power vs weight vs triple / compact

[Lien Sdrawde]

Currently in training for a mega hilly 100+ mile ride - and im a bit confused about something. After training through winter on my winter bike - a triple with 1 to 1 ratio on smallest cog (30 vs 30 that weighs 10.1kg ready to ride & the abillity to take on 25% without me actually dying Honister pass et al) - well last night I went out for the first time on my summer steed which has a compact 34 vs 30 on smallest cog and weighs 8.25kg. I found a local 20% hill and fully expected to 'manage' to climb this hill with relative ease compared to my winter bike.

This didn't happen.

Turning the smaller cogs on my wintet bike just seemed easier.

Wheels on winter bike Mavic open pro - wheels on summer bike Mavic cosmic elite.

Given that I was in reasonable form on all rides, is the smaller ratio a preferance for a 50 yr old regular cyclist who is not an athlete but a keen cyclist? I really thought losing nearly 2kg up the big hills would make a significant difference. It bloody didn't.

 

[ColinJ]

Your lowest gear was about 11% higher but the combined weight of you and the lighter bike was nowhere near 11% lower (unless you are tiny!) so turning that gear over on a steep climb would feel harder.

 

[Banjo]

I have similar bikes My heavyish Jamis tourer triple 30-30 gets me up steep hills much better than my much lighter Cannondale Compact double 34-30.

When the cassette on the dale needs replacing I am going to change for a 12 32 or even 12 34 this will need a new rear mech and chain but will be worth it when arriving at a big climb on tired legs.

Spinning a low gear is better on your knee joints as well as easier.

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Many thanks. And I cannot be considered tiny. Will continue to train on the triple for 20+ percent lumps. Remind me why I spent 2.5k on a 'better' bike?
Thanks for replies.

 

[ColinJ]

Many thanks. And I cannot be considered tiny. Will continue to train on the triple for 20+ percent lumps. Remind me why I spent 2.5k on a 'better' bike?
Thanks for replies.

I put a triple on my 'better' bike, which made it even, er, 'betterer' for the local lumpy terrain!

I know people who get up steep hills on much higher gears than me, but I am more of a spinner than a grinder so I will stick with what I like. As I get fitter, I am using the little ring less and less often, but round here there is always the chance of coming to a 20% climb, after riding hilly 60 miles, and having a 20 mph headwind trying to blow you back whence you came so it is reassuring to have lower gears in reserve.

 

[steveindenmark]

I will not ride a bike without a triple. The very little extra weight is a small price to pay for the much easier ride.

 

[ColinJ]

I thought there were hardly any big hills in Denmark ...

I was chatting to a Danish woman once and she made a joke which I did not understand about two Danish mountains. She explained that the highest points in Denmark are less than half the elevation of even the hills surrounding Hebden Bridge!

 

[ColinJ]

Mind you, I bet you get some strong winds blowing across!?

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Thanks again Colin. I have been up your way many times so know the hills you mention. I wish the compact was smaller as im reluctant to consider a triple on a Colnago. Might need a new bike. Mmmmm.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I think it's bonkers how few bikes are available with a triple as an OEM option.

'Even' with 34x30 I find some of the hills I attempt very hard. And there's a whole lot more I wouldn't even try.

I quite fancy a triple and maybe next bike will have one.

@ColinJ - 20% I wouldn't even try. Went up a long hill today with a chunk (maybe 150m) at a tad over 13% and I found it tough going tbh.

Nothing wrong with triples.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think it's bonkers how few bikes are available with a triple as an OEM option.

'Even' with 34x30 I find some of the hills I attempt very hard. And there's a whole lot more I wouldn't even try.

I quite fancy a triple and maybe next bike will have one.

@ColinJ - 20% I wouldn't even try. Went up a long hill today with a chunk (maybe 150m) at a tad over 13% and I found it tough going tbh.

Nothing wrong with triples.

I'm a bit of a triple fan. Given the choice of a triple with a fairly wide gear range or a compact with an even bigger cassette ring, I'd take the triple. The left + right change that you need to do quite often on a compact virtually disappears with a triple. And one of the good things about the triple is you select your chain ring for the terrain in view and simply use the different cassette rings to fine tune your gearing according to incline and exhaustitude. And if you put a big range cassette on a compact you're not doing much more than putting a bit more metal on the back in exchange for losing a bit at the front.

 

[oldroadman]

It seems to me that what you should do is whatever is comfortable and manageable. As you get older lower gears are inevitable, strength reduces, and climbing stays hard but gets slower and lower geared.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It seems to me that what you should do is whatever is comfortable and manageable. As you get older lower gears are inevitable, strength reduces, and climbing stays hard but gets slower and lower geared.

This ^^^^ in spades.
Gearing (as I've said before) is a subject of much macho bullshit. Just select the range/type of gears that works for you. Weight is irrelevent. No point having a 1 gram drivetrain if it can't get you up the local climb.
I've just down-geared the Brompton and the Audax bike and it's transformed going up hills on both steeds. Fit what works, stuff theory.

 

[ColinJ]

I think it's bonkers how few bikes are available with a triple as an OEM option.

'Even' with 34x30 I find some of the hills I attempt very hard. And there's a whole lot more I wouldn't even try.

I quite fancy a triple and maybe next bike will have one.

@ColinJ - 20% I wouldn't even try. Went up a long hill today with a chunk (maybe 150m) at a tad over 13% and I found it tough going tbh.

Nothing wrong with triples.

I am managing 20% now, but 25% defeated me a week or so back! I have managed that climb in the past though, so I will try again later in the year when I am fitter.

I have a 26x28 on my Basso, and now have a nice 28x29 on my Cannondale (it used to have a 39x29 which I struggled with on the steep stuff).

 

[totallyfixed]

I think it's bonkers how few bikes are available with a triple as an OEM option.

'Even' with 34x30 I find some of the hills I attempt very hard. And there's a whole lot more I wouldn't even try.

I quite fancy a triple and maybe next bike will have one.

@ColinJ - 20% I wouldn't even try. Went up a long hill today with a chunk (maybe 150m) at a tad over 13% and I found it tough going tbh.

Nothing wrong with triples.

The selling point of a triple [for all those newby sportive riders who think a double is a compact], is that if you have a 40t middle ring you can spend 90% of your riding in 90% of the country in this one ring without the ridiculous jump from 50 to 34 that a compact offers, and all the accompanying right and left gear lever changing or worse, riding in large front to large rear or small to small with a horrible chain line.