Originally Posted by
roadwarrior
With all due respect, you were not there and have no idea what transpired.
Unless you really need the granny gear, between these two options compact is the way to go. Giant's been offering it on their better sport bikes, and it's turning up on more and more top end bikes.
I ride compact. I like the higher spin rate.
Its true. Most of the LBS pros were honest with me. If they were really just trying to sell me a bike, many of them would/could have sold me the wrong size, wroing style, etc. Many pursuaded me to go in other directions from what they had in stock, so I don't think they were just trying to get a bike under me to get a sale. And all had their opinions about the triple...one or two preferred the triple even if they didn't have a decent bike in stock with a triple. In the end, I chose this bike with these components. It wasn't until I tried my first medium-level hills that I realized that the quantity of lower gears were running low and that I started to worry.
These posts and feedback are very helpful. I am gonna keep with the 11/25 shimano compact for now. Will push it. If need be, I will switch the cassette. Did 10 miles to day with a 2 mile steady, but managable climb. I had about 2 gears left on the bottom chain. Anything steeper is going to push me hard, but what the heck...
Thanks again folks.
Joey