Originally Posted by
creativepart
Thanks all. I'll give you more info. I'm 61 and weigh 230 right now (I'm 6' 1'). I'm not that fit yet. I live between San Antonio and Austin - otherwise known as the Texas Hill Country.
My hybrid has the following gears; 11/26 9-speed cassette and 48-36-26 (2011 Trek FX 7.5). My new road bike has 12/26 9-speed cassette and 53/39 double (2005 Trek 2100).
Right now I ride 10 miles a day 6 days a week and I've been doing so for a bit over a month. My home is in a hilly area and 50% of my daily ride is climbing short steeps. On the hybrid I use the granny on at least 3 of those hills. I've tried making it with my 36/26 and am unable. I generally use my 26/18 or so.
I don't want to be clipped in and get 2/3 rds up the longest hill and have only 39/26 to get me over the top.
The Trek 2100 was available when new with a double like mine or as a triple with a 52-42-30 so I though of going back to that by going triple. The current crank is a Bontrager item. The brifters and FD are Shimano 105 and the RD is Ultegra.
I'm on a 10-day vacation at the coast and I bought the bike here. So, I've never even ridden it on my usual daily ride yet. I've been riding it here on the flats every day. They're very windy flats but I've done fine. Tuesday will be my first opportunity to try the road bike on my ride. I'll probably put some platform peddles on it and see how I do.
I'm also a big guy who likes short but steep hills. I've used a compact double with a 12-27 and an 11-32. The 12-27 lacks the super low gearing and the 11-32 has some bigger jumps between the gears.
I also use a 50,39 & 26t triple with a 12-27. This is the best all-around combination. My crankset is a Shimano 105 with an aftermarket 26t granny gear, you could also use a Tiarga triple, these can be found on eBay for about $110. You will also need a new front & rear derailleur and a longer chain, this will add $150.
A compact double will require an 12-32 cassette to have a low enough range, you will need a MTB rear derailleur too. The cost for the compact crankset, the 12-32 cassette and the new rear derailleur will be about $275.
I've charted the compact with the 12-32 and the 50,39 & 26t triple with your 12-26;
