50/34 compared to 50/39/30 Triple

[jay clock]

...and amazingly these fuurreners still manage to have lovely cycle touring holidays.....

 

[Poacher]

Out of curiosity. What options would be left on the table if I found that the low gears were not enough for me. Can I get a lower chainring than 34, for example 48/32 46/30 etc.

34 is the smallest chainring you can fit to a "normal" compact chainset (i.e 110mm Bolt Circle Diameter, or BCD).
There's a strong argument, IMHO, for Stronglight to reintroduce their classic 86mm BCD chainsets, like this one currently on ebay.
These will accept chainrings down to 28, if I remember correctly - I've run 32/52 without problem on my commuter, despite the huge difference in size,
and have a 30/46 on my Sid Standard - works well for me with an 11-28 cassette. These chainsets/cranksets crop up frequently on ebay, as do chainrings, and Spa Cycles still have a small and diminishing new old stock of 86mm rings.

 

[insurin]

Update:

I have just picked up the Sirrus. However, my employer has just informed me that they are doing C2W. I am going to get a long term tourer such as LHT/Galaxy etc and therefore will no longer be enquiring about the gearing on the Sirrus as I will keep that for commuting and the tourer for ..well touring. Jeez, I have always dismissed people who have bikes for winter/summer touring and now here I am with a Tricross a Sirrus and soon to be a tourer. Anyway I have opened up a thread about getting a touring bike via C2W.

Thanks for all the input though. I am learning all kinds of stuff

 

[GrumpyGregry]

3 bikes. When you gonna take this cycling lark seriously?