Fair criticisms of compact chainsets?

[MrWill]

I'm not liking the compact I have had for a few weeks and thinking of swapping my compact for a triple.

I miss the 39 ring for the stop start commute riding and the smooth fast acceleration with close ratio cassette.

I keep hitting the spot at 18/19mph were 4 cassette and 1 chain ring shifts are needed on the compact, which costs me speed. Whereas is 2 cassette shifts and on chainring on the triple seems better

I'd get a standard double but need a fairly low gear for some 20% but short climbs and the days after leg day in the gym. The 34-25 ratio is adequate though.

I like the idea of the triple being simple to use.

High 25mph+
mid 0-25mph
low, 0-15mph

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

yet I am so glad I ditched the triple 8 speed (50/39/30 11-28) and went with a compact 10 speed (50/34 11-32). I much happier with it and my speed is rapidly increasing as well.

 

[BSRU]

I couldn't get on with the compact chainset on my Croix de Fer came with, after 200km I changed it for a triple, so much joy.

 

[KneesUp]

I like having a triple - it's quite hilly here so as a rule of thumb it's ring 1 for very steep hills (not used that for a while - not because I'm fitter, but because I avoid them!) ring 2 for hills and the flat (with changes at the back to suit) and ring 3 for downhill.

I've not ridden a compact, but I think the big change would be jarring for me at least.

 

[vickster]

I've had triples on hybrids in the past, as it's flat around here, never ever used the third ring...all my bikes now are 50/34, 11-32 (SRAM), not had to walk up a hill recently despite a knackered back and leg. Tbh, I only occasionally use the small ring, most of my rides, never or perhaps once

That said, I rarely ride above 20mph unless freewheeling down hills

 

[TheJDog]

If you can't start off in sprocket 3,4, or 5 on a compact on the big ring, what sort of a hill is that? I use the big ring for 0-30 on the flat, the small ring for 0-15 on hills.

 

[MrWill]

Ah the compact is such a pain with the 4 rear shifts and one front at the same time.

Maybe it is not so much of a big deal with Ultegra and Dura ace I don't know.

 

[KneesUp]

Ah the compact is such a pain with the 4 rear shifts and one front at the same time.

Maybe it is not so much of a big deal with Ultegra and Dura ace I don't know.

It would be with bar ends (at least with them mounted traditionally)

 

[Vapin' Joe]

There are compacts and compacts. The two bikes I had previously were geared 50/36 and 48/34, the lower gears being on the winter iron. For general riding 48*12 is easily high enough for most people unless you like playing "How fast can I get my computer to record" on the descents. For the moment I have 50/34 on my bike but I plan to swap the inner to a 36, the 16t jump is just that bit too much.

 

[MrWill]

If you can't start off in sprocket 3,4, or 5 on a compact on the big ring, what sort of a hill is that? I use the big ring for 0-30 on the flat, the small ring for 0-15 on hills.

I've been using the big ring for 0-infinity but it's a lot slower than using a 39 or 42 ring to get up to speed and you get a delayed fatigue shorty after which then makes getting and mainitaing 30ish mph hard. Which Im always aiming to travel at with the traffic.

 

[ColinJ]

If you can't start off in sprocket 3,4, or 5 on a compact on the big ring, what sort of a hill is that? I use the big ring for 0-30 on the flat, the small ring for 0-15 on hills.

This kind?

 

[KneesUp]

This kind?

Yorkshire's great isn't it?

 

[ColinJ]

Do you need that 11 tooth small cog?

I often wonder about that ... 50/11 is a big ratio (4.55:1). roughly equivalent to a 55/12! I rarely use even the 53/13 on my Cannondale so I am downgearing that to a 48/13 in search of more useful flat and uphill gears. (I can often freewheel downhill at 40+ mph round here.)

 

[bpsmith]

Do you need that 11 tooth small cog?

Depends on whether you like to really blast it on the downhill after slogging your way up...

 

[ColinJ]

Depends on whether you like to really blast it on the downhill after slogging your way up...

That said, I rarely ride above 20mph unless freewheeling down hills