i was thinking on my new build i would go for triple crankset and 11 to 32 cassette .
but then i passed on that idea my plan now is to use the same gearing i have on my road bike, sure there isn't a hill i can't get over with my compact 50x 34 and 11 to 32.
are ther many folks here using that combo compact gears.

46~30 is another hip double amongst the rando set .. 46:11 should be high enough , even with 650B wheels..

Arctic Ice cap Glaciers, during the Ice Ages did grind off any steep hills Ireland May have Had..

OK, Donegal is a bit hilly in places ..




'/.

Those 11-32 cassettes have big steps between gears, I don't like 'em on a road/touring bike. I have a 50/39/24 with a 15~30 cassette for most uses, a 15~34 for my touring cassette. I am not ready to give up on road triples just yet, I like smaller steps.

You might try going with a 12-34 or 12-36 cassette, just to be on the safe side. Changing a cassette is easy and cheap. Changing the gearing up front, not as much.

Generally speaking, I like a 1:1 gear ratio (34 front - 34 rear, for example) to be my second- or third-lowest gear. I wouldn't do a tour on a bike that doesn't even reach that point.

Have had Bikes to Be shipped back, ridden across the US.. Did Not interview the owner . but the Bike* did have a 50-34 crank.

You Still need Peer supported shopping decisions ?


* at least 1 comes to Mind,(+ the 46~30) many Other bikes had triples ..




'/,

hah must take u on some of my routes Bob

i had a triple on my audax don't think i ever used the granny ring. i used the granny ring on the healy pass Bob but i was on the thorn sherpa fully loaded way to much gear with me that wont happen again im to old to be a hero.
keep it simple .

thanks guys.

I can give you a route Just crossing town, here, that will put your heart rate into Red Line , and put you back
on the 2 foot get off and Push Gear . ..

I Still have the 4 Ordinance Survey Maps I Bought in 1997 covering the whole Island, so give me the road Numbers.





'/,

there no fun in that Bob i stay well away from hills i can't climb.i cycled a few epics in Spain not so much the grade of the climb more the distance never ending.
mind u the Healy pass as u probable know is a tough climb especially on a loaded touring bike .

I have Friends whose Houses have a Great View From The top pf the ridge,

Mine fortunately is just a Half Block Up from Marine Drive..



IE about 2 blocks from the river bank..

a fella would get used to climbing those hills sure it's all in the mind .

+ 1.

the Tiagra has 50/39/24 but the 39 is to big 36 maybe 34 better
24 32 would get a fella up most hills i reckon if not just walk.

you didn't mention how many speeds you have out back, but I'm running an 8 speed 12-32 which has acceptable spacing in the rear and a compact 50-34 up front, although I could easily change the rings to something lower. the bike in question is a modernized steel roadace with a rack, panniers, and trailer hitch. loaded with the trailer, it's always in the low gear. drop the trailer and bags and hammer and it'll take to the big ring happily on the flats. It is probably more suited to a 30/46 up front, and I think that would be more than adequate for commuting/touring.

FWIW I think most bikes have gearing that is WAY too high. 34/12 is capable of over 20mph at reasonable cadence, which is more than most people can sustain for any period of time, and frankly too much if you're loaded. I'm all in favor of MUCH smaller gearing or bigger jumps up front.

my road/race bike has 11spd 105 12/28 in the rear and DA9000 52/34 up front. talk about a spread, but the spacing is still very tight. it's great!

Almost every day when I ride my rando bike with no gear on it, I use the 30T granny ring on the triple. My derailleur touring bike uses a 24T granny instead of the 30T that came on that triple. Both bikes use 11/32 eight speed cassettes.

But, you have ridden a Sherpa, you presumably know what gears you used to have but will never need again.

Yup, low gears and a triple is nice to have. You're right about the Tiagra 50/39/xx on a tourer, I had it in my hand and made the best. If I was building up new I'd go for a mountain triple, 48/36/22 and a 14~30 cassette. Key points; triple, start the cassette at 14T and enjoy nice, tight steps.

anto, A 50-34 double can cover much, but not all of the range of a triple crank set, with a given cassette/freewheel. As a double it seems a good choice for those who are continually ascending or descending.

I, perhaps as a flat lander, prefer a tightly spaced rear set up. Then I use a triple to extend the overall range

Brad

I do it just the opposite for flat land. I use a wider spaced rear setup 12-36 9sp and then a triple to tighten up the spacing 45,42,XX half step + granny. It is like having a double with 15 cogs in the back to pick from.

Two different approaches to solve the same problem.

That double would be okay for credit card touring or if your touring kansas, but a compact triple and a 32, 34 or 36 tooth large cassette are ideal. I'll be touring the west coast again next summer, you're invited to slap loaded panniers on a bike geared in the manner that you've suggested and come with me, I wanna watch.

I do mostly light touring trips and I never found a need for the bigger chainring of a triple. I was mostly on the middle and used the granny for steep sections.
I prefer tighter rear spacing and I also prefer two chainrings up front (front shifts always seem so disruptive compared to floating up and down the rear cogs). And I found myself doing a lot more front shifting when I tried a 50/34 compact. I now have 12-28 with 44/28 on one bike, and 11-27 with 42/26 on another, and they are just about perfect for me. I have converted ultegra triples into doubles for both of those bikes (CF chainguard on outer space).

i had the XT 770 groupset on my sherpa any amount of gears but there was no adjustment on the rear mech ,i put inling adjuster on the cable but it was next to useless, a bike rides different once u load it up so the gears need adjusting to get the change spot on .
anyhow the compact is not set in stone i still might go for a triple 48 34 28 and 11 to 32 on the rear or maybe buy a long cage rear mech and get the 34 cassette .
wonder has FSA got a triple in those combo's any suggestions on a nice triple crankset kinda set on tiagra sti front and rear mechs.

Northbound on the Road up from Fort Augustus, B862, on the south side of Loch Ness, is definitely a get off and push hill

with a loaded touring bike, but the view from Foyers once up there is impressive.

On my last trip stayed in the top range of my middle ring because I can run the whole rear cog that way with my mtb rear detailer since I switched rims. Big or small I can't use the full range. Could swap that out but not till it fails or I mix another bike.

That said, I did use my big ring on downhills or flatland with little headwind.

I'm looking at compact double for a lighter bike though for faster tours.

Different tools for different jobs.

yes i believe scotland is beautiful for cycling lots of very hard climbing if your into that i'm not ,i can still climb but if it get to steep and long my aching back caves in.
seriously not in to Hero stuff i want my cycling to be easy as possible light bike which im getting light gear which i have pity about the pilot tho but sure with more miles in me little legs all should work out fine.