Originally Posted by
mazdaspeed
Looks like the one I had sitting around is a 40t. Annoying.
How fast would you end up going on steep-ish hills with a compact double or a triple? Right now if I go less than 9mph in the lowest gear I fall out of the efficiency range and either have to stand and mash or just pedal harder to maintain 9mph.
That's kind of a "how long is a piece of string?" type question. 8-9mph is a good comfort zone for moderate climbs for me in my 39, but your speed is down to the engine more than the gearing. Work on increasing your rpm and that should solve any concerns you have. A triple or compact just gives you more options, it doesn't make you "slower".