50/34 vs 50/39/30

[Nearly there]

Coming from a MTB come hybrib and using a 42/34/24 chainset will I be better off with a triple chainset on a road bike or a 50/34 compact ?The reason I ask Is I very very very rarely use the 24 and just wondered If anyone thinks I can get by on a compact ?and Is the drop from 50 to 34 too big a drop in gears? should I stick to 50/39/30?I realise this Is another compact vs triple thread apologises in advance.

I live in an hilly area.

 

[Banjo]

You can get a rear cassette with a very large cog eg 30 or 32 Which coupled with a compact double 50/34 chainset will give you plenty of gears for climbing. The trade off is the wider differences between gears and you will have to do more front changing.

With the triple the majority of the time you will only use the middle and big ring effectively giving you a double with nice tight gradual steps up and down through the gears but with the granny there ready for the extra steep hills or tired legs.

 

[Hacienda71]

I don't think you should worry about the lowest gear, as you can get Sram compacts that are the same as a triple. The main consideration imho is the gaps that you will find with a compact. That is my gripe and I have both and ride in the Pennines most weekends. The compact scores over the triple on weight though.

 

[Nearly there]

With the triple the majority of the time you will only use the middle and big ring effectively giving you a double with nice tight gradual steps up and down through the gears but with the granny there ready for the extra steep hills or tired legs.

Thats my thinking too probably not use the small ring much if at all but I know what that tired leg feeling on the way back from a long ride feels like

 

[Crackle]

Depends on the gears you ride normally is the answer. If the triple gives you a greater spread of those gears without changing rings, go triple. If not go compact. i.e. if you think you'll spend most time on the 50 and need to drop for the hills, a compact will do. If your area is hilly though a 39 may give you more usable gears.

I have a triple and when I lived in a hilly area, used the middle ring almost exclusively and can still just use the middle as with a 10 speed the spread is great enough to cover my speed and cadence but I can also use the outer ring too on flatter faster roads and the granny is for big hills anywhere.

What I like about the triple, is it gives me smaller gradations between gears.

 

[Monkspeed]

Coming from a MTB come hybrib and using a 42/34/24 chainset will I be better off with a triple chainset on a road bike or a 50/34 compact ?The reason I ask Is I very very very rarely use the 24 and just wondered If anyone thinks I can get by on a compact ?and Is the drop from 50 to 34 too big a drop in gears? should I stick to 50/39/30?I realise this Is another compact vs triple thread apologises in advance.

I live in an hilly area.

It really does depend on your level of fitness (something you will have to be honest with yourself about). I have a 50/39/30 and when I first started out, I had to use the 30 ALOT, but now I find I very rarely use it. I like the 12-25 cassette but wish I had a 34/50 chainring upfront now.

 

[Edge705]

Check out this thread loads of useful info http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/compact-versus-triple.92520/#post-1659314