Compact or Triple Chain set?

Laura is thinking of getting a new bike and is considering buying a bike with either a triple or a compact chain set. We run through the pros and cons of both systems and say which one we prefer

Question:
I have been riding for about 2 years on a Giant OCR 1. I’ve been told it’s too small for me and would like to upgrade and get a frame that fits better. My question is whether I should get a triple or a compact? I’m new to this forum, so sorry if you’ve covered this in the past.

Hi Laura,

Don’t worry, we probably have looked at this tricky question before, but its well worth looking at again because so many other people are going through the same “will I wont I?” question when it comes to the compact or triple question.

With a triple chain set you will have the gears to do just about anything, ride up the side of a house probably and with a cassette with a small enough sprocket a triple will be OK for coming back down again.

The problem with triple chain sets are that many of the gears have the same ratios, there are many gears that you don’t need or use with a triple and there is extra weight involved.

You have an extra chain wheel and the bolts to hold them to the cranks and the axle is wider so there is more metal. Your chain also wears out quicker as it has to flex more to go across the three chain wheels and from one side to the other on the cassette. With a triple chain set you need a long arm rear derailleur and a different front derailleur that can handle a longer drop.

Compact

With a compact chain set there is less duplications of gears than with a triple, a compact is slightly lighter than a normal double as there is less of it and it is better for your chain as it doesn’t have to twist so much as with the width of a triple.

You lose a little of the high gears, which you probably don’t use and it can give you more lower gears depending on your cassette. The rear derailleur is the same as with a normal double, but with some compacts you need a special front derailleur.

If you are buying a complete bike then the different derailleur’s are not a problem, this is only if you were up-grading your existing bike. Personally I prefer the compact option as it is simple and works very well and the gears are well grouped with out the duplications or big jumps between them. Your next problem is which bike to get?

Campy Chainset