on your triple, you could get rid of not having an 18 tooth cog, and you probably wouldn't feel like you were hunting for a gear on a triple. A 12-23 would also probably fix a lot of that on a compact for you. Now that may not give you enough gears for hills, and it may not give her enough gears either. Not that I think you should get a compact at all, because you seem happy with your bike - but compact doubles are not as bad as you're making them out to be.

If you're having knee pain, you might want to look into your crank length if you haven't already - I switch my cranks to 165's which is much kinder on my knees.

You are correct I have a cannondale F400 Hybrid. It has a triple in the front (mt bike kind from what i have been told) and a road bike cog but dont know about the #'s. I do have 27 gears. I really rarely go into the small chain ring at this point.

One of the people I road the 38 miles with last sunday suggested either
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=38454&eid=117

http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_p...es/road/12wsd/

I am not sure I can go that high...at this point.

Tina

[alpinerabbit]

You are correct I have a cannondale F400 Hybrid. It has a triple in the front (mt bike kind from what i have been told) and a road bike cog but dont know about the #'s. I do have 27 gears. I really rarely go into the small chain ring at this point.

One of the people I road the 38 miles with last sunday suggested either
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=38454&eid=117

http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_p...es/road/12wsd/
I am not sure I can go that high...at this point.

Tina

whoa. Definitely not the one with Sora. That's too crappy a groupset.

Have you thought of buying used?

[MartianDestiny]

I too own a triple and a double. I have run out of gears on the double once or twice, but that's due to my own fitness issues and I would have run out of gears on the triple as well (MAYBE I have one or two that are effectively a bit lower). As I get more fit the double becomes less of an issue (and keep in mind I live in the Rockies, so when I run out of gears it's been on fairly steep grade).

What's more of an issue (and one of the reasons I bought a new bike) is the 8 speed rear on the old bike. It's really limiting, and not particularly fun or cheap to upgrade to a 10speed at a later date. I notice the limitations of the triple/8 speed setup far far more often than I run into my physical limitations with the double/10 speed.

IMO, with your tri goals, you are better off with a double and a 9 or 10 speed cassette than a triple with an 8 speed cassette. You can make the double cover nearly the range of the triple (If I wanted I could get a smaller "granny" or a different rear cassette). If you find a triple with a 9 or 10 speed rear then I think it becomes more of a personal preference thing, but I personally wouldn't be afraid of a double based on not being able to get a low enough gear though.

[txred9876]

whoa. Definitely not the one with Sora. That's too crappy a groupset.

Have you thought of buying used?

Yes but have not found anything. Even before I road in the tri I was leaning toward a road bike and been keeping my eye out for something. I just do not know enough about bikes to buy used without taking someone wiht me. Thats hard sometimes....