Compact or Standard again....

FitzM

I'm building a new bike (Cervelo Soloist) going to buy a Groupset (very likely Ultegra SL) have placed some posts, read others and the general view seems to be 'go compact' which seemed fine.

But just been to the shed and looked at my 2001 Klein Quantum (this will become my spare bike) which I've been riding for 8yrs and had a look at the groupset. It's 53/39 and 12/25.

Like the rest of us I'm not getting any younger (I'm mid 40's) but don't have any issues with the hills where I live and have on occasion wished I had a higher gear.

So do I buy another standard and stick with 12/25, be silly/brave and go 11/23 or be sensible, give in to the biological clock and go for a compact with 12/23.

It will be used for pleasure and the odd triathlon

dennisn

FitzM wrote:

I'm building a new bike (Cervelo Soloist) going to buy a Groupset (very likely Ultegra SL) have placed some posts, read others and the general view seems to be 'go compact' which seemed fine.

But just been to the shed and looked at my 2001 Klein Quantum (this will become my spare bike) which I've been riding for 8yrs and had a look at the groupset. It's 53/39 and 12/25.

Like the rest of us I'm not getting any younger (I'm mid 40's) but don't have any issues with the hills where I live and have on occasion wished I had a higher gear.

So do I buy another standard and stick with 12/25, be silly/brave and go 11/23 or be sensible, give in to the biological clock and go for a compact with 12/23.

It will be used for pleasure and the odd triathlon

I'd go with a 50-34(or 36) and an 11-23(or 25 for hills). The 50-11 is huge so top end won't be a problem and 34-25 will get you up all but the really steep or really long hills.
I'm old too and it was a no brainer for me to go compact. Although it's not really an old mans cogset. Just sort of has that reputation.