Originally Posted by
mbologna
I still think the Castro Valley is a better frame than the Coda, and feels a bit better, subjectively. The components are better and the shifting is definitely smoother. However, I don't have need for a hub-driven light (though it is cool!), and the compact double still doesn't feel like it has the range of the triple.
I just looked at the specs, and there's a huge reason why the triple feels like there's a wider range than the compact double: There is.
The Coda triple is a 28/38/48 mated to an 11-32 cassette.
The Castro Valley is a 34/50 mated to a 12-26 cassette.
That's 23.4 inches on the Coda and 35 inches on the Castro Valley. A 11.6 inch difference in the low end gearing. That's huge!