Bostic

Have you climbed Mt. Diablo yet? That's a fine indicator of how well you will do around the Bay Area in a 39x2* double setup. Another option would be drive to the south and climb either Sierra or Quimby road. Either one will make or break you half way up. What is your current gearing?

Our regular Norcal wrecking crew always have something planned for the weekend, you should come out and join sometime.

Homebrew01

Gearing questions are like asking what glasses prescription you should get ...... The answer is pretty specific to each person.

Get whatever suits your needs.

botto 

if you're over 50, sure.

big john

I resemble that remark.

umd

Encouraging the argument? I'm staying out of this one. I've always been of the opinion regarding gearing that people get what they think they need. You want a triple get one. Are they better? It depends...

RichBenn

Me too!

I'm actually thinking of going from a triple to a double(compact). I live in the Sierras and have done the passes here with a 30x25 on an older aluminum bike. Well, the 18% + grade is out of the pedals, lowest gear, unsustainable, but it's only short sections, and I rarely do it, fortunately...

A fellow oldster here says he got a Compact Crank on his new lighter carbon frame bike and can climb easier in a higher gear than his older, aluminum triple does. Something about stiffer, less drag, yada, yada. So with a bike upgrade, maybe it makes sense...

merlinextraligh

If you go to the compact, and use an 11-28 cassette, the 34/28 combination will be just a touch harder than the 30-25, probably not enough to notice.

Depending on the weight of the 2 bikes, you might be a touch faster on the new one.

DScott

You ride a bike?

Who knew?

botto 

TarmacDude

This is my current spec: 10-speed, 11x23t

TarmacDude

Basically I think I want to be able to go at a higher cadence up hills, make it easier on my legs. I need a lot of brute strength to get up the really steep inclines with my current gearing. There is no way in hell I will make it up Diablo even on my lowest gear.

Bostic

39x23 is going to be tough unless you are a very fit rider. For the first or second climbs sure, but the cumulative effects of most rides around here will sap the life force away.

Tulex

Triple is easier. Is easier better? Go for it, and when you HTFU, switch to a double.

umd

23 can be a pretty brutal gear to use for steep climbs. Just going to a 28 in back would make a huge difference and if you are running a 39 up front (I wasn't sure, I didn't see if you said), going to a 34 will also make a huge difference. If you are even making it up at all in a 39x23, going to a 34x26 or 34x28 will give you such a low gear compared to what you already have I would doubt that would you need to go all the way to triple gearing territory.

kayakdiver

Maybe more riding and less yapping? You might be amazed at how that works at getting you up hills.

Camilo

I exceed that remark.

tntyz

I have a triple. I use the granny gear a lot moer than the top end. I am 52. I ride in SE Wisconsin. I average 70 ft/mile climbing. I hate wind. I don't race and don't plan on racing.

If you're like me, you'll want a triple.

KiddSisko

Believe it or not, Shimano short cage road derailers can work with a 30 tooth sprocket in the rear. I use that gear (custom cassette) on extreme climbs and it works out perfectly. There's very little if any space between the derailer sprocket and the 30 gear, but it's never been a problem and shifts both ways normally. Proper chain length is a consideration, however. One extra link helps with slack for shifting into that large gear.

Using the 34/30, I can approximate the same gear ratio as with a 30/26 triple. That's a very low ratio and suitable for difficult climbing. A 34/28 would also be quite low and more than adequate for most tough climbs.

Said like I just figured out something new.

jhmiller

I just did my first run up a semi-serious hill, Hicks Road outside of San Jose, and for the first time I appreciate the purpose of a compact double. Maxed at 39/23, by the top of the climb I might as well have been trudging uphill for all the cadence I could muster, I was sweating like Patrick Ewing in the 4th quarter, and I was choking back bile. I'm seriously thinking of picking up a compact, but I might try swapping the cassette out for a 12/27 first.

Anyway, after that experience I'm of the opinion that you should be using whatever you can almost climb comfortably on. That way you'll train your legs for the hills without destroying your knees in the process.

merlinextraligh

If you're even close to doing the climbs you want with this cassette, you do not a triple. 11-28 will be a significant difference (and the cheapest, easiest, change)

If that's not enough add a compact crank.

rumrunn6

silly question

Beaker

Bostic is spot on here. If you can finish up the ride up the wall in a 39, you should only need a new cassette. I used to ride a triple, and could make it up to the wall with my 39 but then needed to reach for granny. You haven't really given us enough info about what climbs you currently can or can't do, how long you've been riding round here etc. Come on a NorCal ride, or post the same question in NorCal with example climbs and you'll probably get the feedback you need.

FWIW I ride with 50/34 and 12-27 - I'll bet it's the most common gear combo round here. I know that I can comfortably get up the summit wall on Diablo and Lomas Cantadas in the East Bay Hills with that (my two most regular steep climbs).

Carbon Unit

The disadvantage of a triple is that it weighs more than a double but it has other advantages over a double. A triple will give you higher and lower gears while keeping the jumps between gears closer. I wouldn't be concerned with the duplicate gears. You will use ranges of gears. For example, if you are using the small chain ring, you would most likely only use two or three of the gears for climbing. If you need the large chain ring, you may only use the 15, 14, 13 and 12. However, 90% of the time you will use the middle chain ring.

With a triple you can keep a smaller tighter cassette and still have good climbing gears for example a 12-25 or a 13-26. A 26 on a triple is lower than a 29 on a compact.

However, if I were building a new bike today I would buy a compact mainly because it is lighter and in the case of Campy stiffer.

TarmacDude

I guess I need to go ahead and try Mt. Diablo to get a better assessment as some of you guys are suggesting. I don't really know how to figure out the grade of some of the climbs I do on my route. All I know is it takes a lot of effort out of me. I'll try to sit and take on the steep climbs but will usually have to resort to standing up. The climbs are what seems to be sapping my energy on my rides. When I get my Edge hopefully I'll be able to get some data as to how steep the climbs are.

TarmacDude

I will probably go this route. If there is a significant change as you say, then perhaps this would be my best solution.