I have a compact with a mountain cassette on the back, an 11-32. I don't use the gears all of the time, but if I am doing a ride with a lot of climbing, I take this bike over my triple with a 11-28. And by the way, I have gone from a 25 to a 27 to a 28 on that bike. Three years ago I did a tour in Spain on a triple with a 12-25. Two cat 3 and one cat 2 climbs. It was hard and I was probably going 3 mph at one point, but I did it.