Why compact chainsets?

[Speck]

My Wilier came with a Compact setup 50/34, but now being 62 and living in the Mendips, although not as hilly as my native Buxton, I'm not ashamed to say "I'm glad of it".

 

[asterix]

I'm 10 stone wet though, don't consider myself a strong rider, am 48 and am ok with a compact (34/50) and a 12-27 block in the Apls

For next years Marmotte (if I'm stupid enough to ride it again) I'll probably put an 11-28 SRAM cassette on in conjunction with the compact.

Are the Alps steep? Compared to say the N. York Moors? Long climbs but better graded, I thought..

 

[Downward]

I chose a compact over the triple last week. A year of hauling a 28lb hybrid up hills seems to have done the trick as I can manage the steepest hill on the compact.
Didn't want to go with the triple spending all my time shifting gears on both chainsets all the time.

 

[jimboalee]

My new bike came with a 34/50 compact and after just 1 ride I ordered a 39t chainring to replace the 34. I found that the 34 was useless for everything except riding up very big hills. This meant that I had to cruise along in the 50 which wasn't ideal. Now I can potter along in my 39 ring and change to the 50 downhill or when I feel like getting my head down with a tailwind. I have a 12-27 cassette so the 39:27 lowest gear is still fine for big hills - perhaps in the lake district along hardknot pass or similar it might be a struggle!

My spesh has 53/39 with a 12 - 25 9 speed.

The 53 ring goes to the 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19 & 21, leaving the 39 coupled with the 17, 19, 21, 23 & 25.


53 to 21 is 68 inches... lower than a comfortable cruising gear, so I ride on the 53 ring most of the time. That's what it's there for.