Re: COMPACT CRANKSET: Bikefanclub.com

It depends on how low you want your gearing. It worked for Tyler just fine. The small ring is a 34 so no matter what your low gear is it will not be as low as a triple with a 30. I live in Western PA and we are in the Allegheny Mountains. Many of our roads are paved over wagon trails that were Indian Trails so percentages can get high on climbs. I always appreciate my 30 then. Last year I rode in Indiana where the hills "rolled" and I never left my middle ring and averaged about 1 to 2 mph faster on a 100 degree day for 100 miles.

On the high side there is no problem. The big ring of a compact with an 11 cog is actually higher than a 53 x 12. You can compare all the ratios and get a good idea at: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

My winter bike that I ride in Pittsburgh mostly, where I'm either going up or down, so consequently close ratios are not a big deal is a D/A double with a XTR rear derailleur. So my low gear is a 39 x 34 which is about the same ratio as a 30 x 27. My high gear is a 53 x 11 which is actually higher than my triple which is a 53 x 12. Again since I'm either going straight up or down or on some kind of slope it works out great. I would not want this to ride across the state however. I would prefer my D/A Triple. The ratios are better for all around riding. It is more versatile.

Now I'm 215 (13-14% body fat not bad for an ice cream lover), 56 years old, with a bad knee. If you are young, light and have good knees the compact would probably be all you need.

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