I built a bike with a compact this summer, after always riding a regular double.After roughly riding the compact 1200- 1500 miles at home, I decided to take it on two hilly tours. What i found was that when I wanted midrange gears, i no longer had them. So i would definitely agree with Indysteel on this one.In the big ring(50) I am fine, and likewise in the small ring(34) I am fine...but there's nothing adequate in between. I ride a 10 speed Campy cassette(12-25). Quite frankly, I was happier with my regullar double.

If I lived in flatter area, I would be happy with the compact because I could stay in the big ring longer. But the reality to me is that this is something that the bike industry has told us that we need, and in the hilly areas a triple is much more accomodating!