New Audax bike . Triple or Apex Compact ?

[PpPete]

I'm getting ever closer to ordering my new bike.

I'd convinced myself to get a Yukon with a Campag Triple (I prefer the lever on the side, and the shape of the Ergos to the Shimano offering) and a 13-29 cassette...... yes I know I'm an utter wuss but that's a 27" bottom gear whereas my current (heavier) bike has a 23" at the bottom end, and I can only just haul that up a very short 25%. I need to get seriously lighter and fitter if I want to haul a 27" gear over the 30% hills in the Lakes (Hardknott/Wrynose/Honister)

But - the SRAM Apex groupset would get me the same bottom end with 34x32. My only doubts are around riding more time in a 50 ring ( I spend more time in my middle ring on the triple ) AND the big jumps in an 11-32 cassette.
My current cassette is a very carefully selected and hand crafted 12-30 to give me the range and avoid the big gaps.

What sayeth the assembled wisdom of CycleChat ?
and any comments along the lines of "man-up" will be ignored... not helpful, I know my limitations and how much effort I want to put into my cycling.

 

[GrasB]

Personally I love compacts, they work for me really well, other people don't get on with them, other people just talk about them being a compromise (Though no one has yet managed to explain in any sane way why the setup that lets me ride in my most natural manner & is fastest by every metric I've thrown at it a compromise). Unfortunately the only way to truly find out is to ride on them, if you don't want to play that game then stick with what you know.

 

[lukesdad]

I use all 3 variations on my bikes compact on the winter bike, Triple and a normal double. They all have their pros and cons. I like the simplicity of the double,but riding all day in the hills i like the triple with a close ratio block 25 or 23. Horses for courses really.

 

[MrRidley]

I'm getting ever closer to ordering my new bike.

I'd convinced myself to get a Yukon with a Campag Triple (I prefer the lever on the side, and the shape of the Ergos to the Shimano offering) and a 13-29 cassette...... yes I know I'm an utter wuss but that's a 27" bottom gear whereas my current (heavier) bike has a 23" at the bottom end, and I can only just haul that up a very short 25%. I need to get seriously lighter and fitter if I want to haul a 27" gear over the 30% hills in the Lakes (Hardknott/Wrynose/Honister)

But - the SRAM Apex groupset would get me the same bottom end with 34x32. My only doubts are around riding more time in a 50 ring ( I spend more time in my middle ring on the triple ) AND the big jumps in an 11-32 cassette.
My current cassette is a very carefully selected and hand crafted 12-30 to give me the range and avoid the big gaps.

What sayeth the assembled wisdom of CycleChat ?
and any comments along the lines of "man-up" will be ignored... not helpful, I know my limitations and how much effort I want to put into my cycling.

I had the very same problem with compacts Pete, so that's why when i picked up my Yukon today (pics in the gallery) i made sure it had a triple, Shimano 105, i've always liked Shimano but each to their own, anyway to help fund the Yukon i sold a Bianchi that had 50,34 up front and 11-28 rear, just never was happy with the gearing, big gaps, always changing etc, i'm more on the larger side of the scales but i like to have a 30,39,50 spend most of the time in the 39 middle ring which suits my riding style, it's your own choice of course, but make sure you are getting what you want.

 

[andrew_s]

You can stick a smaller granny on the triple. 24x29 gives you a 22" bottom gear, and it doesn't compromise your non-hilly riding.
With the compact 34x36 is the lowest you can go, and you've big gaps and double changes between rings.

 

[GrasB]

FYI: 33t is the smallest you can go on a 110BDC compact & if you can stand going to junior road components you'll find (94 BDC compacts which gives you 29t minimum. 11-36 10 spd having "big holes" depends on the rider & their style, the gaps are for the most part no worse than those offered by a Rohloff hub gear.

 

[PpPete]

11-36 cassette is out of the question.
Even the standard Apex 11-32 has some horrible jumps IMO (assuming what I've read about hereabout sprockets is true)

Any suggestions on a 94 BCD compact ? Not come across those before, but a 46/30 might work for me.

 

[GrasB]

We got hers from a 'bent specialist. We went for these as she's not exactly tall & has been having problems with her knees when riding, after an bike fit with a physio he came to the conclusion she either needed a 80 deg seat tube or 155mm cranks or shorter. The cranks them selves are completely unbranded & the chainrings which are nominally Specialites TA MTB rings. 94bdc is nominally an MTB standard, so if you're not needing a narrow Q there are a number to chose from.

 

[steve52]

for what its woth ,and knowing what i know now , i should have gone for a tripple and will next time,

 

[zigzag]

seeing your preferences i think triple is the best off-the-peg option for you. or, if you know which gears you want/need/use most, go for fully custom setup. the photo below shows triple and single - both very different but still very suitable for audax type riding.