{facepalm}

I disagree. You use the tool that works best for you. It isn't about being a macho a-hole. If I said to you that anyone that can't bench press 400 lbs is a wimp, would you agree with that?

My left lung isn't functioning properly and will require surgery to be repaired, so I do not get enough oxygen to mash the pedals up a hill. So I have a choice I can spin up a hill at 80 rpms or give up cycling and sit on a couch.

Believe me, I suffer plenty going up an 18 percent incline hill which I couldn't have done two years ago. I couldn't really give a **** if someone drops me, I would say to them congratulations you are faster than me, but since I don't make my living as a professional cyclist--why would I care?

When I first really got into road cycling I used a 53/39 with a 12/23 cassette. Sure I suffered up hills but hay, that’s cycling. When I reached my mid 40s, I switched to a 12/25 cassette for that bail out gear. The 25 was sure nice but at times I sure wish I had one lower gear. Sound familiar?

Fast forward to now. In 2 months I turn 60. In response to my surgically repaired arthritic left knee, I now use a compact 50/36 with a 12/27 cassette. I can’t go as fast up hill as I used to but it feels the same. What is this vanity thing that Camilo speaks of?

Perhaps as I push further into my 60s and my knee degrades further, I will need a triple with its lower low gears. So what! I will go up hills slower yet but I bet it will feel the same. Vanity shmanity.

I suppose somebody as they age who goes into the bike shop would give gearing much thought. In the real world we all age.

I've obviously hit some sort of raw nerve with you because I can't imagine why you'd be so upset and insulting at a little good natured banter. Maybe this could help you through your peevish mood:

http://www.midol.com/img/products/icon_relief.jpg

I wonder if a narrower BB and removing the inner ring would work. They're square taper Suginos.

just make sure your sugino has the same BCD. sugino triples, lots of them are 110/74BCD

I'm a wimp. Bite me.

Anyway, my triple is incorrect.

You are new here apparently... Raw nerve? Nah, I'm just "direct".

There are a few common themes on bikeforums, and one of them is people being judgemental about gearing choices. You can think you hit a raw nerve if you want but I run an 11-23 with a 53/39 so I'm not being defence about compacts out of insecurity or "vanity". Triples have their place. Compacts have their place. Standard doubles as well. Saying that compacts are mainly for vanity is not good natured banter, it is just ignorant.

I ride in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. 3rd ring is is almost a necessity in some places. The extra 115g of weight can be dropped inf you leave 5 quarters at home. But when your climbing 500ft at a clip with no incoming momentum, the gear helps ALOT.

What does "500 feet at a clip" mean?

"at a clip" generally means quickly, strong pace, fast, etc IIRC.

I would have to say screw what other people think and ride what works best... for some that might be a compact double and for others a triple, and for masochists like me a standard road double has been fine.

how would that affect gearing? 500 doesn't tell you anything about the grade.

Not my post, but I'll wager he means going up a steep hill fast, and that he finds the smaller ring useful in that case. His metrics don't offer any real information, but I'm not sure it matters.

The specifics matter if they are posted. He said 500 specifically. If it didn't matter, why include it? 500 what? 500 feet in say a mile us pretty steep, but 500 feet in say 3 miles is not. Some people may want a triple for that I guess and that would be fine, but he is trying to make a point and just adding confusion. The other part, at a clip... I find that if you are going at a faster pace, you don't need gears as low as if you are just cruising.

"at a clip" can also mean "at a time", I think he means that some hills are 500 feet of climbing without any flat portions to be able to gain some more speed before hitting the next incline.

That is only a very small part of it even though that might seem to be your whole world right now.

Perhaps as you grow and mature you will realize that cycling is so much more than one's ability to withstand pain and get stronger and whether or not you should have to worry about being dropped.

I'll be riding a triple for quite some time and gearing down my road bike as I have to deal with a chronic back issue that impairs my ability to lay down the power I used to have... for as much as I enjoy making folks like you my ***** that is gonna have to wait a while.

I am just going to enjoy the fact I can still ride.

One should really make it a rule to think twice and post once.

:notamused:

Does BF management know you are trying to drive traffic on BF to zero**********!!!

I'm trying to lose weight and get stronger so that I can use higher gears to climb with. I think I'm going to get a compact crank when I upgrade my one road bike that now has a triple. I suspect that there are going to be times when I'm really wiped out and want a lower gear on that bike. I don't even know how you can have an argument about this subject, it's nuts.

I usually rock a standard road double (42/52) with a bailout gear in the back of 21 or ride a fixed gear with a 52:18 gearing on routes that see grades that routinely exceed 12% and get as high as 22%.

I understand pain and also know that what works for me (but won't work now) isn't for everyone and just because you can rock a double doesn't mean everyone can.

If this was the racing forum the discussion might be different but road cycling encompasses a wide range of riders and not just a handful of Lance wannabes who think that their way is the only way.

spin more.... it's entirely possible to get a 50x12 up to 53x11 speeds.

I agree. To try to shame someone into climbing in a gear that is higher than is comfortable for that person is **** measuring of the highest order. When I was 20, I could climb a 7% grade in my 54/13. Granny gear was 44/23, and I had a 36/21 on my tandem for those really steep climbs. That doesn't really help me now, and it would be stupid for me to have gears like that. Front dérailleurs are better now, we have more gears on the back, and I think the simplicity of a double beats a triple. But if someone wants a triple, they should feel free. It certainly allows a lower gear with a reasonable gear size on the wheel, and the shifting in front is at least marginally better.

Pound sand you F-ing Troll! I could care less what you think. I don't ride to please you, I ride to please myself.

I don't know why I bother to even respond to one of your post, it is obvious that you are an idiot.

huh? Relevance?

I bow at your climbing prowess!