Originally Posted by
AngrySaki
Have you considered that a 42-26 is a bit easier of gear than a 50-29? (although I think that would be pretty bad crosschaining). I guess I'd be worried that I'd end up gearing down to the 34 tooth for climbs more often than I was gearing up for "fast sections" on the triple.
Yes, the 50-29 would be in the middle of the 42-26 so I would be losing about half a gear. I don't think that would be a big deal for me. I am concerned about that cross chaining issue. I have been told by some that all gears on a compact are useable and that cross chaining isn't an issue but I have also heard that this isn't true. In the middle chain ring on a triple, there isn't any cross chaining issues.
My goal is to reduce front chain ring shifting. If I had to jump back and forth between the the chain rings with the compact, then I would stay with the triple.