zandoval 

Was out ridding another isolated up and down ride and hit an unexpected wall - You know - When you have to slip into that big gear in the back and smaller one in the front - No real problem as I have a 34T bail out and a compact crank on my old UNIVEGA - A young guy 20ish clicks up from behind on his Mountain Bike and gave a warm greeting - Hey - How ya doing - My reply - Huff Huff Huff (with a smile) - For some reason he stayed with me... (I was thinking just in case he would need to call 911) - Anyway about 75M from the top I dismounted and went to my 24" Bipedal size 12D gear with my bike on my shoulder (so I would not loose any respect) - He continued with me spinning and just behind me without any difficulty as I did "The Little Engine That Could" - We started talking about Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, and Geezer Bikes - He complemented me on my "Vintage" bike and of course I went on about my 1970s bikes back home - He in turn described his the Carbon bike he had at 17# and on and on...

After cresting K2 (NOT) - I stayed with him and we continued our conversation before he took off on a rock strewn trail and I continued on the street...

What a pleasant ride...

I post this here because...

You'se guys understand... Thanks...

Bianchigirll 

Great Story, that was cool he stayed with you.

What is the small gear on the compact? Sounds like you would be better off with a triple something like a 28, 34, 50-52

zandoval 

Bianchigirll - I have that 34T bail out in the back - Needs to be set just right with a Medium or long cage derailleur - Most Compact cranks run a 34T on the smaller ring because that gives you about 27" chain - Supposedly In the real world less than 27" means your better off walking at 24" - Now I don't know if all this is true and proven but I can say that the 34T freewheel and Compact Crank both went on my late 70s early 80s UNIVEGA without any difficulty or modifications...

RubberLegs

Sometimes you DO have to walk....I try NOT to...Many, Many years back, on a Summer Camp Bike expedition, We climbed Wildcat Mountain, the highest spot in Wisconsin (NOT really a mountain, but high enough). I was 16, 135 pounds, did a paper-route every day, biking and running. I was riding a Coast-to-Coast 10 speed, lugged steel frame, Suntour Gear, and a back rack/panniers...which meant I got loaded with the cooking gear for 17 people as well as ALL of MY camping gear. I climbed Wildcat...without walking...and saw some "Touring guys" in their fancy shirts with fancy bikes and a sag wagon with all their gear. They saw me puffing up to the top. One goes, "You rode THAT up here", I say "YUP" and offer to let him heft the bike. I'm guessing it weighed in at close to 100 pounds all told. They walked away shaking their heads! I was SO proud! :-)

noglider 

I never walk up hills. If I can't continue, I stop and rest while standing. Then I catch my breath and continue on bike.

RubberLegs

If the road and traffic allows, there is always the shallow zig-zag up the hill method! ;-)