Gearing question and thoughts

[HLaB]

Oh, the chap in Evans said that there are not many UK hills that cannot be climbed with a compact ?!?

True if you are Lance Armstrong.

Touch wood, my compact (50/36, 12-25) has got up all of the hills I've tackled (the steepest being just over 26%) I'm a mad b'stard though who enjoys hills, not everyone does. My old sirrus is a tripple, tbh I prefer its gearing it has a larger 52 for speed when I need it and 42 for cruising at speed (its high enough to do a club run on a 36 is just too low) but also has the bail out there (the granny). I don't think I've used the granny much but I do like having the higher gears and that get out clause I also find the jump between a 50 and 36 a bit big (you are looking at a 50/34 even bigger! ).

 

[chrispidgeon]

excellent, thanks everyone.

I think triple for this bike.

so how do folk get on with the sora shifters? it looks like you cannot change both ways while in the drops?

 

[HLaB]

excellent, thanks everyone.

I think triple for this bike.

so how do folk get on with the sora shifters? it looks like you cannot change both ways while in the drops?

You are right unless you've got an incredibly long thumb you can't reach the shifter but they do work which is the main thing. Most folk ride on the hoods the majority of the time so its not too much of an issue. OK its not the best but it does the job

 

[chrispidgeon]

which way is the button function - ie is it big to small cogs?

 

[HLaB]

which way is the button function - ie is it big to small cogs?

Both sides are different but both pull the cable the same way.
The right shifter controls the rear mech you shift the lever to pull the cable and select a larger cog (lower gear) and pus the thumb trigger to go the other way (to smaller cogs, higher gears)
The left shifter controls the front mech. The lever also pulls the cable to select a larger cog (chainring) and the trigger to a smaller chainring but crucially this has the opposite effect to your gearing (ie big is now higher and small is lower).
I hope that makes sense.

 

[chrispidgeon]

Thought that would be it thanks

 

[andyhunter]

basic rule of thumb, triple is for mtb for getting over all sorts of terrain of camber and very steep...double if for road and you should not need the extra ring as you can spin up any gradient in the middle ring and variable the sprocket on the back, althought certain pro races require a triple due to climbing mountains(in the uk and ireland road arent that steep suddenly and mountains arent the same as the french swiss border.)