ivan_yulaev

In a few weeks I'm going to be moving to the bay area from Sunny San Diego. Cycling down here is great although SD is relatively hilly, with a few steep (although short, ~1000ft) climbs near the coast where I usually ride. I've made do with a 59/39 + 13-27 on the back, and find the 39/27 to be low enough for almost any effort. However, I do have a compact compatible with my groupset (5500). In the Bay, I will be riding around the perimeter of the City, north into Marin county, and also south within the Peninsula. Cyclists familiar with this area - should I keep the 53/39 on or throw on the 50x34?

Leinster

If you can handle San Diego in a standard, you should be ok in the Bay. Some of the steepest streets in SF itself, you'll need a compact. Or a triple. Or recessed cleats on your MTB shoes.

Broid

Boy, so many "depends". In the bay area you cannot go far without climbing. You'd have to go north or east before anything begins to flatten out. But it also depends on how strong of a climber you are. I live on the coast just south of the city and I have loops where I might end up climbing 1,000 feet for every 10 miles. There are long climbs and short and steep. I ride a compact with a 28 in the back and can climb just about anything around this area. Some of the steep stuff in the city is no fun to ride (For me) because it's just crowded city riding. Get out of the city and you will find everything, long short, steep flat and everything in between. The Bay area is a bike riding mecca! Weather is a bit different from SD, hope you like cool and cloudy! Welcome!
Brian

gsa103

It depends a little on your riding style. Many longer routes (30+ mi) have some significant climbing (>1mi @ 6-8%). There are also a good number of club rides that stay mostly in the flats. If you can handle climbing 7-8% grades on a standard you'd probably be fine for most riding. If you like doing serious hill climbing such as Mt Diablo/Tam/Hamilton then a compact is probably better.

Since you already have a standard, I'd say try riding around here with it. If it doesn't work, its a simple swap.

Looigi

11/28 and 34/50

Beaker

+1 get here and then decide.

Hapsmo911

Compact if your planning on riding the Coastal range.

fstshrk

Compact if you are planning to ride in the hills between Stanford and the ocean.

UmneyDurak

I don't see a reason not to get a compact here. Knees will thank you later. By the way where are you moving, Bay Area is kind of big.

baiskeli

As a Bostonian who moved to the bay area a few months ago, compact all the way (my lowest gear is 26x34).

This place is ridiculously hilly. Most rides I do I end up climbing almost 1000 ft per 10 miles. My morning ride starts off with a 1300ft climb. But keep in mnd I'm coming from relatively flat MA. I've heard San Diego is hilly so if you were fine with a standard you will be fine with one here.

Also, its very dependent on where you live. I live in Berkeley so there is really no way I can ride more than a few miles without hitting up against a hill somewhere. People around here who've lived all their lives here don't even think of it as hilly.

DinoShepherd

Ridden both. Lived in SD long time. If you are running with the big dogs on the coast, if you are running out Dehesa road, Lyons Valley, or Elfin Forest loops and feeling strong. Run with what you have. No problem.

If that's not quite you, a compact may be your thing.

BTW, I have found the group rides can be rocket fast. Equal to San Diego in speed and number of riders. Lots of rides on the Peninsula from which to choose. Good times.

dgarzoli

I vote compact everything is UP !

c0lnago

I run compact but most everything in my neighborhood is 10-20% "rollers"...couldn't do without it.

MinnMan

There are some very steep hills in Marin. If I rode there regularly, I'd have a triple.

hamster

Zombie thread warning.

You can make it in San Diego with a standard if you stay close to the coast. And you can make it in the Bay Area with a standard or even a fixie if you stay close to the bay or along the 680. But it's hard to live in San Diego (at least in North County) with a fixie because even the coast is hilly (e.g. Carlsbad to Pacific Beach, hugging the coast all the way, is 25 miles with ~1500' of climbing), and it's restricting to live in the Bay Area with a fixie or a standard because flat areas are narrow corridors surrounded by lots of steep hills.

ivan_yulaev

Nope, relevant thread res is relevant. I arrived up here last week. Living in Burlingame. Only had time for one ride - road around the Foster City levee. Definitely the flattest ride I've ever been on. But I know there's good climbing to be had - I rode up to Skyline on my motorbike and some of those hills are STEEP! Going to leave the standard on for now but I've brought my compact up with me and will swap it on if I have to.

I might dig out my drop bar MTB conversion for some of these climbs - 24x28 should be low enough to winch myself up any hill

davids0507

I use a 34x28 compact. Why be a hero?

Scooper

I've got a 34-50 compact crank and 13-29 cassette on my main ride and need the 34/29 low gear (30.9 gear-inches) a lot riding in the Marin headlands. There are just too many rides I'd have to pass up with a 39t small chainring.