Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
The new sora shifters can be used on the drops and has one extra gear, not that the one extra makes much difference in gear range, but it can when choosing a closer grouping, which again the triple will give the advantage over the compact double.And there's colour to consider, I find the Red T3 much nicer than the T5 but of course this is higly subjective.
Given the coice between Red T3 and T5, since they're both budget entry level bikes, I would take the 3 to save money which I can spend on accessories that you so badly need. Don't think there is enough difference between 2300 and Sora groupset to justify the extra £140. Much more ROI if you spend the cash towards a maintenance stand, tools or gear.
For example I pretty much use what is a double these days 52/40 with a 30th inner (rear 13-26), my current gear range goes from 105" to 30" (just using the 50/40 it's 105" to 40") I have a 7 sp my avg gear length is 65-70" if I had 2 more gears I would a 20 th between the 19-21 as this would give me better cadence control, or configure the bike so the gearing is set up that way.
Back to my point, because you can have closer grouping of the rear gears on a triple and the lower gearing because of the inner ring, I think this is a better set up than a compact double for instance my 52 ring and 19/21/23 rear give me 71.98" 65.12" 59.46" on the 34 on a compact this is not where you want you chain being the 12 and 13, on the 50th ring what you get a big jump from 17-19-21 of 77.35" 69.21" 62.62", plus the change at the front is 3-4 gears on the rear, i drop the front its like just a gear or gear and 1/2.
I can climb some of the climbs here that arn't to bad on the 52x23 but its not really a good chain line.
This for example http://app.strava.com/activities/67738066#1304071936 but there are times like toward the end of the rides yesterday where I really could have done with a little extra choice mid range, I didn't plane the 2nd 50 mile I just did so I wasn't really prepared, and from sort of 80-85 mile mark it told, ( ok I had a big rest between the two rides).