Specialized Dolce/Road Bike Questions

[Owlie]

Welcome to TE!

Provided they have the same level of componentry (Sora? Tiagra?) The difference between the two is a matter of gearing. The Compact has a compact double crankset, and the Triple has...well, a triple crankset. Two chainrings vs. three. This also means that there will be some differences in the cassettes (the gears in the back)--you lose the small chainring with the compact double, so there are usually more easy gears in back to make up for it. Which one is better largely depends on your level of fitness, and how hilly your area. Shifting, though is usually nicer on compact doubles than on triples.

I have an Avail 3, though it's a few years old and the componentry isn't exactly comparable. In similar measured sizes the top tubes are weirdly long. So you'll probably have to go a size smaller. (Specialized fits me better.)
Do you need a women-specific bike? If you have long legs relative to your torso, you might.
Other things to check out: Cannondale Synapse, Jamis Satellite, Trek Lexa. Test-ride everything and get what feels and fits best within your budget. Happy shopping!

[Kubla]

I have a 2009 Dolce Elite and went with a compact double instead of a triple. My other two bikes are triples, and it's sometimes hard for me to get into the 'compact double' mindset when riding the Dolce...I catch myself looking for more gears at times. If I had it to do over I'd get the triple, but I don't feel strongly enough about it to make the switch. It's a matter of personal preference.

I tried a number of road bikes but the Dolce kept putting a smile on my face when compared with the others. Ride as many bikes as you can until one sings to you. If your budget is limited, you also could consider a gently-used road bike in good condition. (Many high cycling aspirations can be found hanging in garages and hiding in basements.)

[zoom-zoom]

I've had a road bike with a triple, but now my road bike and CX bike both have compact doubles and I'd never go back. Cross-chaining is really not much of an issue with a compact and I have had only had one dropped chain in thousands of miles. With my triple (Shimano 105) I was forever having chains drop...frequently while just pedaling along and not shifting. Perhaps the issue is Shimano vs. SRAM (both of my current bikes are SRAM...technically my mtn. bike is SRAM, too, but that's a triple. I rarely use the smallest ring on that, though), but I suspect it's related more to triple vs. CD.

[Owlie]

I've had a road bike with a triple, but now my road bike and CX bike both have compact doubles and I'd never go back. Cross-chaining is really not much of an issue with a compact and I have had only had one dropped chain in thousands of miles. With my triple (Shimano 105) I was forever having chains drop...frequently while just pedaling along and not shifting. Perhaps the issue is Shimano vs. SRAM (both of my current bikes are SRAM...technically my mtn. bike is SRAM, too, but that's a triple. I rarely use the smallest ring on that, though), but I suspect it's related more to triple vs. CD.

Odd. Maybe it's you. I have crap Shimano on my bike (triple), and have yet (knock wood) to get a dropped chain, save the one that was caused by my crashing on ice.

[zoom-zoom]

It probably is me...I never did like 105. Once I went SRAM there was no looking back!

[OakLeaf]

I've got a 105 triple on mine too (long cage Ultegra RD) and I don't think I've ever dropped a chain (touch wood). Luv2climb, did another mechanic vet your gearing change? It does seem like a huge jump from middle to small ring. Why not change out the middle ring too? Geez, even on my regular road triple the middle ring is a 39. Seems like a 36 would be more in line with mountain gearing.


To the OP, +1 on test riding a lot of bikes and choosing the one that fits you best.

Basically if you need a wide range of gearing, the question of triple vs. compact comes down to what you'd call the powerband if your legs were an engine.

Are you comfortable pedaling in a wide range of RPMs - for extended periods if you need to? On your current bike, where the gearing makes its largest jumps, are you okay with that, or do you feel like you're always in the wrong gear, pedaling too fast with a downshift and too slowly with an upshift?

[zoom-zoom]

I've got a 105 triple on mine too (long cage Ultegra RD) and I don't think I've ever dropped a chain (touch wood).

I suspect my FSA crank played a role. I've heard a lot of chain-dropping issues happen with the lower end FSA cranks, so it probably wasn't a Shimano/105-specific issue. Now I have SRAM Rival cluster with a Force crank, so there's no 3rd party issues to contend with.

[Owlie]

I suspect my FSA crank played a role. I've heard a lot of chain-dropping issues happen with the lower end FSA cranks, so it probably wasn't a Shimano/105-specific issue. Now I have SRAM Rival cluster with a Force crank, so there's no 3rd party issues to contend with.

My cranks are also FSA. It wouldn't surprise me, though. I had an FSA bottom bracket fail at 600 miles, so...

[luv2climb]

Luv2climb, did another mechanic vet your gearing change? It does seem like a huge jump from middle to small ring. Why not change out the middle ring too? Geez, even on my regular road triple the middle ring is a 39. Seems like a 36 would be more in line with mountain gearing.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread, there's been a lot going on lately.

Last year I tried to buy the smallest middle ring possible at the LBS, but they semi-condescendingly told me that my 24t small chainring should be enough and that they would have to order another chainring (typical response from retailers in this oversized cowtown! ). I will try once more to get a smaller middle ring.