Originally Posted by kimconyc

IMO, there's no reason for a compact east of the Rockies assuming you are in decent shape. Most modern drivetrains handle 27t cassettes and beyond and that should be enough for most of the "climbing" you are doing (someone will probably mention Mt. Washington).

If you want a compact just for kicks, Jenson sells the Shimano R700 with BB for under $100. You can probably find it even cheaper if you look around or buy used.