Originally Posted by
MikeWMass
I would suggest you spend some more time on the bike you have. If the shifting is not as crisp as it was, change the cables and adjust it. Have you measured your chain to see if it is worn out? If not, do so. If it is really worn, you might need a cassette as well. I doubt you have worn out your derailleurs.
As far as climbing, only you can know what you need. You will see many threads on this and other forums where people say nobody should need lower than 39/25, just HTFU. I just swapped my compact for a triple, for the 2 or 3 hills where I would really like a lower gear, as I think I am about as hard as I am likely to get.
#1 - lost in all this other nonsense I was also going to say that you should get your bike tuned up. If the bike is no longer shifting as crisply as it was than it may be time for a tune up. Have you ever had it tuned up? Generally a new bike needs to be retuned after a month or so depending on your riding because new cables stretch and then you need to readjust the deraileurs. If you've had it a few years you probably need new cables and housing and maybe chain/cassette.
#2 - when I bought a new bike that happened to have a standard crank and posed the same eternal compact vs standard question on this forum 99% of the answers I got was there is no reason for most people to own a standard crankset. If you are a strong racer and/or live in a very flat area maybe. But the average rider (even very strong club rider) will never really need a higher gear than 50/11 and most can use the lower gears that compact gives you.
To answer the question about adding 30 t cassette, it's not a simple answer because it depends on the crankset and rear deraileur. You may need a long cage rear deraileur and a longer chain so if you are going to buy a new bike and then make changes realize you may be adding another $100-200 right off the bat