Need Advice Concerning Gearing on Compact Double

[bluebug32]

A compact crankset should get you up just about anything and you can achieve most of the gears you would in a triple with a compact. I'm not saying this in any way to criticize your abilities, but just from my own experience (and taking so long to follow this advice that people kept giving me). Any way you slice it, some hills are just tough. They're going to hurt and leave your legs feeling absolutely killed at times. But the more you stick with it, work on your climbing techniques and learn to strike a balance between standing and sitting, you'll become a stronger climber and a stronger rider. More gears don't make you stronger, they just make you slower up hills. Challenge your muscles, realize that some hills will take several tries to get to the top, but commend yourself for getting a little further each time and for getting stronger.

[zoom-zoom]

A compact crankset should get you up just about anything and you can achieve most of the gears you would in a triple with a compact. I'm not saying this in any way to criticize your abilities, but just from my own experience (and taking so long to follow this advice that people kept giving me). Any way you slice it, some hills are just tough. They're going to hurt and leave your legs feeling absolutely killed at times. But the more you stick with it, work on your climbing techniques and learn to strike a balance between standing and sitting, you'll become a stronger climber and a stronger rider. More gears don't make you stronger, they just make you slower up hills. Challenge your muscles, realize that some hills will take several tries to get to the top, but commend yourself for getting a little further each time and for getting stronger.

This. I was convinced that I needed a triple on my first bike...a year later, when I was ready for bigger and better things, I didn't even consider a triple. I lose *maybe* one gear on my compact double. But my entire bike weighs less and I am stronger, so I don't miss it. I could have done without the triple from the get-go and I would have been fine.

[Catrin]

I think you will enjoy having a much deeper rear cassette, and even if you do need (probably) do change the rear derailleur I think it will be very much worth it - looking forward to hearing how it goes on the 24th!

[OakLeaf]

Don't criticize anyone's gearing choices until you've ridden 100 miles in her terrain.

Back in my racing days I could get up any given hill in my 42x21, but even then, an Appalachian metric century full of them would leave me crying. 25 years later there's zero chance of my old lady legs pushing those gears, and I'm not a bit ashamed of it. Putting on a cassette with a 27T sprocket was the difference between having fun on Columbus Fall Challenge vs the tough steep training centuries leading up to it that I did with a 30x25.

Western PA is steeper than Ohio, even. Let the gal have her low gears already.

[Catrin]

Don't criticize anyone's gearing choices until you've ridden 100 miles in her terrain.
....
Western PA is steeper than Ohio, even. Let the gal have her low gears already.

Yes, this. All of our bodies and terrain are different.

[Cyclesome]

I am 53 years old and in the best physical condition of my life at 5' 6'' and 145 lbs. I lift weights 3 times a week (Group Power) and take 3 cardio classes (Group Step) as well. During the winter I use a Cycleops trainer for my bike. When riding with my friend who runs marathons and also has a compact double, we both run out of gears on hills. This is Western Pa, steep, long hills. In my riding club, most have triples.